Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-02-22

leon tells them that the annexation of the Vaials to his
empire is the natayai result of the immense expendi-
ture of his treasure in forming a road thro' that noun
famous region. He tells them too that he has form
ed IN grauA projef no less a scheme than to unite
the Baltic to the Siene By an immense canal, run
ming thro' the territory of several nominally iadepen-
dent princes. When this canal shall have been CON-
pleted, his majesty, in announcing the incorporation
of Westphalia, Prussia, sc. with France, will no
doubt represent it as the :" natural yesa.t" of the vast
expenditure Of money in forming this said canal. al
vay natural!
-
Il as thus he styles a chamber for registering hs g.
dicts, coRiposea 81 the nsOSt ae0otea Of has slaVes.
We sincerely rejoice at having it in our power to
congratulate our country friends upon the rise in the
price Of produce in our markets-We have for a con-
siderable time been of opinion, that however the vio-
lent rancor of party spirit might shew itself in refus-
ing a charter to the bank of the United States, or the
weakness (and we fear We might add the wicked
ness) Of the administration in suffering itself to be
caioled by France into a non-ntercourse with England,
yet in despite OF all, the farmer would enjoy a good
price for the produce OF the last years labor. For
two years they have seen their crops rottlng IN Their
stack-yards, or been obliged to sacrifice them for
what little the times would allow our merchants to
gve-and even now, they enjoy a good price for their
labor, only because our administration is unable to
prevent it. What we ask have they left undone
which it was in their power to do, to effect a reduc-
lion of the price of produce' We sincerely rejoice
ovever that we depend not upon the rickety steps OF
our own tottering administration, but upon events
beyond their control, and relations which they viii
not dare to alter. AS it is a matter of so much i'm
portance therefore, let us examine the state of Eu.
rope to see upon what our hopes rest.
In England, Notwithstanding the clamor made in
the early part of the spring, enducing a belief that
the scarcity would amount almost to a famine, the Ia
vourable alteration which took place in the seasons,
entirely destroyed the hopes ofour democrats, who
fondly hoped that the time for humblihg. nay running
Great Britain, was at length arrived. Altho' Eng
land can spare little Of her produce for the supply Of
her foreign army, yet -four is at SO low a price as ind;-
Gates the reign OF plenty amongst al ranks at home -
The price of flour in Great Britain would not war;
rant any extraordinary price in our markets. The
same observation may be made of the West India is
lands, and on the continent OF Europe, we know by
fatal experience, that the iron hand of despotism,
which rules with so much rigor, that once happy por-
ton of the globe, would gladly seize TO its own use
any Of the labors of the yet. free American. Besides
which being entirely deprived OF every outlet for the
products of The soil, abundance must there prevail,
unless their agriculture be reduced to a more dread
ful state, than we have reason to believe it as yet is.
Even d~espotism cannot at once alter all the habits of a
people, and where his armies are not Immediately pre-
sent, agriculture will still smile, and ensure a plenti-
tul subsistence to the laborious husbandman. To this
general description of the continent, there is one ex.
ception we mean the peninsula. The agriculture of
Spain, was not sufficiently fourishing to supply her
own demands even before the present heroic struggle
Tor independence commenced. Portugal too has al.
ways been compelled to import a considerable por-
ton OF the provision necessary for her consumption.
What then must be their wants, when so great a por-
ton OF their citizens are withdrawn from the culture
OF their fields to supply their armies, and at the same
time, 20 large a number of auxiliary forces introduce
ed amongst theml 1t is here, then, that our farmers
are 10 look for a market, and this they will enjoy, so
long as our relations with Great Britain continue, not
decidedly hostile, and Lord Wellington may be
able to support his position in Portugal. How much
then do these pretended friends of the people shew
their regard for them, by praying SO ardently for the
success OF the French arms in that country, and OPEN
ly declaring their JOY whenever new of such an event
may be circulated, where our market for the produce
OF -four country depends entirely upon the ability of the
English to maintain their present positionl In this
way, the people may Judge between their real and pre-.
tended friends. "The prayers of the wicked howe
yer en- never prevail" and we are confident that
Lord Wellington, will be able to withstand all the
efforts OF France, at any rate, during the continuance
of the winter.
But let us see what our cove rnment has done to
promote the present state of things BY refusing to
renew The charter ofthe bank Of the U. States, they
have rendered the demand for money so great in our
cities, that merchants cannot procure the means Of
giving to the farmer the full amount which the price in
Lisbon would justify-We think that we NAV safely