Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-07-19
From The Boston Rebertory.
TEXT

to the spirit of mercantile cupidity. if we
have not, like an infatuated gamester, staked
every thing on a single die. - af.slntel
IF we peruse the political matter in the
National Intelligsneer with peculiar In
terest, it is not tha, we thirk the specula-
tions Of the indiOiduai Samuel Harrison
Smith, of great consequence, as such but
we have ever believed, and we find that
the democratic editors, who are now in
arms against the administration, likewise,
believe, that in the Inte1ligencer we have
the sentiments and views of the cabinet.
The few lines we have quoted above,
contain the substance of plan which has
occupied several columns, of late, in the.
Intelligencer. An attempt to throw the
blame and -odium of the present public en-
barrassment on the commercial part of the
Community.
Devoted to the interests of commerce,
not as a particular class of our fellow-citi.
zens, but confident that their prosperity in
wolves that of every portion of the Ameri-
can people, we cannot witness such abomi
nable injustice and misrepresentation in ST.
lence.
rs it true that commercial cupidity has
involved our country in its present difficult
ties Z Let us appeal to facts
When MIR. Jefferson came into power we
had treaty with Great Britain, and ano-
Their with France, which completely answer
ed the wishes OF the merchants, and secur-
ed every thing they desired.
When the treaty with Great Britain ex-
pired, was it the cupidty of merchants that
prevented the renewal of that excellent
compact? Did they insist on the interfer-
ence of government, to demand enlarged
privileges for trade? Was every thing left
torhe operation of the: principles Of national
law, Of which every nation is its own judge,
by the merchants, or by the refusal of MIR.
Jefferson to renew that treaty
The true answer Of these inquiries can.
not be matter of dispute. Probably nine
tenths Of the mercantile class were perfectly
satisfied with the operation of the British
treaty, and desired nothing more than that
it should be made permanent. So far were
they from complaining, their satisfaction
with that state of things was urged against
them, as an everlasting theme of reproaeh.
They were represented as willing to make
sacrifices of commercial rights to which the
paternal care of the new government would
never submit! They were determined 70
extort further concessions from G. Britain
and, under this pretence, the old treaty
vas suffered to die, & after considerable de-
Law, which cannot be accounted for, but
from,a disposition TO open a door TO some
cause of dispute, negotiation commenc-
ed.
1t would protract our remarks to roo
gn9t length, toele,ail,he chicanery which
was practised, year after year, to prevent
any commercial arrangement with that
country. Sometimes other topics we're
blended with those relating to trade. and
made the sine qua non, of an accommodate
ton. More than once, when Mr.. Monroe
had obtain ed what was required by his first
instructions, to avoid a conclusion our 60
vernment rose in their demands. All this
time, the merchants suffered, and suffered
sorely against their will. Some, it is true,
were made dupes by our rulers. The more
intelligent knezo that their cubidity zpas fat
tered, and their hearts seduced to new ex.
pecta,ions, merely that they might be made
unwilling torestrict themselves to what was
just and proper, and what could AT ANY
TINE be obtained. The multitude, howe.
yer, who were ever the most vocilerous,
though but indirectly concerned, appfanded
that PATRIOTISM, whichwas determined to
humble Great Britain, and bring her to such
terms as our rulers should dictate. The
APPARENT intentions of our government
were defeated ; their REAL intentions were
not. Great Britain was not content to
waste her blood and treasure to drive the
French, Spanish and Dutch flag from the
/ oce an. merely that we nipht snnnIp the de.