Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-29

in war WIN SfCai-i'i A.s'
since witnessed only repetition OF nara
words, the mere staggering OF buiiies-
with abundant evidences OF i'll wll--but
without any solid preparations for such
war: knowing also that the treasury was
empty; and that with their mischlevous
Interruptions & restrictions ofcommerce,
the pnblic revenues were constantly dimi-
uishins knowing farther their utter
dread Of imposing nezo taxes which wo"ld
hazard or destroy their popularity; ana
believing that a large addition to the old
taxes, consisting wholly Of duties on goods
imported, by the temptation it would OFFER
10 smuggling, might rather lessen than
encrease the actual receipts OF revenue !;
knowing moreover, the disposition OF the
people of the United States to remain at
peace From all these considerations l
have, for good while past, been disposed
to believe our rulers were really as unwil-
ling as the people were averse, to engage
in any war, even with Great Britain. In
the actual state OF things, L have even
considered it fortunate that the absurd
prineiple of Mr.. Jefferson, that the public
treasury ought not to be rich, because an
accumulation Of money might tempt thena-
ton to- 90 to 7car, was literally exempli-
fed; he having so managed our public at
fairs as to empty the treasury, Il to com
pei his successor to borrow several mil
lions of dollars, for the ordinary payments
and expences ofthe government.
But late occurrence, the hostile act of
Com. Rodgers in his rencounter with 4
British sloop ofwar. has led me into new
train Of thought. This rencounter having
excited much public sensibility, and being,
in my view, pregnant with serious conse-
quences, no other subject demands such
immediate consideration.
The meeting Of the American frigate
President, commanded by Commodore
Rodgers, with the British sloop Of war
little Belt, commanded by Captain Bing-
ham, was doubtless accidental !; but the
circumstances under Which the frigate
sailed, as mentioned in the government
paper at Washington, and the facts stated
by Commodore Rodgers himself, in his
official letter to the. Secretary Of the Ma
Wv, leave no room to doubt that his con-
duet was the result of previous orders
from the Executive: in fact, to pursue
the British frigate Guerrier; which moi
long before, had Impressed A.hei.iea0
citizen from one of our coasting vessels.
Commodore Rodgers says, he was four
teen or. fifteen leagues from that part Of
our coast, called Cape Henry, when sail
was discovered in the East; that he gave
her chase, and continued it for more than
six hours, before he came up with her ;
the vessel chased, all that time endeavor-
ing to make her escape: tor though the
Commodore could not see him so clearly
as to Judge what was her size, it is plain
she saw the vastly superior size of her
pursuer, or she would not have run from
her. These and some other circumstan-
ces, which may be afterwards noticed,
prove satisfactorily that this unwarranta-
BILE chase was in execution ofprevious or
ders: without which Commodore Rodgers,
as commanding neutral armed ship,
would not have felt himself justified in
making 1.-THE same government paper
confirms this conclusion for the Com
modore having requested formal enquiry
into every part of his conduct in thelcase,
that paper informs us that the President
refused to grant his equest-bccause he
approved Of the Commodore's conduct.
This, indeed, has not been said in that
newspaper, under the hand Of the Presi-
dent, or Of the Secretary of Navy; be-
cause there is possibility, that hereafter
it may be convenient to say, that the edi-
tor made the publication without authori-
ty. Certain it is, that although near a
month has elapsed, we have heard of no
enquiry. l take it for granted there will
be none for if faithfully conducted, the
Commodore, for his own justification,
would be obliged to produce his orders
which might officially expose the Enecn-
tiDe to merited censurse for authorisins
an act Of zcar.
Let us for a moment consider the act Of
chasing. In time of universal peace. if