Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-02-21

080vtSMultbtVusS VI oS""'e ~ Vs. 20 - = =
I;l,ns after tha, ysar---ana that loan OF
four millions has already become necessa'
. -. n aks report Of the same department.,
f,r IN { year ! so6. il was stated, thar alter
dsfraying ~ the expeness OF government
m annual surplus Of five and" I'm haR NIL
lions OF dollars would refrain. But ae-
cording 70 the las. statement. there will be
deficiency for the present year OF tour
millions, making against the United States
an annual difference a. before OF nine mil
lions and an half. But when, with these
statements, are taken into view, the still
nrocrcssive tf,min.! rton urd total annlhlla'
Of revenue from commerce in The e.
vent of war and the, additional and meal
culabls expsncrs, which must be rendered
uece ssarv in its pros -cution, your commit
tee Can perceive no means Ut supplying
this miserable deficiency Of revenue, but
from direct taxes. The cxpedient Of great
and enormous loans might BE resource
for the first sxigrncms Of the war; but
nation entirely deprived of visible and &C.
tual revenue, could support but doub,
full credit, and the contemplation of debt
constantly ausmen'ing in an unjust aud ru-
inous contest; would disgust the pa:riet
and terrify the contractor. In these cir.
cumstances it it bu. too obvious that the
only remaining resources Of this govern
ment would be either forced contributions
or oppressive taxes upon the yeomanry.
While such have besn the Jernicious .f-
fects ofthe measures Of the administration
upon ourselves, your committee would
Willingly spare themselves the hdmiliating
confession that by the belIigerent nations
they arc regarded IS partial. and harmless.
So far have they been from disposing
France to any relaxation OF the imperial
DEGREES, that they have been the subject of
praise and appreciation with her emperor,
whose only dissatisfaction has been mani.
tested at their temporary suspension. BY
Great Britain they have been regarded
with indifference, though in their opera
ton they have secured 20 her the carriage
OF our produce, and the monopoly Of The
commerce OF the world. Her manutac.
lures have not decrease nor has her re-
venue or power been in any visible degree
impaired: While an intercourse with the
UnitcG States has ever been deemed by
that nation of secondary importance, in
comparison w'ta the grea. obi ects for which
she is con:ending, lis advantages have ne
YER been disreSMtled Or undervalned bv
her statesmen. 1t remained tor Our iafa-
tuated councils to reveal the fatal secret,
that the commerce Of these states was OF
less importance to her prosperity aud great.
ness than her own politicians had predict.
cd. That our Country has sustained inju-
ries from the operation Of the British or.
ders and suffered from the outrages Of her
officers, for which it is entitled to saiifac.
ton, is not to he dcuied. It ought not,
however, to be forgotten, that during the
entire period OF THESE commercial rrstric.
tons, France, with whose consent they
were imposed and continued, HIS seized
and sequesrased nearly all IN. American
property which has fallen within her grasp,
while Britain, againss whom alone they
could be expe ctcd to operate, has respect.
ed our flag, conveyed our ships, and admit.
ted 10 70 u Tree and lucrative coMn,srcs
with every part OF her dominions.
With this view Ut an empty treasury, and
abandoned commerce., it j. impossible 70
overlook the detenceless state Of the coun.
try, and especially Of. the entire seabcard Of
the United Stales--whiIe the American flag
would be driven from the ocean, our sea.
ports would be at the mercy Of the moss
formidable navy that ever existed, and be.
fore our ior,ifcations or armies could b. in
a situation to sustain the first assaults of the
enemy, our cities might be buried in ruins,
and our seacoass exposed to uncomfortable
distress.
As the miseries ofsuch war would BE
incurred without adequate motive, they must
be sustained without a possible chance Of
indemnity. On the ocean, Britain is at
present lnvulnerabie. 1t is only upon the
side of Canada that the Americas arms
could come into actual collision with her
dominions, and If the chances of war, after
a profusion OF blood and treasute, should