Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-01

eyeey thing to fear. And 1.-THE conquest
were to be made by the D., States, the
country, either by force or treachery'
would be transferred to France. To main.
tainthe possession against the attempts Of
Great Britain tore conquer it, would re-.
qaire an army and expenditures far sur
passing our whole present military estab-
iishment. But it would be in still great
er danger from France, whence might
slip out force sufficient to wrest 1t from
our hands-if under such administrations
as have governed us for the last ten years
any resistance should be made. The rea-
SON imperiously urged by the French 60.
vernment to that of Spain. in the year
$500, for the retrocession Of Louisiana,
was, +" that Louisiana was An ancient pos
session of France" So was Canada; and
were it once in our hands. it's restoration
to France would be as impcriously de-.
manded Of the United States. as was tho
province Of Louisiana Of Spain. And
would such an administration az Mr.. JET
ferson's or Mr.. Madisen's, which has 90
long been cringing at the feet Of Bona
parte, resistIthe demands Certainly not.
But let France possess herself of Canada
and then what additional demands would
be madel The nothern parts of New
York, the western parts Of Pennsylvania.
the State of Ohio, the territories of Indi-
ana, Michigan and Illinois, the States Of
Kentucky aud Tennessee, the Mississippi
Territory, and tho whole Of Louisiana
westward of the Mississippi, would also
be in like manner demanded for in all
these vast regions France once had militia
~ posts or settlements and she would
claim and demand all of them as cher
ancient possessions = and with as good
right as she demanded and compelled the
Spanish government to regrant Louisiana.
But Canada remaining in the hands OF
Great Britain, she will keep fast shut and
bolted that notheru door by which the
French would enter and re-possess her
ancient territories, and then, by tho joint
operation of intrigue, corruption and
force, attempt the subjusation Of the whole
United States. Instead therefore Of our
attempting the conquest Of Canada. sound
,,olicy would require its being kept in the
hands Of Great Britain.
But although our southern rulers will
never, by conquest or otherwise, volun-
tarily add to the strength Of the northern
section Of the United States, they will not
hesitate to increase that Of the southern
section, with or without right. Hence the
measure as base as it was unjust, of taking
possession of West Florida.-a country to
1ohich Gas l shall take occasion to shew)
ne haDe not title, and which we should moi
have attempted, had not the distressed
and enfeebled condition of Spain, oppres-
sed and over-run by the armies Of Eu-
ropes tyrant, rendered her incapable of
sending thilher an adequate military
force for its protection. With the like
unrishteous views, the conquest Of Eas,
Florida will BE- undertaken and this by
the very men. who for 90 many years
have been raising q hue and cry against
Great Britain for asking the surrender,
and on refusal, for taking the Danish aeet,
to prevent its falling Gas it would imme-
diately have fallen) into the hands of her
implaeable and formidable enemy. The
British at war for their existance, took
from the Danes some twenty vessels Of
war-and the rulers of the y. States
while We are at peace with all the world
under flimsy pretencs Of title seize one
Spanish province. and without even that
pretence, or any other which will bear
the light. appear to be preparing to seize
and by force Of arms to take possession Of
another. But the taking Of East Florida
will coincide with and render moro com.
plete, the grand object Of the projected
war with Great Britain. the putting an
end to all commerce and intercourse scith
the British don'inions, in correspondence
with the French emperor's system for
destroying the only power which can ef.
fectually control his march to universal
empire.-By taking possession Of East
Florida, whose waters unite with those Of
the U. States, they will prevent the re-