Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-09
For The Alexandria Gazette.
YIRcINIA, JUNE, 1871.
IOUDOUN-NO. ".

who thirty years ago, Wheh ha'"'s '"'
&C oar childhood, when we were poor ana
aest;;pte Of all the essential means OF re-
s;stanec. not only dared 10 repel the en-
cr,aebment Of Britain on our liberties,
bat finally succeeded in shaking Oft her
woke forever; shall We. when we nave
doubled in population. acquired immense
wealth, with country Astounding in ali
thc materials Of war-shali we now hesl-
tate with such accumulated means to meet
again this nation in arms? Can We doubt
the issue Of such conflict
This is plausible reasoning and crafty
ia= to the vain glory of the inconsiderate,
the ardent and unreAccting citizen. But
he that thinks more deeply, who looks
further into the condition of our country.
who scans circumstances and events with
q Patriots eye. and who observes all their
hearings on cur present and future Tor
tnaes-wili find in this increase Of popula-
ton. this accumulation Of wealth. this a.
bun,ianee Of Pesourses-dissuasives and
not imccntites to that war which seems
to be SO ardentiy desired by many, and
which hesins already to be thought una
Noidable.*
WHAT was the object OF that war which
terminated in our independence We
claimed to lie governed in America on the
same free principles which were enjoyed
BY British subjects in England. The re-
fusal Of these rights led SO a resistance TO
the attempt to compel by force cur sub
mission to an arbitrary system inconsistent
With English liberty. This was the cause
OF that war, which, after enduring the
heaviest misfortHnes, We brought to sue
cessfui close under the yirtuous, patient,
wise and firm guidance of Washington
We then commended for our liberties, for
the enioyment of the same free municipal
regulations, which constituted the safety,
and WAS the basis Of tie glory OF British
subjects in Europe. Such was the mo-
tive to that war; noble and generous
motive, worthy Of the blood from which
VIC spruug. aud which deserved the sue
cess which crowned the manly effort
Have We any such motive at present?
Are VIC fearful OF being deprived by Bri-
tain OF that system Of laws derived from
What is orr increase OF population
IF our numbers hare more than doubled,
then ore spread orer three times the Terri
toru settled at the commencement Of The re-
,.olnt;oaary 5cdr: and in proportion to
The ecieat Ct territory TO be defended, it is
Questionable schether our e3scfire strength
De as,c greater than then. Then too ICE
,rere sniied .Ed7c ICE are dirided. Both
these circumstances combined. probably
rsudsr as, ersn iR It :;ai'tcry Tie1c. ,ceaker
at this Deriod than 6t that. tits true that
the incrcGSe of oar scsGRh and commerce
kgs been 5egond all former srample. Bat
tiis circumstance. instead Of adding to our
sirsngih. ia respect 10 Britain. increases our
.eeakafss. jtctgse zee cannot defend them
ssaiast o,a enemy ,cho 6eans the Trident
OF tie Sea. This .cea'th and these ~
soxvccs tkcy can make their o1cn, or de-
ssrog ig cur hands. In cur last 7car zee
1coae peor; zee he'd little to lose except our
l:tesiy. IL the expected scar zee cannot
:oss oul. lihs:tg ts conquest; Though it is
not improbGjie that this acar kill prore
its c3'ad:!c II 'ss:Upati0R at home ! bit zse
shaI iaae ers-y thing else, our. aceatth. orr
pe.c:r, aai oar prosperity. Oar enemy
ioo .'i;i deios ros. ourselves the means Of
dtfrasi.,g the escFaxcss Incurred fer eur
destruction.