Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-03-24

shaf I adverfed ~ transactiops, WhiSu Wy
And bve will be sanctioned by time, contra
.xv 70 The true Interests and character OF our
country. .
Thirty years have we been independent,
and 4he greater par. Of rhe. time enjoyed 2
happy government; but, under the Pretend
ed republicans, far from seeking to maintain
and strengthen character OF our own,
national character as Americans, we have
been led bat XIV ards to the interests and in
tricues of European desPo,ism and eorrnp.
ton. We are completely destitute OF self
molten and self.will, and cahno, think or
move bu, as we are impslled by the feelings
or the wishes Of those, even whom, OF alp
others, We believe the most powerful and
most dangerous, and whom We ought con.
sequcntly most so-suspeet and shun.
A. long as the effects of this das:ardly i'm
pulse, or influence, call. which you please,
are limited 10 the loss Of property at home,
and the loss Of respect abroad, The patriot
mind might contemplate return OF public
spirit with cheering hope for slight ct
fort, change Of administration, might res.
cue the nation, redeem its character, and
perpetuate it's existence. ..'-.
But when, rs in the case Of Spain, our
best feelings, those which obtained our in
.depe ndence, and established a republican
government, are sunk WHEN we can view
the devastation Of property in Spain, and the
heroic efforts ofthc Spaniards to defend 1t,
with indifference when we csn contemplate
the subjuga,ion of that country By foreign
power, and the exertions of the inhabitants
to have a government oftheir own, ss mat
tiers in which we have no concern whatever;
when we can hear of the burning of the
wheat fields, land the numbering cfthe farm
ers. the pi!Iaging of,he churches, and the
fortunes OF the clergsmen, on one hand, am!
the boosted imPisty, and rio,cus luxury and
debauchery on the other, exhibited in that
devoted country when, say, Americans
can listen to those accounts without emo
lions of compassion, without shuddellng
with horror hope is A,d.
Republics ars founded on virtue, and 1t
must be active as we'll as passive virtue or
like churches without religion, they 60 10
The love of country has ceased 10 exist
where the love of those things which make
country prosperous and happy is EXTINCT
Patriotism is there an empty name tor do
not deceive yourselves-itis not the hills
and TIVE vallics, the stocks and the stones,
which attach US here it is soeia. intercourse
and public order, founded en- equal laws,
and protected by just government.
TO be plain with you. and Americans,
the times require it, nations are only made
up Of men, and have no other fears or hopes. !
Now, we think that he who would not assis:
10 preserve his neighbors house from the
devastation Of the elements, deserves no
house himself and we know that he who
would suffer highwayman TO plumber his
neighbor, and quietly sit down to look on,
would himself plumber for straw. So it IS
with na,ions-snd how much betterare 1re'
And here my country men. LEI me again
expos,ulatr with you, on The sanction which
Was given by 100 many of you to an act
which will ever remain stigma on your
dcceivers, the authors of 1t. An appeal
was made to your love Of peace, whilst i'm
po1tant interests were to be acquired Tor
you, and thus were you surprized into a
violation of your laws, and contempt Of
human rights. .,
Early in the French revolution, the ty-
rants of France and the emperor Of Germa-
ny had bar,ered the territory Of Venice tor
that Of Flanders, and many such transfers
have since taken place, founded on the prac.
tice of savage ;Satraps Of old; but VINO
would have though, the freemen Of Anne.
RIGA would enter into a treaty Of bargain
and sale for the inhabitants of Louisiana,
without consulting them, as If they were so
many head ofcattle
And now, unless you can be awakened
to sense of the injury done your fellow
creatures in this transaction, it is impossi.
bic but that the example should entail ruin
On the state, tor he who is ready to buy his
fellow. man, is very near selling himself
History does furnish Instances Of slaves