Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-13
From the United States Gazette.


committee of foreign relations, that the mea-
sures recommended are insufficient tor the at
tainment of the avowed objects, and hence
have inferred that this report, like Its pIede-
cessors, is intended, not for domestic use, but
for expectation. Having been sent, III the
Hornet, TO France and England, they suppose
it will now be suffered TO die natural death !;
or that II will be further used merely as an al
tentative to induce the people oil the Unitec
States to acouicsce in further and more RI
pid enforcement of the French continental
system against commerce. As vet the COM
mittee have given no other explanation OF
their views than that contained IN the report
and we 10 not think that the bare !nadequaey
of the means to the end proposed Is sufficient,
OF itself, to Justify an Inference so uatavorabie
Go the integrity and sincerity OF the commit
tee. We cannot but admit that the proposed
augmentation Of the land forces, and the hlilng
up and putting in commission OF all the yes
sells not now in service, belonging to the ma
Wy, will go bat little way in preparing tor
us an honorable and successful conflict with
Great Britain. Still it will be doing some
thing i; and it should be considered that to stop
short in rapid, long continued, down-hlil Ca
reer, requires no ordinary effort:
Facilis decensus Avernl'
Sed revocare gradum
Hoe opus, bic labor est.
but To take, at the same moment, even an IN
cipent step in the opposite, ascending direc-
ton, evinces both resolution and vigor. The
first efforts of triumphant Democracy IN this
country were directed to the diminutlon oil
the revenue. the reduction of the military
force, and the humiliation OF the naval power
ofthe United States. The present report e.
yinces disposition directly the reverse OF all
this. Ii proposes to raise an army superior
to that which Democracy formerly disorgan-
lied; it recommends an immediate repair OF
all the remaining vessels belonging to the ma
Wy, which, with the appreciation OF al! the de-
mocrats were formerly dismantled and hud-
died together tn steep and rot In the tepid wa
tiers of the Potomac Formerly, one OF the
% Thirty nine Articles" of the political faith
of Democracy was, that the commerce which
would not protect itself, was not worth pur-
suing, and ought to be abandoned. Now the
committee declare that the hostile aggressions
which have lately been made upon our neu-
tral commerce, have a direct tendency to
sap the foundation OF our prosperity
70 subvert our national independence and
propose the imnediate adoption of measures
for its protection, by fitting up all the vessels
belonging TO the navy, and putting them IN
commission, as well as by permitting our
merchant vessels to arm for their own defence
ANY indication, however small, OF DISPOSE
ton in the majority 20 abandon their Idle
schemes of restrictive energies, and arg
nifed retirement" and TO return to the practi-
cal policy Of Washington. should meet well
come reception from us, & be cherished with
affectionate care. We hope, therefore, that
the resolutions offered by the committee, de-
fective as they are, wheD viewed In comparl
son with complete and entire system, VIII
be adopted and carried into effect without
dissenting voice especially when we consi-
der that the committee themselves speak OF u
future report in which they Will recommend
Sc those ulfcri0r measures, which In their opi-
Mon ought 10 be pursued.
What these Interior measures will be, or
whether they will be of a nature to complete
an ADEQUATE system of defensive preparation,
cannot be foreseen. At any rate, 1t is to De
hoped that the remaining advocates OF the ter
rapin policy of Jefferson, if any such there be,
will 10, be able so FAR to succeed as to pre-
venr the further deveiopement Of the plan, by
a rejection of these Introductory resolutions.
Since this zcas in tute Eye haze seen ar &C
court Of tie proceedings n RE house Of rsytre-
sentat:ves, and Gre sincerely glad 10 ind that
tire resoiutioas retorted By the committee hare
gst ss:.b 50 Hstie ohfosiiion.