Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-04-15
FROM THE CONNECTICUT COURANT.

Il candid ,dhheai TO CN horest Democrats.
Self preservation is tie frs. law Of nature
and is equally SO with nations IS with nd!,i-
duals. And, upon this principle, every En-
lightened ard virtuOus citizen ot the United
States must wish that the struggles bctweca
the two formidable powers OF Europe, Eng
land and France, may tcrplnate III such Il
manner as will least ertlanger the Interests ct
our own country. This point Cannot he dis
puted, and therefore need lot be proved. Tie
question thus smpliEcd, it is easy to see
which way our wishes, i'll all prudence, Shall
lead us. The all important dispute now pend-
ing must terminate either il f.vCI O! England
or France. If it terminate in favor Of Eng.
land, what are the consequences Not such as
will in any wise eGdangcr tie inde ;3cndeiIce or
the internal safety Of the United St.tes. Eng
land, in such AL event, VIII retain her own
independence and maintain her naval superio-
rity and nothing more. She vii! moi subIu-
gate France, nor add a foot Of ground upc,. Tie
continent of Europe 70 her own domrioiIS--
SIZE will merely keep what she has got; AID
that too at Vast expense both 81 treasure ard
blood France will, after all, Continue to DC
the most mighty and terrible Ration upca
earth ; and England viii continue 70 b. IN
perpetual jeopardy and approximations troEi
that gigantic power. Under such cncunl-
STANCES, burthened with the weight Of arenor-
nous debt, fatigued and exhausted by 1 lors
and bloody war, and having nation in ntr
nelghborhood that she constantly breads and
most constantly watches under t,eS1 circuna.
stances, could it be in the power of En! l4.:d
TO cndinger the independence Or the internal
safety OF the United Sites No reasonable
man Can think it. If even she had the will,
what could she do She could not send over,
and march into the interior of our country, an
army strong enough TO conGT,r it, OF strong
enough to stand its ground for one single
month. No person, who has SO much as one
thinble full Of brains, Can be under any APP
prehensions that England will ever be able to
subJugate this country.
Now look Oh the other side. IF the stfug-
gle terminate IL favor OF France, WHIT shall
We seef We shall see tie whole continent, 10.
:sether with al the isllnds of Europe subject
Cd to one man; and t,i.4t nan unriyal.ed beth
FOR military talents and iEsatitblc ambition
We shall see him cioathed with absolute So
vcrclgnty upon well as upon land , no
nation III the old world IefJ, TO stay his hand OF
check his power. He might spare myriads Of
soldiers long INJURED TO carnage and utterly
unfit for the peaceful occupations of life, and
might even WIN, tor his own safety, to get
them of his hands BY sending them abroad to
plumber and 70 obtain settlements for them.
selves and being master OF The sea, he could
transport them whithersoeyer he pleased.
Judge then the peril Of Our own cundion
Judge whether TIC United Sites, alone and
single handed, would be able to withstand the
immense mass Of power that might be array
ed against it. It's clear as sun beam, that j.
England be sabjugated by Bonapsrte, our own
that In such circumstances his tender mercies
toward US will not be cruelty, our hope Is
most irrational and will surely dis&ppoint Us.
Therefore if we have any regard for our own
interest, for our own safetr and for our na-
tional independence if we are rot self haters
and disposed to be self dcgtroycrs, We must IN
all reason and conscience choose that the con-
test should terminate in favor Of England, r.
Their than France and consequently must
feel an unwillingness, even an adherence, to
lending aid, directly or indirectly, to the lat-
ter, for the purpose Of subjusating the tor
rner.
We are impel!ed to this preference by the
lmperious law of self preservation, aud shoa!a
be driven to it, even were our c,uscs OF COM
plant against England ten fold greater than
they actually be. The true question Is n"'
whether We like or dislike tiian or the othS'
nation, but which of the two wouid enda'gtr
US most, and be most likely 10 bend US TO Us
will and authority, in the event Gifts hiai sue
cess against the other.
II sensible honest men Of whatever par!
would view things in their true light there
would be among them but one mind, but o;S
wish with respect to the Issue Q! the pEessh'