Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-14

Butts war inevitable Shall we now SO to
war on account of the British orders OF council
after having taken our stand against them
by the non-i.uportation act. This act stands
as counterpose TO these orders; we are
pledged to continue it, till they be repealed
The most valuable part Of our commerce, Is
our export trade. The last year we sold to
foreirn nations articles Of domestic growth
and manufacture to an amount greater than
$4,000, ooo-our prospect this year lsas good
This export trade also gives profitable employ
ment to our ships, our seamen * oufmcrchants'
The improvements in domestic manufactures
and the plain, though substantial and comfort
able clothing made in our families, will ena-
Die us to dispense, for time, with the slender
and shewy garments Of Europe-whlle the
money derived from our export trade viii
also enable the people to pay internal tax
es, to supply the failure OF revenue from I'M
posts and to make adequate preparations Tor
war, by putting our country into complete ar
mour, and making ready for battle if forced
on us. This is a safe, manly and candid
course of action, and consistent with our pledge
10 France and Great Britain and while II
shews our anxiety for peace, it exhibits Sc
rious and solemn determination, to encounter
all the horrors Of war, when we can no longer
avoid it. This, it is presumed, Is the best and
wsest policy which can be adopted by the
president under the circumstances to Which
our ilnproyidence has conducted us. But
zlF0fnE ehe-,---.----c-A1.A-1sI oei-t ,fl-
portant members of congress--this is not their
plan. They intend unless Britain rcpeals
the orders Of council before our army be rea-
DIV for the field, that then we shall commence
an offensive war on her territories Canada and
Nova Scotia, and on the territory OF her ally
Spain. They then intend to discard their pre-
sent systena of commercial Observation-Disclosures
fore deemed the only etfectual one in our
power-and to try the uncertain appeal to the
sword. Their system is fraught with all the
evils which we have before detailed-thct
zvhich, it is presumed, the president prefers
is more SALTS more candid-is more honora-
bic, and COMFORTS with the stand taken by us
lit is unexceptIonabIe as to foreign nations,
as we have an unquestionable right to pursue
it-and has been submitted 10, and seems to
be approved by our citizens. Farther than
enforcing the non-ilnportation act, we are not
bound to go from our pledge to France i'll
deed, in making that pledge we have gone
further than our honor and interests required.
But it is made, our faith is committed, and we
are bound to adhere to it, till France shall vi
olate its stipulations. Why should we go fur
ther? Is Napoleon able to defend us from the
hostility of Britain In his commercial regu-
lations is he so tender Of our interests To all
his acts is he so trust worthy? Is he so faith
full to his treaties and engagements with us?
Is he SO fond of civil and political liberty, as
" lhuuSC ia w 81 pC ollu oui StiptitIiOS, a!!u
TO hazard as it were, our existence to please
him. But Britain interrupts our trade to the .
dominions of France True In return, we
Danish her vessels from our ports--we prohi-
bit all articles other growth and manufacture
from coming to our market.-And these re-
strictionswe have pledged ourselves torrance
20 enforce till Britain repeal her, orders
Why should we go further Shall We be in
iuced to hazard war with Britain, Spain and
Portugal, merely to force paltry trade to
France and ltaly--a trade which is subject TO
such oppressive burthens and exactions as not