Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-13

Britain against France, SO full Of wisdom
and energy, a late one respecting the fshe-
RIGS has been issued, and to these have been
su?eradded, it should seem Instructions to
her naval commander in the Baltic, which,
perhaps singular in their nature, are un-'
doubtedly Of a very potent character, and
indicate much. -These instructions are
I founded, if our information be correct, up-
ON our non intercourse law, and they I'M
sport, that during the continuance Of that
law, American vessels shall not have &C
cess TO any nation from which the British
flag is excluded; and they go so far as to
disallow, as far as they can, the egress of
their own vessels from one port to another
of our own nation. These instructions If
ever in existence, which is probable, were
issued before it was known in Europe that
our non-intercourse law is suspended until
the meeting ofcongress; and hence it fol-
lows that when that supervision was known,
the Instructions were suspended also, for
the same period. They are then at thi,
time not in operation, hut The existence of
them demonstrates to us the sort of wea-
pons with which Great Britain is hencefor.
ward determined to meet our commercial
hostility, if we should think sftto pefsevere
in our all powerful and all coercive' system.
The idea here thrown Oh, may be of impor-
lance to the statesmen by whom we are SO
admirably governed.
Now being thus hammered by the two
nations: for whether from choice or from
necessity, through wisdom or ignorance,
we are hanPered: he would deserve the
benedictions ri the "most enlightened peo.
pie in the world who should point out to
lis sure and eFectuaI relief IF fedid not
know that it is easier to rail than to remedy
should have lived to little purpose vet
think there rs a remedy, and would pre-.
scribe 1t, as subssitute--coul fancy that
the peevlsh and capricious, the pre:ii,uidictd
and untoward patient would follow nv pre-.
scription, and not curse me for a French.
man or an Engfshman, tory or a rattle
snake, mad man or an enemy, "to our
party" Bat it is not war, for that, besides
adding to a very complete disgrace would
ageravdte the disease. We cannot fight
France with our army, and it is well for
her that we cannot; and our gun boats and
scews are not a match for the feet OF Great
Britain, which is well FOR her also. And
II we take Canada We>should have to return
to the place we started from, being Unable
to carry our triumphant arms further.-
Here then, having laid down our arms for
want OF more nations to conquer, we are a
gain at the same kind Of work-the work
ct dlgnihed retirement, at which, being
anxious to- give up Canada as burden. we
should nave 10 night or snarI 1t out so that
without considering the injury which G.
Britain might do to US On the sea board, in
the way of resort courteous for taking Ca
NADIA, five could take it, war, which would
encrease our debt and taxes indefinitely,
perhaps almost, could be of no possible ser.
wise to U.s.. We should consider what we
rarely do, that if we now have to hght, it is
as an independent nation, and THEREFORE if
not against France, for we may vet have to
combat her for our independence, our wars
must be offensive .as to the operation of
them, and where are our offensive means?
What then Shall we. do? I have a very
complete answer TO make, but let sham pa
triots say what they will, ! appeal TO Mir:
De Witt Clinton whether there are some
men amongst US who would voluntarily .a-
c,ifce themselves to promote national be-
neft Give NE but assurance that I shall
neither be gouged nor tarred and feathered
for submitting what would treeus from our
present embarrassments, & the secret shall
no longer be withheld. And the only as.
suranceI would require would be a park
meeting, with suitable resolutions of ex-
emption from brutal attack, and an ade-
quate guarantee. While waiting for this'f
may endeavor to show, perhaps by repeat.
ing what has often been said, that we have