Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-16

rr.,,s IF Representatives, and is now
the .1 - S.n.te. AS drowning men will
s' 0s ! straws, the friends OF peace are en-
s A,s;nr 10 fatter themselves with lain'
,haIit may be there arrested lean haru-
0p p.rsnadc myself, however, to beileve 'nas
PSl sortan, a measure would have been
~ ~" h, sorward without a previous ascertain
rOuSe The certainty of its success. Greas
'|Dpsns Sv;sts in the public mind, and every
n.y. s seno,iiring for news from Washington
~ oFs ~ Determined advocates OF the ad-
.n;s,,a,;an5 profess to approve the proJFc,eo
:" hnt the great body of the community de-
- 4 as the greatest calamity than can be-
" Inns. In The. mean time, the ottice-hoiaers
~ Office hunters are using every exertlon 70
'.IIr the pvople,&induee themto give tbs death
, slos, III their own prosperity and that OF the
ann,ry. byappfoying Of the madsoieasures
n or pnrsuIng at Washington. In few IN
aancss they may succeed In their attempts ;;
. ~ when the farmers find their crops lying
& - hand for want Of market, and the tax-ga-
q .,arers coming among them for money to sup
w., ina war, they wilhbe the first to cry out
81 fsa;os, their rulers. The proceedings OF the
3 uonse Of Representatives have of late exhibit
- 81 determined q hostility to free debate
.s.t there is gerry little encouragement fer the
& s;s,as Of the country to attempt to discuss
,he important topics which now occupy the
.,,ention oetbat body. Yet even the tyranny
of the majority should not deter the friends OF
4 nsace from SO solemn i duty as that Of warn
10 them of the evil Of their ways, and of the
8 apn,orsbIe consequences of that measure
q ,as;cb seems 70 be the fayorite wish OF their
hearts. There are yet men with US, who will
:, asGeye that war is seriously resolved on.
s Ibavs long lamented this spirit ofunbeliefbe-
,suse il has been the Cause Of apathy and In
\ ,c,iyity--ot silence and Indifference among
+ ,he nsople at q time when the voice OF the
\ nation should have spoken in a language that
\ vould have made the heroes of the Capitol
\ renbIe and obey. That voice Will be heard,
\ bat il may be too late to prevent the disasters
which the folly Of our rulers IS bringing up
onus.
! Extrcct of a letter .frepi Senatorial Congress
10 a gentleman in Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
dafsd WasAmgtoa City, June 4th, 1912.
B DEAR SIR,
ought to make some apology Tor not hav-
lac sooner acknowledged the receipt OF your
hvors The fact is, would have done SO,
had not from day to day been expecting to
baYe it in my power to tell you, what course
our government would ultimately adopt in It's
foreign relations. 1t is impossible even now
% speak with absolute certainty on that sub
iect, but think it moreathan probable that
lctters Of marque and reprisal will be issued
sgainst tbs British, and perhaps against France
also, as she viii give no written assurance CT
the repeal Of her DEGREES, and In TACT is prac-
Using on them, as though she hae. never pro-
Missed 10 repeal them. At this moment the
House OF Representatives is engaged IN dis
cussing the question for an open declaration OF
var, and the question Will probably be carried
there, bu, think ii will fill inshe Senate, and
IS mentioned before, letters of marque and
reprisal be substituted. The urgency OF a
certain description Of men to declare war now,
cant be matter Of surprise, when it IS known
that they have been pressing for il, since the
very commencement of the session, and Their
succeeding in their object in the beginning Of
April was only prevented BY the embargo -
That measure would not have been adopted
Nthe time, had il not been to prevent war IN
'si he state of preparations would render Us
mere competent to meet it. My opinion pes
ieetg accords with yours, that it is high 1
Congress should adjourn Indeed I think
they had Better have adjourned long since. l
thought when the acts were passed for raising
the army, for fitting the navy for service, for
Borrowing the necessary money, and for the
procurement Of all the requisite munitions Of
war, that, Congress should have adjourned and
allowed the President time TO have carried
these acts into effect. In the fall we would
then have had our army raised, disciplined &
ssrlpPed, ready to take the field, 50 that ifthe
Causes ofwar were continued, the word and
sae oioSs ght So together. To declare war
now IS, as You retnar&, taatameunt to a paper
cocSade, for We are totally unprePared as yet
% carsy such declaration into effect.
mat Pennsylvania has been overlooked by
frpf,E Il ri