Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-06

at New-York, last from Sheerness, the Mr.
ror ofthe Times Of the 18th ult. has been re-
ceiyed, containing the following article on
AMERICAN POLITICS.
The greatness Of our stake in the events
which are passing In the Peninsula prevents
us from paying that attention to the politics
of the United States of North-America, which
in times Of more tranquility, we should pro-
badly be disposed to give them. We content
ourselves. for the most part, with few cold
expressions of regret for the alienation she has
shewn towards us, and of wonder, that a peo-
pie using tie English tongue, acquainted
with English literature, and protesting to be
the warmest friends of human freedom, should
so preposterously and in such utter defiance
of the principles they profess. embrace the
cause of the sterneSt tyrant that the north has
ever seen, should seek to league themselves
with him against the people to whom they
owe their origin. and all tina. 10 valuable IN
their political constitution. We can only &C
COUNT for the ,alimosity that prevails In the y.
States against this country, on the supposiuon
that the memory of the revolutionary war is
much more vivid in that country than 1t is
here, for here there are no traces OF 1t In the
public feeling. With us the American war
is indeed tale OF other times and we are
quite as ready to do Justice to the heroes OF
Tits Washingtons-its Hamiltons-its Mont
gomeries and Greens, as the people OF the y.
States themselves. This magnaniMity OF feel
ing is Just both toward ourselves and our A
mericaD brethren. The contest has left no re-
collections ofsoreuess On this side the Atlantic,
and we cannot sufficiently regret that our
transatlantic brethren should not be disposed
TO view it with the same philosophical calm
ness. The first and second presidents of the
United States, who filled the chair of the first
magistrate of the republic, were men of adj
mirable temper and spirit for the government
OF their country, and possessed OF the busiest
views of It's real interests. They loved their
country, but they were not insensible of the
debt Of gratitude which that county owed to
England, and, accordingly, it was the object
of their administrations to draw together the
bonds which had been rent asunder by the con-
yulsions of civil war, to obliterate the remem-
brance of past animosities, and to join Great
Britain and the United States, by those ties of
connection which so naturally linked them
together
The fundamental object of the adfniustra-
tions of Gen. Washington and Mr.. Adams,
was 4 thorough cancellation with Great-Bri-
tain, and Mr.. Pitt, who, during the period of
their authority, welded the reins of govern
ment here, was actuated by similar spirit.
Under Washington and Adams the United
States seemed to have attained the very ze-
NTH of human prosperity. Theyhad gallantly
achieved their independence, and they had
rea2ed the reward of their valor in the testi-
monials Of esteem with which they had been
cheered during their struggle by some OF the
wisest and best among as, by Mr.. Burke, by
Mr.. Fox, and Mr.. Pitt, at the outset OF his
public life, then beaming in the political he
misphere as star of the first magnitude, and
irradiatipg with his corruscations, and more
than supplying the vacancy occasioned BY the
demise OF his illustrious father. Britain and
the United States had mutual reason to rejoice
when the latter were under the administration
of Washington and Adams. The governments
of the United States and Britain had then a
mutual interest in each others prosperity
Grounded each of them ON a more ample
freedom of principle than belongs to the con-
s9tution of any other state In existence both
Britain and the United States had Just reason
to be solicitous for the prosperity OF each o.
-thcr, because they were then almost the only
free states in the world. How much stronger
is the reason now, that the United States and
Britain should coalesce. when there is scarce
lyany thing between them, and an universal
military despotism
In the present circumstance of the world, is
not the first interest of The United States that
Britain should preserve her independence p
If Britain unfortunately should become pro-
vince of France (Which, however by the bye,
we do not see any reason to fcar) what is to
prevent the subjugation of the United States.
This is fearful speculation, which it would
become every NorthAmerican politician deep
ly to reflect upon. We regret the acrimony
which distinguishes their press, ard the very
yirulent abuse with which they are constantly
loading our public ministers. There are such
things as the decencies of life, which give a
grace to the manners of those who are re-
moved certain degree above the vulgar.
These operate to refine and civilize us, and
20 smooth the ruggid path of human inter