Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-24

repeal Ii was cruel Invention III the eusi-
ness of war. calculated to extend It's calamltles
to such as were not parties to the contest. 1t
frustrated the ardent desire OF his imperial ma
iesty to do us justice, by the solemn injunction
which his honor imposed, not to repeai ms
DEGREES, which were retaiiatery so long as
the cause of them existed. There was awen-
deriul concert in the language OF the Amerf-
can and French cabinets onthc subject OF this
order. After lying in "oelvlous hight tor
years, it was suddenly recalled to a new SER
vice, and the communications oil both cabinets
cotemporaneously became vocal with 1t. APP
plication was forthwith made to the British
government and when it was ascertalned
that this order was considered as merged in
a subsequent one, and would rot be formal
ly repealed, it then became the theme OF
fresh defamation, the only impeachment to
the freedom of the seas.
But these topics which have briefly ex-
amined are nothing more than the pretenccs
for hostility If the pth Of our controversy
with Great -Britrin lay only in these causes,
all irritation would soon subslde, and Just
policy would bring again the days of prospe-
rity. And this am persuaded would be &C
complished in spite OF an administration,
whose power is compounded OF French at
tachment and British hatred, II it was pot at
the same tint supported oy the quick Jeaton-
sizes and deep rcsentmeEts, unreasonable eE-
pectstions, and oeep-rooted preIudIces OF the
great Body of honest Americans, in relation to
the people and government of Great-Britain.
The spirit Of lofty pretenson, of rigid eXac-
{
bly, influences the opinionseyen CT such men,
has been enlisted into the service Of the party
now in power, under the various preteXts
which the purposcly unsettled state OF our re-
lations with Great Britain, has supplied. Had
it not been for the operation of such causes,
the present adminisra ION could never have
ieopardzed the safety of the Country by their
savish attachment to one nation, and their ha-
tired OF another. Public opinion woa!d have
compelled them to make an honorable adjust
ment with Great Britain, which might have
been effected at any time; CT it would have
driven them from power and filled their
places with men OF other views and batter
principles a sounder policy would have
prevailed, which would have been felt, iii a.
gain opening the true sources o. prosperity.
Our national character would not have be-
come the scorn of slaves, nor our cltizeEs the
victims of perfdious rapacity.
I do not here address the apologists and
abettors Of French despotism, the revilers OF
Great Britain, the advocates Of war, the trail
tors to the independence OF the country. With
such men 7 VIII neither reason nor expostu-
late. But with men who have an interest in
the last great question of peace or war; who
can contemplate, with some Just feeling, the
present war against the liberties and virtues
of mankind who can keep down their re-
sentiments, while they consider the pretcn-
sions of Great Britain, her motives, her int.
rests, and her dangers; and who can discern
in the policy Of Bonaparte. the steady. pursuit
OF universal conques,, by the diabollcai union
Of fraud and force, eff all that is detestablc
with all that is tegrible-l would beth reason
ard expostu!ate. -....
OF such men I would esquire what, bat
the operation OF Causes. already indicated, has
enabled Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madison TO-
perseyerc for years in deceptive, irritating.
and hostile course of policy towards Great
Britain To avoid the proiiiered renewal Of
a treaty which the best interest OF the coun-
NV QCliauCU y-tO ~ liz Oi~ SlItCI - IAitiS
concluded, by our ministers in London, en-,
bracing all the points in dispute between the
two nations ito refuse to deliver up British
deSerters, whendeynanded, claiming them as
native americans ito defeat the solemn mis-
sion of Mr.. Rose, sent to this country for the
sole purpose Of making honorable PREPARATION
for the unauthorized attack Oh the Chesapeake
BY a sorupulous adherenceto mere punctilio;
against reason and usage to cajoic Mr.. Ers-
kline into delusive treaty, knowingly made
without authority, and carrying with it an III
suit inserted by A,r. Madison himself, to en-
sure its rejection; to charge Mr. Jackson,
another minister OF peace and reconciliation,
falsely, with offering an in suit to the govern
rnent, and by virtue of that laisehood, 20 dis
miss him in an unprecedented manner; to
lay an embargo, by sea and land, under false
pretence5, intended to cripple her commerce,
and to PROSTATE i,er independence, at the foot
of her impacablc enemy and, to hasten to
the last most atrocious act Of TIE adn,inistra-
ton, 10 renew the non-intercourse law against
her, without previous authority, assuming, for