Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-24

thunder or destruction. None 81 out C tst9''
are besieged nor is our internal tranquility
threatened bp foreign Invader. As It re-
snects any disturbance from the foreign enc
nv with whom we contemplate to be at war,
We NAV both lie down in peace and sleep II
safety in the most exposed situation IN the
country without any one To disturb our rcpose'
We contemplate the invasion OF foreign
territory to which no one pTetends we nave d
nv right. unless one to be acquired by con-
onest- It IS TO be war of conquest upon
land. undertaken with view to obtain repa'
ration for injuries we have sustained on the
water. In the first place, although our no.
nor is said to be concerned N IL ana spae I.
l;s = war which cannot, consistent with honor,
be avoided, can see nothing very honorable
in it. We make war upon Canada because II
is sunposed to be defenceless, or at least SO
much SO as to afford an easy conquest. ouch
. great, powerful, and valiant nation as the
United States have been frequently represent
ed in this house, would as it would seem be
rather disposed to brave dangers and surmount
difficulties than sieze upon victory from
which they could reap no iaurels, merely be-
cause it could be obtained without effort Ii
Canada is weak it is equally inohensive, and
in that view, itsyery weakness ought 10 De Its
defence agaiusta great and rnagnanlmous ma
ton. The Canadians have done us 10 wrong.
They have been quiet and inoHenslve neigh
hours. willing to trade with lis and to buy and
sell on the principles OF far reciprocity, They
have manifested no disposition to coyet either
our wealth Or our territory. Now A injuries
B, but happens to be more powerful man
than B next neighbor G.. B, instead OF seeking
PREPARATION of the injury from A, OF whom 1t
is due, but from whom it is doubtful whether
1 il can be obtained, takes revenge OF { who had
done him no wrong, by doing him much
Greater injury than the one he had received
If Canada has issued no orders in council
which cbstruct our commerce to any part OF
the world She has neither impressed our
seanoen, taken our ships, conhscated our pro-
perty, nor in any other respect treated us Ill.
All the crime alleged against Canada or the
Canadians, is that, without any act OF their
own, they are connected with, and under the
protection of nation which has injured rs on
the ocean. For this reason and this alone a
war; to be carried into the heart oftbe coun-
try and her peaceful plains, the abodes OF 10
nocence and virtue, az least with respect to
the United States, are be converted into
fields ofblood, and slaughter, and her cities are
TO be laid in ruins, j. e. if they do not submit
on summons to the inperlons mandate OF the
rude invader, who bias 10 other claim to Ell
Their obedience or submission than force. In
what point of view would we consider the man,
who, having received supposed or real IN
;ury from the parent, from whom the obtain
inc of redress was probably lmPractlcable>
should wreak his vengeance, upon an unot-
Tending child, merely because unable 10 resist!
An instant glow of indignation would arise IN
every countenance against such conduct. How
ever this NAV comport with those maXlms oil
political morality, which are but too frequent
iv applied to national quarrels, yet weighed IN
the balances of that common justice and mora
litv which trust, we profess to be arule which
OUGHT to he applied both to national and lndl-
viduai transactions, it will be found wanting
But, admitting that what is usually called
offensive war may, at sometimes, be not only
lawful but necessary, good advice is equally
necessary, or strong and powerful reasons
ought to exist, before a nation throws ltsel
into the attitude of war In an enquiry whc'
Their a war be not only Just but necessary, OIL
attention may be properly turned to the follow
ing points lst, To the causes Of war %. Tc
our present situation to make that war Sd
To the objects which it is proposed to obtair
| by war. 4th, To the necessity OF war tor the
/ purpose of obtaining those objects, and TIE
probability that it viii be effectual to the END
contemplated hope shall experience thf
| Indulgence Of the house, while attempt few
| miscellaneous observations on these points
although probably, not strictly in the order II
which they have been mentioned. 1t IS un
| doubtedly true that, even where suticlen
| cause of war, orrather sufficient provocatlol
to war exists, every motive derived from ei
Their expcdency or policy, may be in opposl
ton to that war. There may be either wan
of ability to wage that war with effect o.
/ there NAV be no object to BE obtained, OF suhl