Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-15
THURSDAY, AUGUST IS.
For the .aIeeandria Gasette.

The idea that an Overilowlng treasury
would he an iudueement to go to war, as
;ntimated by President Jefferson in his
first message to Congress, puts me iii
mind of tipler divesting himself OF mo-
ney that he might not get drunk. De
graded indeed must nation be, when It's
rulers are afraid to trust themselves with
power for fear, of abusing it, and rather
leave themselves at the mercy OF a foreign
power, than retain the means OF aeiehce
at home. For my part | canuot see these
charms in poverty which fill the heads OF
romantic philosophers: and as 1t is with
individuals, so on larger scale it stands
with nations. We do not know the ca
sualities which may occur to render full
treasury necessary to our existence as
nation. But strange as the idea was, our
sapient legislature fell in with the QuiN-
otic scheme OF their political Deity; and
thinking poverty the greatest ofblessirsss,
left no stone unturned not only to dram
the treasury, but to dimiaish the national
strength and make us a ready victim for
the altar of ambition.
After the internal taxes were taken Oil,
we might have barely held our ground,
provided there had been no diminution on
imports. But our rulers like unskiliful
generals pulled up with the certainty OF
success, never thought OF a change OF for
tune or provided for ease ofemergency.
The sudden suspension of Cur commerce,
the duty arising from which was our only
dependence, gave the finishing blow to
our revenue. What have we now to re-
sort to Why. the very thing for which
the worst Of execratiOns were heaped on
the former administrations LOan!!
and this loan not to answer any particular
emergency, but for the common operations
of goYernment-to enable them to go on
in their old Flooding way of issuing proc'a-
nations, making reports. debating week
after week about the mode OF organising
the militia, repairing gun boats liking
torpedoes, and other matters OF equal mo-
ment.
When this political lunacy seized upon
our nation we were happy at home and
respected abroad-at least we might have
been happy at home, but for the pickering
discontented innOvatOrs, who repined at
the prosperity of the country while they
had no hand in its councils. How different
is the picture nov abused, degraded
injured and insulted by all foreign nations.
and that because we have it not in our
rover to resent it. Would it not have
been better for us to have trusted our
selves with full treasury and respectable
navy, than to have put up with all this
Blush for your country, We who have a
sense of shame weep for it. you patriots,
who have its interest at lieart-for the
iracibie will turn from it with disgust. and
the Factions point the finger OF scorn.
In ease we should be drawn into war
with one of the belligerents. which is
more than probable. our case Womb be
desperate. At the commencement Of our
revolutionary war, we at least. had union
and public spirit; now, fear, we have
little of either. We had as much in ouI
treasury then as we have now. and were
every way as well prepared Tor war
and what has brought us to this! why
the visionary schemes Of . philosopher
One, who, scorning to follow the beaten
paths of policy founded on reason. must
needs try new experiments, either for his
amusement or for the sake Of immortaliz
ing his name, by being stiled an oris'na
aenius. A doctor is culpable who makes
exneriments which may risk the life Oh
;a;rre the constitution Of his patient
How much more so is he who tries his
experiments on a whole nation which
needed no physic! and how contemplate
are they who acceded to his plans
NESTOR.
- r.no.,;c,,t HppnI6 of .1IEj 2