Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-08
ADDRESS
ofths House of assembly TO the People
of LIhher Canada.

or ONlICT S1HcGo'
The House of Assembly having near
ly completed the necessary business for
which they were called together, beg
leave before they return home, to lit up .
their warning voice to their constituents
at this eventful crisis. The Declaration
of War issued against Great Britain BY
the United States, when first announced
appeared to be an act OF such astonlsh-
ing folly and desperation, as to be alto
gether Incredible, and not only excited
the greatest surprise among the inhanl'
tants of this province, but among the
great majority of our enemies them
selves. So many cogent reasons from
interest, affection and virtue, pleaded
for an opposite policy, that the most In
telligent became the most credulous'-
That government processing 10 be the
friend of man and the great supporter
of bis liberty and independence, should
light the torch of wal against the only
nation that stands between itself and de-
struction, exhibiteda degree OF iniataa'
ton or of madness, altogether lncom-
prehensible--'i it cannot be-, SAID the
wiser part of our inhabitants, the Unit
ed States will never declare war against
a nation which has uniformly Feated
them with kindness and RESPECT, vhose
fleets trotect their commerce, and whose
armies SUPPORT Their freedom ana mae-
tendence' But the men at present ruiz
ing the States, infatuated, or as their
more enlightened countrymen say, 'brib-
ed by the tyrant of France, regardless
Of the best interests oftheir country, and
the feelings and affections OF the great
| majority Of their own people, have COM
menced hostililies against our mother
country while treating their vessels with
hospitality, and instead OF threatening
their liberties, offering the most equlta-
bic terms of accommodation. This war,
on the part of the United States, includes
an alliance with the French usurPer
whose dreadful pelicy has destroyed all
that was great and good, venerable ana
holy on the continent Of Europe. The
government of this bloody tyrant pens-
trates it to every thiDg-it crushes IN
dividuals as well as nations letters
Thoughts as we'll as motives, s delights
in de stroying for ever all that is lair and
Just in opinion and sentiment. It's evil
IDENTITY this tyrant who now directs the
Rulers of America, * they shsw them
selves worthy disciples of such mas
ter,-Already have they seduced two
provinces from Spain. They first tempt
ed the people to rebel against their
lawful government, and then they de-
ceived and oppressed them.
They chose a time, to themselves the
most inglorious, for this infamous con-
duct, when Spain overwhelmed with
calsmities and fighting most nobly at
home for liberty and every thing dear to
man, was not able to send seasonabie
aid to her distant colonies. 1t is GER
talnly not the least wonderful among The
occurrences ofthis astonishing age, that
we should find nation descended from
Englishmen, connected still by the same
language and laws, by consanguinity
and many similar hats, not merely eu-
iogizng the implacable enemy of their
parent state, but Joined him in the war;
and while fretediag to nourish the pur-
est principles of liberty, bowing the
knee before the Toe of all just and Ia
,ional freedom, and supplica,ing his &C
ceptance OF tribute and adulation.
From this degrading picture, at which
the friends OF mankind and post ity
will weep, we turn with JOY 10 you, ~
ny of whom have already risked you
lives to maintain the unity of tae empire
we arc confident that The same spirit
still animates your breasts and those Of
your children, that you still retain the
same love for our excellent king, the
same veneration for our free and happy
constitution that you exhibited curing
the American war. You preserved your
loyal principles amidst the most dread
ful political divisions and most impiaca-
bic hoStilities; you were not to be ca
ioled BY those wicked and designing
men who looked for private qualifications
in the public ruin. You were not to be
deceived by their ISLANDERS on the tarent
stare. You felt no hardship, no cruel,
oppression. You saw no examples of
iahuaanity and cruelty these were
Imaginary evils invented for The most
7yictcd PURPOSES by those who sought
tor gain amidst slaughter and blood
You resisted their influence, and you
acsed nobly. You were not indeed sue.
cessiul, but the attempt covers you
with glory. When We picture to our
selves the sublime prospect which the
world would have exhibited this day, had
the population ofthe neighborins states
preserved like you, their .fiial loue, we
should net rave now behelts the CONT
nent of Europe groaning under the yoke
of a ssngulnary tyrant, nor his satellites
in America studiously initiating his fe-
rocious example.
1t is therefore from former expert.