Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-02
From the Esy York Evening Post.

Ma. Coleman,
Even the total extinguishment of COM
merce and the consequent failure OF revenue
from imposts, would not have lett our hscal
concerns in the deplorable condition we lind
them, if the government of the United States
had not desfroyed the NATIONAL CREDIT. AS
1t is, we are not only unequal to any great en-
terprise against others, but are utterly defence
less and unprotected ourselves. 1t is not de-
MED that the nation has great and potent ener-
gies, equal to the most Iiliiant undertakings:
but the exertion of these cannot be expected
III the event of war, which instead ot being
q war of the country, shall be only war u
the government. And a war with Great Bril-
tain at this time, the successful issue OF which
can contribute to the benefit of France alone,
and will have been the result OF French man
agement, cannot obtain the support OF reflect
ing or patriotic men. They will no doubt
while it lasts and upon the principle OF sell
defence, resist the enemy, but satisfied not
ONLY of its mexpediency, but its injustice;
and above all indignant at being from neces-
sity converted into instruments of French
ambition, a large portion of the country, re-
spectable for their talents and their wealth,
and even in point Of numbers formidable, will
fight only for present security and future
peace. a British war under present crcum-
stances will not and cannot obtain the pndlvi-
ded appreciation of the people. And unless
the government has revenue, or can obtain
loans to carry it on, it must be as disastrous
in it, results, as has been the system of quack-
ery, which for these four years, has been
grinding us into poverty. 1t has been shewn,
that there can be no revenue. Let us eXa-
mine little more in detail whether there can
be loan.
That want Of money which must compel
government to resort to loan, results from
the failure of revenue that failure of revenue
from the destruction OF commerce. Neces-
sarily then, as long as commerce continues
in its present condition, so long will the go
vernment be without the means of discharg-
ing loan The same absence of commerce,
which, for mere ordinary exigencies, made ne
cessary the loan which was obtained from the
bank of the United States in the year 1909,
and which makes one necessary now, will
make one necessary every succeeding year.
So that government, instead of being enabled
70 pay. will only be coming under new and
inevitable necessities for borrowing A state
of war, while it rapidly exhausts their means,
will more rapidly increase their wants. But
let il be supposed that We are not to have
war. that all the noise and clustering with
which we are sonae1imes terrified, and some
time. entertained, ARE intended only to make
the multitude stare; let it be supposed, that
inasmuch as our people at Washington are
assured, that in the midst of all her difhsul-
ties and epbarras,ments, Great Britain will
not make war upon us, and that therefore they
dare to push matters, by way of showing their
,nettle, farther with her than they have ever
ycnsured with the Emperor and King,to whom
their whale ~oadpet is marked with submls-