Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-04

be a miserable people.
He commended that twas highly absurd to
talk of going to war two or three years hence
nation ought to talk of such a thing until
[ they were prepared for it. That this wa.
not our case, was evident from the circun-
stance of our being unable to furnish the usual
supplies to the Indians without some relaxa-
ton in our Nom Importation law. And was it
to be supposed that the British would bs
sleeping while we were making our prepare
tons? Or was it supposed that the possession
of the frozen regions of Canada and Nova
Scotia would be tull compensation for the ruin
of our Atlantic cities Let any man look at
the numerous vulnerable points in our vast
extent of seaboard, and then say whether we
should not have enough to do to defend our
selves, instead of invading foreign countries.
Before All army could reach the borders of
Canada, we ahould be obliged to recall them
for self-defence.
Mr.. S. did not believe that we could sup
port the expence of war. 1t was very easy,
indeed, to make out estimates of expences !;
but he knew there was very great difference
between an estimate and an expenditure. We
paid hundred per cent. more for every thing
that was done than any other government.
What went with the money, he could not say;
but such was the fact Where were we to
obtain the money to meet the vast expences
OF war Our commerce would be destroy
ed, and with it would fall the revenue. It
was said, we might borrow money but we
could do this no longer than we could offer
good security to the lenders for the payment
both Of the interest and principal
1t was an oldfashioned doctrine, Mr.. S. OBJ
served, that standing armies were dangerous
to liberty. He could not account for the ex-
traordinary change Of opinion that had taken
place, in any other way than by supposing
that standing armies would be composed now
Of different materials from ali former ones
that they would all be patriots. What was our
situation at the close of the revolutionary war /?
Had it not been for the patriotism of one man,
we might at this time have been grooming un.
der military despotism. Why was stand.
ing army considered SO dangerous twelve
years ago, and so perfectly innocent now
He could give no other reason for this, than
that the majority were then out, and were
now in.
We are about, said Mr.. S. to declare war
against nation that is fighting for the liber-
ties of the world. He felt no obligations to
England for the protection thus afforded to us.
A man, in self-defence, might afford protec-
ton to another without owing him any good
will But he must know little of the history
of mankind, who could believe we should be
safe after the downfall of England 1t was the
nature of ambition to overwhelm every nation
within its grasp, and then weep that there
was nothing more to conquer. This was an
important consideration with him, & ought to
be with every man. Let any person consider
the history of the British government, and de-
eide, whether they were ever driven from their
measures by threats. No instance OF could
be found. If, therefore, we had no good rea-
son to believe she would relinquish her pre-
tensions by the conquest of Canada, it would
be silly to undertake it.
AS soon as Mr.. Shelley concluded, the
house adjourned Quarter before o'clock.)
DIED, this morning, in her 2lst year,
Mrs. MARr S1MMs, after a painful and lin
a.;,o. ;lInecc which she bore NOT ONLY with