Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-08-02

y
he formerly did oblect) to the establishment
of manufactures in the United States, and
considering them as the means of producing
the condensed population which forms great
cities, sagely remarked-that "the r1obs
[meaniug the mass of the populationl OF
great cities, add just so much to the support
of pure government, as sores do TO the
strength ofthe human body."t Great cities
are OF course great sores and for great and
inveterate sores, cdutery, or burning, IS an
effectual operation. The want of revenue
will also prevent the further payment of the
public debt, or even the interest of il. But
necessity has no law. The government
will profess extreme regret and satisfy the
people Except the public creditors) by as.
cribing their inability to pay. to the unjust
war waged against us by Great. Britain,
"whose power as Mr.. Jefferson says] on
the ocean is so ascendant" as to render
commerce, our only material source of re-
venue, impracticable. Many jealous par
tizans of the administration will not think
any apology to be needful. They will not
hesitate to say openly, that the public debt
is due chiefly to Englishmen-andl let them
lose it, or wait until a peace shall. enable the
country to fulfil its obligations.t To the
inhabitants of the seaports who have subsist-
ed by trade, and to sea. fariug men, they
may say-We have immense territories o.
pen for your reception-hne lands which
wait only for hands to cultivate them. To
such of them as do not incline to emigrate
into the wilderness and become armers, but
remain attached to commerce, navigation
and the fsheries-they will say-Trade is
utof the questionable the British mer-
chant vessels monopolizing the commerce
Of the world, cover the ocean: Fit out pri-
vateers-we will give you commissions.
Make your fortunes if you can-and by your
prizes supply the habitual wants of the PEG.
pie. BY privateering too, you will show
your patriotism for the duties on your
prize goods may furnish that quantity Of
revenue which will be indispensably neces.
sary for the public service-to wit-to MAIN
tain the public officers, and pay the men,
bers of Congress their wages.
Thus it appears that for the contemplated
tassi0e zUar. no funds will be necessary,
not even our ordinary peace revenues.
If war with Great Britain should take
place, privateering will be the only mode
of annoyance on the part of the United
States; and fortunes are already enjoyed in
anticipation, to arise from the captures of
British vessels and merchandise. But this
will prove vain expectation. During a
greater part OF our revolutionary war, when
Great Britain had to contend with the fleets
of France, then powerful, and finally those
of Holland and Spain, privateering was car
ried on successfully: put for the last year
or two, more fortunes were lost than gained.
Experience had taught the British more
efectual mode of securing their commerce.
Our privateers and their prizes fell into the
hands of the vigilant and more powerful
British cruisers, and privateering proved a
losing game. At the present time, what
ever remains of the Spanish navy is on the
side of Great. Britain. Fleets of France
and Holland have been destroyed, and the
remnants are kept shut up in their harbors /;
while the armed ships of Britain far out
number those of the whole world beside
With such ample means at her command,
Great Britain can sweep the ocean. And
if she had desired the destruction of our
commerce, as carried on by our own vessels,
which her enemies among US (who are the
real enemies too of our own country pre-
tended-she, long ere this time, might have
destroyed it.
have just remarked. that in the project
ed war with Great. Britain, privateering will
be the only mode of annoyance on the part
of the u. States. But shall we not take
possession of the British dominions on our
northern and eastern borders! This has
often been threatened; it is part of the
bullying system in regard to Great Britain /:
but it has never been seriously contem.
plated; and such members of Congress as
| have heard mention it, only made them
selves ridiculous by the grave faces assum-