Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-23

i tive OF the practical understanding and eff
of our deprecated recession. 1t was a dec
ration of submission, as far dis submissi
consists in refusing resistance by force. L
government seems now sensible of this ia
error, and is determined to retrieve it but
was sorry to observe, with measures as Inc
: cient upon the principle of resistance by for
as were commercial restrictions, in subs
tuition of that principle. And when we To-
for the causes Of this deplorsble ineficient
they resolve themselves, as heretofore, in
tenderness for. the treasury department, &c.
Mr.. Giles said, that whilst upon this mo
unpleasant part of the sube he wished
be INDUCED in few observations upon III
state of our public debt; because this subje,
in the hands of a skilful hnancier, hadlbel
the most efficient weapon for beating doFnll
the measures, which he believed, werdtst
calculated to support the character andp-
mote the interests of this country. MlP.
| said, it had always given him pleasure tee
that debt in rapid state of reduction, afhe
had at all times given his aiitrto factate
that Object. We had, however, expericed
the effects of a debt, of above 100000 OF
dollars, now reduced to perhaps 100000 OF
dollars yet this difference of the amlnt Of
| debt had never been felt by society. It had
| produced no sensible effect upon the cannon
intercourse amongst men In their pedniary
affairs. He asked every gentleman to effect
and recollect, Watcher in his pecunjry ar
rangements, he ever took into his calculations
the present, compared with the former state
of the public debt For his part, helsaid, he
should never have known Of the reelection d
the debt, but for the annudl treasury report
The reason why a debt of eighty millions of
dollars is not felt in the United States, Is, that
the amount is SO cntil ely within their ability.
Now, sir, is it not infinitely better to restore
the debt to It's former amount or more, when
we know from experience how little influtnce
it has on society," and that influence will ne
cessariIy be diminished in proportion to our
encrease in wealth and population, than to
surrenderthe smallest attribute of the national
sovereignty
Mr. C. said, before he concluded, he beg
ged permission to observe, that particular in
dividuals supposed they had an interest In i'm
putting to him wish to- involve this nation II
war with Great Britain, and had according
lv reproached him with the most unworthy e
pithets. He said, no gentleman Pr, sent wish
ed for peace, or deprecated war with Grcai
Britain more than himself He said, he hop
ed he was not blind to his oen interests, nor
the interests of those inhabiting the sam.
scene of country with himself. 1t was lmpe'
rioasly their interests, not only to preserve
peace with Great Britain, but free conn1cr-
cial intercourse with her. Grain was the
product for expectation in that part
of the country; Great Britain was almost at
all times in want of that article, and was al
this moment giving very high prices for it,
The country was generally in . very prospe-
rous condition, in consequence of this state OF
things, and it could not be desirable to change
it. But he never could see the incompatible
ity between the desire of preserving peace,
a preparation to meet unavoidable war, IL
appears now to be almost universally agreed
that if this course had been heretofore pursu-
ed, it would have ensured peace and II war
should now come, it would be in consequence
Of the fatal rejection of the proposed measures
of preparation for war. In fact, there is no
sounder maxim, than that preparation for
war, was the surest mean of preserving peace.
If in this moment, in consulting his own and
the nations interest, ia the preservation OF
peace, he were called on to decide merely in
reference to that object, whether we should
now raise thirty thousand men (his favorie
number) or ten thousand, or no men at all,
he would certainly prefer the thirty thousand.
If you had $4,000 men on the confines Ct
Canada, Great Britain would Sen believe you
were in earnest. She would know that Liter
hat force was raised it n,,--.'e apl'i:eu ~ 40
-sne would OF course oegin 10 Cal
;uIate its consequences II she found that
he Inconvenience of opposing such force
would not be compensated for by her hostile
expressions, she would probably abandon
hem. If She thought that by the chances of
var, an obedient and friendly colony might be