Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-11

ferred to, abundant cause Of eomplaint against
France.-Mr. R. referred to the conduct per-
sued by the government, in relation to the
expressions of Spain, in 1866. He read an
extract from report made at that time by a
select committee of the house, which recon-
mcnded the raising of small number of
troops, to defend our front ogs against the H.
roads of the Spaniards. This report, he OBJ
served, was deemed of too warlke tone by
the republicans Of that day and it was super
coded by a proposition from a gentleman who
had since also taken great fancy to Canada
[Bidwell. He said the insinuation, that the
surmise of the Indian attack on Gov. Harri-
son having been brought about by British in
huence, must be totally groundless, or else
the executive had been extremely remiss in
not giving the alarm. On the contrary, he
had heard that very strong suspicious were
entertained ofthe Indians having been excited
to acts Of hostility from very different quar-
ter France. But he believed the true cause
of this affair was to be found in the we'll
known characteristic ferocity of our savage
neighbors. He repealed the idea of these
unfounded suspicions.-He next adverted to
the talk of taking Canada, by first seducing
the inhabitants from their loyalty to their own
government, in order that they might become
good citizens of ours. He had known, indeed,
one or two first rate patriots manufactured out
of traitors but he never expected to see the
principle acted upon in the gross, altho' it
might sometimes answer in detail. And
when lie reflected upon the horrible retort
that an enemy might make upon US in the
southern country, he hoped to hear no more
on that Sob, ect. If we were to conquer Ca
NADIA, let us do it by valor, and not intrigue.
AS to the general policy of war, he contend
ed that it would not raise the price Of south
ern produce lit airy one respect whatever, but
would decrease their value, if possible, as
the history of our revolutionary war proved
He agreed with the gentleman from Tennes-
see, that The non-importat;on law was demo-
ralizing the natiGn, and ought to be got rid of;
but he thought it strange that this could not be
accomplished in any other way than by join
ing our good friend the Emperor of France,
from whom, he insisted, we had nothing TO
expect. 1t appeared to him that after we had.
by our own wise Che would not say wise -ccre)
measures contributed to enrich the Canatlas, &
render them valuable, we concluded that we
had right to take possession Of them, on the
ground that the iaboreris worthy Of his hire |
He alluded to what had yesterday fallen
from Mr.. Grundy, in addressing the republi-
can members OF the house. In order to know
whether he might rank himself with these, he
should much rather hear an explanation of the
term rcpublicanism from one of the fathers Of
The church, than from junior apprentice Of
the law.--Mr. r. diverted to the situation o.
the Southern states. Such VAS the subordi-
nation of the blacks during the revolution,
that not one thought of rebellion was ever en-
tert.;ncd BY thcp at that time. But far differ
ent was the situation OF things now. The in
fernal principles Of French determination had
been indrstriously prepagated to an alarming
degree amongst the slaves, not only by per-
sons in the shape of pedlars, but even masters
had been found silly enough to spread doctrines
which laid the knife to their own threats. He
spoke from facts when he asserted, that the
nightly bell never tolled for fire i'll Richmond
but the mother Rugged her infant closer to her
breast He believed it was no better in South.
Carolina The Southern states, he trusted
were competent to self defence but they
we're utterly incapable of waging an offensive
war-Hc expressed hissurprize that We should
manifest SO unconQuerable an enmity towards
the country from which we sprung originally