Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-15
For the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
ARBELA---Mo. III.

the discovery OF America, havai iva ~ -
mean. Of ANNOYANCE and defence, became
,n.,,.r of still greater consideration and al
most every maritime nation OF Europe DC
came possessed of navy commensurate win
;.s trade and colcnies---yyhen British manu-
fac,ures and British naval power became de-
c;detlly superior to those of any, nay almost OF
every other nation, they began to extend their
views still farther. From being the greatest
they began to thirst after monopoly nehe'
:. CONTINUAL obstacles which they have been
continually throwing in the way of every other
,,,;on. Hence their navigation act, hence the
severe and monstrous restrictions LAID upon
the trade and manufactures of these then CO.
lonies and hence the rivers OF human blood
that have flown upon the plains OF Hindostan'
From all this it will appear that as the rul-
;nr passion of France is universal DOMINION,
so the ruling passion of England is CONNER
ria, monopoly and to obtain and secure this
object, the dominion of the seas is absolutely
necessary. Thus, as ;le ruling objects OF
France and Great Britain, are irreconclleable
TO each other, the wars of aggrandlsement
mentioned in my last are continued under the
complex form of ambition andinterest united
and as these are two Of the strongest feelings
Of the human breast, their Earrings Will con-
t;nue to disturb the peace of the world, un-
less Britain should absolutely sink under the
weight of her own greatness. In that Case
her navy falling into the hands OF her power
full enemy, with the wealth and population OF
all Europe at his command, there is not a SIN
gle obstacle to his becoming literally the So
yereien of the world, unless indeed the tall OF
Britain should be protracted, until the strength
of these United States shall become SO great,
as to oppose bulwark impenetrable to the
utmost efforts of the destroyer. From the
peace Of 'sS, (when Britain was with very
ill grace and most reluctantly compelled to
acknowledge our independence to the pre-
sent day, the wound inflicted upon her pride
and interest by that event, still ranklcs. To
this grief was speedily added one still moro
calling. The unexampled extension ct our
commerce ; and the food ofprosper;ty which
flowed in upon us after the adoption OF the fer
deral constitution, gave loud alarm to COM
mercial cupidity and it was determined to
seize the first favorable opportunity to check
that enterprise which they feared would short
~ become most formidable rival. The war
of the French revolution gave the occasionre-
quired, and in 's3, Mr.. Pitt produced his pa
per blockade, blockade which embraced the
whole coast Of France. The moderation and
fr,nness of general Washington alone saved
us from war at that period. France in the
mean TIME, was not idle. Although we had
saved them from famine, although we paid to
the republic the debt due the monarchy, still
they were not content, but despatched Genet
to this country, for the laudable purpose, if
he found the government were determined
not to make war upon England, of endeavor-
ing to array the people against the govern
, .ment. And this was the conduct OF France
amidst the storms and whirlwinds Of her re-
,volution. Thank God, we then had Wash
ington at the head of our affairs, the weight
of whose character alone could have saved us
from. the deadly embraces of that fend Of hell
called French liberty the liberty of the as
sassin's dagger, the guillotine, the lanthorn
post, and the bayonet. The impressnents by
the English, and the extension or modi6ca-
ton of their orders, as suited their interest or
caprice, continued. Until the time of the
directory, our commerce had not suffered
materially from French depreciation but un-
der them commenced an unparalleled series Of
insult, outrage and devastation, which did not
end until the schecks they had received from
our navy, and the unexampled enthusiasm of
the nation in support Of the government of
their choice, convinced the French govern