Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-03


wrongs Of France in SO strong light as
those of England our deficiency in militia
ny and naval power; the unpDpulari.y which
would attend the creation Of armies and ma
yies the idolatry of the people for the ex-
listing administration the probability that
that idoIatry9 would continue while the peo-
pie should bel,ese the administration to be
devoted to economy and peace; and the
certainty that, should we be impelled to war
with foreign power, every disposition
would exist amongst US to 60 to war with
England rather than France. He was also
acquainted with Jeferson's philosoph'zlng,
theorizing, and timid disposition ; with his
total want of nerve; ndwith his ardent ha
tired of England, and profound devotion to
France. He knew that the same president
Jefferson, excessively ambitious of literary
fame, had staked his reputation as writ
er upon prediction that the Sun OF Bril-
tain,s glory was about to set forever, and Of
course that he was deeply interested to turn
his own prediction into prophecy. Under
all these circumstances he must have been
a fool to doubt that the American presidents
was ripe so far as depended on himself a.
lone, for the great and good work of com
pleting the destruction of Old England
He could not therefore but expect with con-
adence perfect submission to his dictates
in regard to our relations with Spain.
There were several statements in the
message, which, if not in fact false, were
extremely deceptive. After the president
had spoken of Spain as the efficient power
in reference to the contested boundaries OF
Louisiana, he incautiously admitted, in the
very same paper, that France was manag-
ing the business to promote her own pur-
pose, as appears by the singular EXPRESSION
Whatever direction SHE might mean to giSe
these diferences- that is, whatever dlrec'
ton France might mean to give to the dit
felences between the u. S. aud Spain. He
was sensible, indeed he had been informed
by his agents ia Europe, that France In
tended to give some direction to those dit,
ferences, and he affected to be ignorant what
it would be. Yet he perfectly knew what
it was, and was at that moment secretly Ia
boring to give those differences" the very
same " direction" which his fmeud Napo-
leon contemplated. This may be consider
ed a high charge, but it will be amply sup
ported by unquestionable facts. The di-
rection which France meant TO give, and
had in fact given, was, that several millions
of dollars should be paid out Of the treasury
of the United States into that of France.
We could prove the fact to the satisfaction
of any independent court or jury in the ~
States. But as Jefferson knows that we
can prove il, we shall not be called on tor
the proof. We cannot exhibit in these let
tiers the same sort of evidence, either as to
this point, or as to a presumed particular
correspondence between Jefferson and Ma
noleon. which it would be in our power to
command in court of law.
-But yet / say,
If impstation and strong circumstances
That lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you shall have It,
There is no hesitation in asserting that
Jefferson, more perhaps through fear than
from corruption, had made up his mind to