Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-07

,of,Ieir country. The Ignorant were de.
Eluded bv arguments. which. those who hsed
Them. knew TO be false and sophlstieai'
In !, in vain TO think Of defending cnr-
Selves they exclaimed. % against the
naval force of Great Britain And TINS
was said BY the very men who nave 50
zeaIousls labored TO plunge this eoilntr!
into war with that power. Though In
our Dresent defenceIess situation. anu win
men at tie head Of our affairs. the mist
incapable and contemplate that ever 'ie-
sumsd 10 direct the councils OF nation,
we NAV not be able &c contend Win great
Britain. or with any other power. can
not for q moment believe, that uauon'
numerous. wealthy, ard high sprhed'
ftheir energy was properly called forth
and af,iy directed. are no; capaole OF ce-
Tending themselves against any power u
the wGrld. True. half dozen f,igates,
with TWO hundred. or two hundred thou
sand eun-hoats. are rot able 10 protect
our commerce and our seaports against
the British navy: but fifteen sail OF tie
line. aud fifty frisates. manned WIFI gal
LIANT American seamen. might set any
fierce which England could send across
the atlantic at defiance aud woald eva
bic Us 10 annoy her in her islands and CO.
lonies. With such force, the Hest-in-
dies might be considered as hostages Tor
her good behaviour.
To "a person acquainted with the eordi-
ton of Great Britain, this assertion will
not appear extrayasant. Though her ma
val force is great, the demands for it also
are great. 4 large portion OF it mu I
constantly be kept in the channel; fleet
IS required in the east: one IL the Medl-
terranean: and one IN the Baltic. Sac
could not then spare for so long an expedi-
ton, or support on this coast, force sutti-
eient to meet the navy which l have men
toned. But ii this naval force would not
lie sufficient for our protection, it ought to
be augmented. The second commercial
nation in the world, Astounding III all NAH
ner of resources for a navy, i'll any one
contend that we have not the ability TO
provide an armament which might cope
with small part CT the British force
And it is but small part that they can
send against US. If any are OF this OPT
Mon, they must surely be convinced Of the
folly OF counting contest with that power
in our present defeneeless state But al
though it must be viewed by every person
OF a sound understanding, little less than
madness to engage our country, unarmed
and unprotected. in hostiiities with that
formidable power, no American ought to
believe, that with suitable exertions, we
are incapable of protecting ourselves. And
no one ought to be unwilling to make the
necessary exertious to furnish this protec-
ton. millions for defence, not cent
for tribute" ought To be our motto. Let
it never be said, that republic which
boasts loudly CO its independent spirit, has
not patriotism enough to protect its indie
pendence. l cannot. viii not believe it :
No: the fault is Eot in the nation, but In
its rulers. To them it belongs TO give the
national tone. 10 support just and
necessary war;" said the great Chatham,
I" | would strip the shirt from my back. :"
Had such a spirit actuated the men who
direct our councils. We should never have
heard OF the inability OF the American re-
public 10 protect is commerce and its no.
ncr. This iof;y, this truly republican sPi-
Tit, ought to have been infused into the
American people. instead Of appealing to
the lowest aud meanest principles that az
tuates men-to their ayarice ana their cg-
pidity: and TO those in whom such prin-
ciples are the most pred0minant-the
proflisate and the ignorant.
THESECS.
REGIMENT, Al. SOM,