Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-28

repeiling British aggression ms Gh1n, ~
IN of the freedom of the seas has had the
frankness to declare, in substance, that uht,i
ENGLAND is humbled, he must disregard al,
r;oHts which interfere with this pursuit; ana
that we ought, as we'll wlshefs 10 INC ioPo.o
of the world, to be willing to submit TO Saefi-
fees, and to endure wrongs, for the ADVANCE,
ment Of that happy state, when his VIII shSli
be the rule of universal Obedience
II is overwhelming to reflect upon the pro-
gress already made by one man, TOWARDS t'.o
attainment of what was once consluefea CHI
merical-a universal monarchy ana tfiis 700
without affecting much concealment OF his OBJ
iect, or hardly STOPPING to employ piauSio!e
pretences. He has hunted liberty as MS ma
tural game, declaring himself to be It's proeec-
tor; he has brought nations to aid lii thelr
own destruction, bv Joining IN the war against
England, in order that he may establish the
liberty of the seas when her ruin Shall be &C
complished; he has violated the Obligations
of treaties, trampled on the rights OF justice
and humanity, TO 1--WE salutary lessons TO the
refractory or rebellious; he has provoked
wars, and conquered countries, tor the repose
of the continent; he has perpetratcd thet's
and robberies, in order to restore the lost
sense of obligation; he has committed Old
crimes with new aggravatlons, and enlarged
the boundary of human depravlty by the COM
mission Of new ones he has bowed the loity
spirit, the independent mind, and compeiied
it to lend its energies to corrupt the rising
generation in France with the maXIms OF des-
potism, to exclude the light OF freedom and
the beam of hope, and to cloud the inteilectu-
al vision with gloom and despair.
In France, the press is a tremendous IN
strument in the hands of the tyrant, and a
most fearful supporter of his power. lhro'
this channel he has exclusive access to the
public mind and pours into itthose systematic
Ealsehoods, which fill every public communl-
cation, from the throne to the hunbiest officer
Of the empire those adulatory ctfuslons,
bordering on idolatry, which tend to enervate
and corrupt the best feelings and those de-
testable lessons Of despotsm which help to
riyct upon the minds as well as bodies ofmcn
the most debasing servitude. The press un-
der its present organization In France, Instead
of being the friend, is the enemy of liberty
and truth, the scourge of virtue, and will be
the curse of posterity. Already the produc-
tons of artists and learned men In France arc
tainted with the influence OF despotlsm. The
mind is in bondage, and patronage however
liberal, cannot make it free. The learned DO
dies are all governed by the tyrant, and all
their labors are directed to the perpetuity OF
his dominion. Eulogics, complimentary po-
ems, elementary works for schools, and politi-
cal catechisms may thrive, but nothing higher
or nobler Can be expected. The great men
who survived the revolution have fallen Into
the different classes Of national institute, and
submitted their faculties to the drill OF
master. The eloquent Maury, the intrepid
defender of the altar and throne in the early
stages of the revolution, has returned from
exile to compose panegyrics upon the lllustrl-
Gus family of tie Honapartes and David, the
fcrocious acobin under Robcspicrre, now
embodies the visions of his imagination to
grace the habitation of his imperial master.
Codes civil and criminal have been compiled,
which afford no protection to innocence or
private right and great efforts have been
made to throw the splendors of learning, arts,
and jurisprudence, around the throne but it
does not require the gift ofprophecy to fore
tell, that whatever is unconnectcd with the
business Ct war, OF does not in some way mi
mister to the pleasures Of corrupt court will
ultimately decline.
This blasting influence is coextensive with
the powers of the tyrAnt. All the countries
of Europe, once the abode of tranquility and
comfort, over which he now exercises con-
troll, have felt it. Credit, commerce, indus
try, s the social virtues that adorn life, & the
lortitude that sustains its burthens all that
wisdom has devised to secure the order Of So
ciety, all that bcnehcence has executed to
mitigate calamity, even the face of nature it
selt--aIl wither ard die beneath his balleful
influence. The charms of refined taste, the
Iusture of cultured life, the hopes that yield
present bliss, and the dreams of future good,
all fade at his approach deso'ation, gloom,
amazement, sorrow, and despair, follow in
his train.
1t is not for me to interpret dark sem
tcnccs,'' or apply tie sure word of prophecy
to the existing safe Of France, or the passing
events of the times. Without resorting to
considerations of such awful import, there is
something in the thought of an alliance with
France, repulsiye to a moral mind. No man
II