Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-09-23

,oy TUG Tepeai Vi TIC ouS.S az
that the principal causes OF complaint a.
gainst England might be amicably adj
iusted, and at the very moRent when t
had become manifest to all parties that
nothing more was to be expected from
France but continuation ofthe grossest
insults, menaces, deceits and caJolery
'practiscd on our government, and the
most abominable system of plumber and
rapine, piratical burnings imprisonment
stripes and murders peSpetrated on Gus
citizens.
That our sense eff the folly and gull
Of thus involving the country lii "'F'
is increased by the humliiatins and q
farming aspect Of its helpless ana un-
protected situation, when the go'eIn-
ment was without AN etficieI4; army or
navy at is command, when there were n"
sufficient fortresses oil defence on i've
sea board, no safe protection against t"e
savages on the frontiers, no adequate
supplies of military stores prepared, no
timely provisions for state OF war. when
the public revenue and the pubic Gre
dit were gone, the treasury eXh"hsied'
and the government unable to repleh'sh
il hy loans, and AFRAID for the present 10
resort TO taxes.
That in anecessary and righteous war,
however erieyous the burdens ut taxa
ton might become, We should be ready
to contribute according to our means,
with the LOYALTY Of faitnful citizens;-
but that having seen ii. the report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury. all the Old
taxes proposed to be revived, which he
and ether persons in the government
had formerly condemned and assist ID to
render hateful to the people, having per-
ceived thirteen bills introduced into the
last congress, and only laid over until
after the election of President, to be act
ed upon at the next session, by which
the stamp tax, the carriage tax, the "h's-
KEY tax. the land tax and all the other
obnoxious taxes are TO be re-estublished,
we cannot but feel Disguised at the GER
tain prospect of being soon bu' dened
with those taxes to defray the expences
of an unnecessary and ruihous war,
which has no attainable object in vie"
but what we believe might be attained
by frank and friendly negotiation, and
unfeigned, steadfast impartiality OF con-
duct towards foreign nations.
That however much we disaPProve OF
the war, vet as Americans, alive TO the
honor OF our native land, we Cannot but
feel with sensibility the late pnrten,ous
intelligence of the fatal disgrace and loss
sustained by the American arms at the
very outset of the contest, iii the surren"
der of the whole North Western Army,
under the command of General Hull,
including in the capitulat!on, the rem
forcements Of militia Oh their march to
Join him, together with all the public
property, munitions and stores IN the
garrison of Detroit md that however
much the circumstances of this event,
without gun having been fired, may he
supposed to reflect on the character OF
the commanding officer, sele ted Ia
vorite Of the President, yet we also con-
ceive it impossible not to regard this
signal disaster as melancholy and de-
cisive proof of the unprcpared state OF
the country to meet the calam'ues and
exigencics of war, and as a convincing
evidence of the infatuated rashncss, lnl-
provident weakness and wretChcd ipa5l-
lity of the administration by whom tie
war has been commenced.
That we reflect with deep concern and
humare sympathy on the dreadful con-
dition of Our fellow citizens or the from
tier settlements, exposed as we fear they
must now be TO all the horrors OF Indian
devastation, at the commencement OF
hcstilities, brought on principally by the
inconsiderate votes and speeches ot their
representatives in cong, ess, eagerly unit
ing with the administration III the cla-
merous * idle parade of an attempt to IN.
wade & subiugats Canada,wilh1ut taking
heed Of the probable & sad necessity OF
which by that provocat;on we might be
so soon reduced of being obliged to de-
fcnd our own territory against the most
direful vengeance of the enemy.
That if the chaaces of war promised
10 be as fortunate as they seem to be DIS
heartenine, and if the conquest of both
the Canadas was as certain as we be-
lieve it will prove impractlcable, vet
are unable 20 discern how the acquisi-
ton Of those province. could conpen-
safe the United States for the waste of
blood and treasure necessary TO possess
them, since it is obvious that they would
either be surrendered back at the con-
clusion of the war, or that. il they could
be retained, they would only be all addi
tional and dangerous incumbrance to the
union Of these states, whose limits have
been already so widely and vastly ex-
tended as to weaken the ties which
bound our good old confederacy to-
gether, to impair its solid strength and
excite within its sovereignty the jealou-
sizes and exacerbation Of rival and con-
Aicting interests.
49, A