Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-28
For The .4lerandria Daily Gasettee.

about 10 be plunged into a war. DuflnS ele
longperiod ofour happiness ruth comPeis useo
acknowledges that there has also been portion
&c nneasiness and misfortunes. 1t can never
be reasonably expected that any neutral nation
ran. amidst the convulsiye wars and ealamltles
which agitate the globe, preserve itself en-
t;reiv free from their effects. 1t would be.
indeed miracle, if this country, surrounded
hv terrible storms and tempests, could escape
From their violence Notwithstanding some
tsssnasxes on our rights, we have enjoyed
valuable and profitable trade. By It, our farm
ers have been able to pay their debts and re-
gdeep, themselves from that miserable state OF
enthralment into which the preceding emoar-
go nut them. This trade, too, was chiefly
carried on with brave and unfortunate nations
contendine fortheir liberties agalnsta power
which had betrayed their confidence, & whilst
i was making professions of friendship, was
aiming the fatal dagger at their hearts. his
trade was a safe one, for our vessels reached
their destined harbor In safety, and returned
home safe. We have every reason to believe
t,,a+ war IS intended Else why was the en-
bargo laid why the mighty preparations and
the loan Of an immense sum OF money the
having Of extraordinary taxes-why SO many
declarations to that effect from the committee
&c g,re;rn relations and finally, why the en-
crease OF officers In the war department
Resides. ii is we'll known that many members
- CONGRESS- intimated their intention to lay
this embargo in order to give the people an
onnort,nity of sending off their produce. BY
this means large quantities of flour and bread
bave oone to Spais. and Portugal galnst whom
. ~ en,hargo, if considered merely as such,
and nat The precursor of war, was unques
.innahiv levelled Inaslnueh as the French
Government have not acted With good faith
towards us In what manner are we bound to
consider her friend, and to regard England
as our only enemy.
Tais war cannot be popular; because It has
eIs,.x,v,sl &C., ~
e.s,v understood and enacted by the rulers
e III neoDle, that if France Oh England re-
,,aolea tbe5r obnoxious DEGREES, the party SO
ranealing. should enjoy the benefits OF our
l,v,s and trade Why then did the Executive
= whom this dispensing power was SO fool
;sllv ntaced. declare to the world, that France
bSa ceased TO violate orr rights, when facts
- NE contrary stared him so strongly in the
face He wei knew he was dong wrong,
%,d he also knew that weak, servile and
.cr;nainp majority would support his false as
sertion. Why did Congress support false
hood. bv declaring and maintaining the pro-
c,anation 10 be true, thereby manltestlng
sbeir belief in the assertion ofthe Executive
yybv did they take his bare word for the truth
.or,be fact, and shut their eyes against those
.hr;Il;ant lights, which have so often bcamed on
-, from the awful CONGREGATIONS of our
nronesty on the ocean! For such conduct
stbev must make an atonement to the Ameri-
ran sneople. 1t is not too late to retract now,
ord.aeslst from their mad career. These men,
No have been In northern paper, properly
et,;led. mad men, who have come from the
.,v;l5s Of Kentucky and Tennessee, are willing
- plunge the American na,ion into all the
horfers OF war, merely to CRAFTY their old
and 1eep- rooted hatreds * preludices against
+hS Fnohsh--and what IS their calculation
and low absurt.iy do they argue They
bosst that they are able and will take Ca
mad s, and do England al the harm they can,
hut think it improbable, and almost lnPos-
sole. that She with her immense heets and
nt,sies will be raerciless enough to destroy our
seaport towns, the depositarles OF the real
.veaAh.and grandeur Of the county II we act
cd like an honorable and noble knight, hight
i5er for prize worth gaining, and III cause
fsaadca on the eternal basis Of trath and JUS
ice. ne might then expect from hera conduct
when Distinguished the age of chivalry. But
when we. enter tie field OF battle, with lies on
our lips. poison on our hearts, and deadly ha-
tired and wish 80 cut her up completely by the
roots, and in. unison with the mighty men OF
the continent, to humble herto lick our feet,
she like the hold and valiant lioness will tear
IN pieces every intruder on her quiet, and the
destroyers of her offspring. England with
heryaiant knights never has, andnever viii de-
sert contest which, towards her, has no other
foundation, than that of eternal hatred and ven
geance. Let us. once begin the contest; let
the fruits of the land be pillaged to pay mer-