Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-14

the Commercial Interest, is nevertheless:
undertaken dgains. the urgent and ince sssnl
remonstrances of that Interest. Put the
question, TO day, to every man embarked
10 Commerce from here to the Delaware
will one in an hundred tell you that we are
at war at his request, or for the protection
of his interest? 1t is not point on which
public opinion is divided by Party. The
magnitude of the event has IN great mea
sure overwhelmed party distinctions. The
voice of the whole Mercantile Interest j.
united, to an unprecedented degree, a.
gainst the Var, which is declared to bs
undertaken, at SO much hazard of BLOOD
and treasure, for their benefit. Is this credi
bic Will any man affirm his conviction tina,
the causes assigned for contest, are the onll
causes, and that there has been no other mo
tive for it, than to yield protection to those
who have assured the Government, that in
stead Of protection, /. would be their ruin ?
Under these circumstances, we believ,
that the War, "instead of elevating will de
press the national character; instead of sc
curing, it will endanger our rights, instead
of improving, it will prejudice our best in
ltcrests."
Nor can we shut our eyes to the pros pee
Of French Alliance. Horrible as the con
temptation of such an event is, it is farce.
upon US. We cannot shake il from GU
minds. 1t cannot be said that French con
nexion is now more improbable than British
war was, year ago. The total neglect Q
preparation is a circumstan ce a1VfuHy omI
nous of our future course. I, points bu
too distinctly to the AR VI, on which we ar
to rely for succor in this conflict. Tn
same counsels, that. under the pre- sent cir
cumstances of this Country could select En-
| gland, for an enemy, must inevitably, il
their further progress, cleave to France as
| Friend, and an Ally.
French Brotherhood is an idea big wit
horror, and abomination. Up to that poin,
no duty or principle require US, and NJ
power shall compel US to go. 1t is en-
craven on our hearts, and mingled with on
blood, that we will have no communion o
fellowship with that power. WE WILL NE
YER CONSENT that her unhalowed nos,
shall spread over our paternal fields; tina
| they shall violate these Temples raised b
| the hands, and made vocal with the worsh
| ofour fathers, or that they shall pref me IN
ground where the bones of New. England
| Ancestors lie enshrined.
| There is no common character, nor ca
there be common interest, between III
of New England, and the Papists. the Ia
| fdels, the Atheists of France; or betweel
our free, Republican Institutions, and tn
most merciless Tyranny that ever Have
suffered to sfT ct m onklnd. Ley the natio
be named, that is the ally of France, an
not her slave; "lct the degree of submisso
be marked. which SHE will not pass
What people hath come within the grasp G
HER power, that hath not been ground t
powder? or hath commuued of her prin
ciples, or received the bride IF HER friend
ship, that hath not been covered like tn
mercenary servant cursed of the Prophet
with leprosy, as white as snow?
Hath any Nation or Government, NJ on
archy or Republic, ventured within the de-
of this Monster and returned!
Me vestigia terrent,
:" Omnia te adversum spectantia, nulla re
trorsum,"
The fields Of half Europe are whitenet
with the dry bones of human beings, slaugh
tered by this memorable Tyyant last year
and stained with the red. gushing blood Q
other thousands of human beings alike slai
this year. From the extremity of Italy t,
the Baltic sea, from the Atlantic to tn
mouths of the Danube, can you place YOU
foot on one inch of ground, and say yo,
stand on the soil of FREEMAN Can Won
in the whole space, point me to one man
whether king, prince or peasant, that hold
life or property by any other tenure than tn
Tyrant's will I? Can you shew me, within
the tremendous sWeen of His Arm enc La