Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-05
ALEXANDRIA.
SATURDAY, December $.
TO sHEw
sns VERY AGE & BODY OF THE TIME
HIS FoRM AND PRESSURE"
g TO sHEM
Our Relations 7ci!h France.

gress, says "Our affairs with France,
retain the posture which they held at
my last communications to you" We
were willing to believe, and we yentured
to express the opinion, that all we were
to know upon the important subject of
our relations with that government, was
not contained in this single paragraphs
from which we might infer any thing, or
nothing but that those relations would
be made the subject of another and
distinct communication. In this hope
Gor there was at first more hots than
faith in the sentiment) we have waited
thus long for the disclosures. We are
satisfied, however, that all expectation
OF further view into the arcana of our
French concerns, is vain, and that if the
people should obtain any further insight
into them, they will not be indebted to
their government for it. Nor ars they
to expect more from the nezskahers
which speak the sentiments and possess
the confidence OF the government. Like
my Uncle Toby, who was careful to give
the zvidoqv minute account of all his
battles, except that in which he was
wounded in the groin, these sticklers for
the rights and honor of the nation, never
fail to let Us know of every British
wrong, while the insults and injuries Of
France, did it depend upon their dis
closures, would remain forever unno-
ticed and unknown. The reason is OBJ
yioss. A full and fair disclosure of
French per6dy and injustice, might have
the same effect upon their mistress, the
feofle, as too close an inspection of my
uncle's wound, would have had upon his
mistress the 4,id0s. 1t would prove,
that they are not the men they would ap.
pear to be, and that in the midst of their
great professions OF zeal in the cause of
their country's rights and honor, they
were priyy and conserving to the viola
ton of both, We are now engaged in
wa avowediy waged in support OF our
commercial rights. We take it for grant
ed, ,ha,the principle Of eommercial right
for which we now contend, is to be mai,!-
tanned at all times, and against all nations
---or in other words, that we will maln-
tain our commercial rights as well a.
gains. France as against England. How
then does it happen that we are at war
with the enc and at peace with the other
at the present moment? Way say the
government, because England impresses
our seamcn, and imposes unusual rs
striciions upon our commerce. And
what of Franc Why as to France,
"thc posture of oar affairs with her, re-
ma;rs as usual" Now what this pos
ture is, AID hitherto has been, remains
to be known. Without being acquaint
ed with the secret wrongs Inflicted on
this country BY the French government,
or dwelling upon the innumerable in
suits which she has put upon US as
nation, we refer to the following abstract
from the report Of the Secretary of State,
20 shew how far she has respected our
commercial rights. By this report it is
shcwn; that since the treaty of lsos, she
has captured Five Hundred and Sixty
American Vessels
OF these she has condemned l44
Burnt II
Robbed and plundcred "a
Sold So
Scuttled at sea
Sunk 3-2S4
Sesuestered so
Con6scated 5
Cfthe remainder, fate unknown l6s
Recaptured 81
Lost
Converted into privatser
Partially released. acquit-
ted, restored or compro-
missed 4l-S26