Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-31

ring greater part Of our revolutionary
war, when Great Britain had to contend
with the fleets Of France, then powerful,
and finally those of Holland and Spain,
privateering was carried on successfully
but for the last year or two, more Tor
tunes were lost than gained, Experience
had taught the British more efectual
mode of securing their commerce. Our
privateers aud their prizes fell into the
hands Of the vigilant and more powerful
British cruisers, and privateeriDg proved
losing game. At the present time,
whatever remains Of the Spanish navy is
on the side of Great Britain. Fleets Of
France and Holland have been DESTROYED,
and the remnants are kept shut up in their
harbors: while the armed ships Of Bril-
tain far Ont-number those of the whsle
world beside. With such ample means
at her command, Great Britain can sweep
the ocean. And if she had desired the
destruction of our commerce, as carried
on by our own vessels, which her enemies
among us (who arc the real enemies too
ofour own country pretended-she, long
ere this time, might have destroyed it. :
have just remarked, that in the pro-
jected war with Great Britain; prigateer-
ing will be the only mode Of annoyance
on the part of the U. States. But shall
we not take possession of the British do
miniens on our nothern and eastern bor-
ders !? This has often been threatened:
it is part Of the bullying system in re-
gard to Great Britain but it has never
been seriously contemplated; and such
members Of Congress as l have heard
mention it, only made themselves ridieu-
lous by the grave faces assumed for the
occasion. It was repeatedly mtimated in
the earlier part ofthe session which COM
menced in the autumn of 1907, after the
attack on the Chesapeake, when Mr.. JET
ferson had made great hustle about
preparations for war with Great Bril-
tain.-This hustle was kept up in Congress
which teemed with hostile propositions
towards that power; especially when the
special mission Of Mr.. Rose was known
and his arrival expected, to make that sa-
tisfaction for the attack on the Chesapeake
which the conduct of Mr.. Jefferson had
prevented being given in London. 1t was
weakly imagined that this noise Of war
would make an impression OH the mind
of Mr.. Rose.-General Smith, in the
Senate, said, s. IF the British minister
arrives and sees the clangor Of prepare
tons for war his language, possibly, and
very probably, will be very different from
what it will be If he finds us reclining on
the hopes Of a continuance of peace.
Within week expect a resolution will
be brought into one house or the other,
to raise thirty thousand men. i wish the
new minister who is coming, may see that
We are prepared for war''-Such reso-
luton, or bill in form, was accordingly
laid on our tables, and there with other
similar abortive projects, slept through
the season. The conquest of Canada, i
have said, was never seriously contem-
plated. The southern leaders probably
imagined that the threatened invasion Of
that country might influence the British
councils to yield to. the demands of cur
government land unquesionably they sup
posed their partisans in the nothern states
would be flattered by the projects. But
the nothern states may rest assured, that
twill be the last thing attempted by their
southern friends, or rather masters. The
men who now rule the U. States will me-
yer willingly take any step which will
add to the population and power of the
nothern states. And Canada being on
their borders, would if conquered, nat,t-
rally unite with them and add to their
weight in the decisions Of great national
questions.
(Letter to be continued.
NOTES.