Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-18

On land, robberies, seizures, improvements,
by French authority ; at sea, pillage, slnklngs,
bnrnings, under French orders. These are
notorious. Are they unfelt because they are
French Is any alienation to be found IN the
correspondence and humIliations OF the pre-
sent Minister Plenipotentlaiy OF the United
States at the French Court In his commune
Cations soonr government, as before the pubic,
where is the cause for now selecting France,
as the friend of our country and England as
the enemy!
elf no illusions Of personal feeling, * no So
lctude for elevation of place, should be per-
initlcd to misguide the public councils; i 1t
Is, indeed, honorable for the true statesman to
consult the public welfare, to provide, in truth,
for the public defence, and impose no yoke OF
bondage; with full knowledge of the wrongs
Inflicted BY the French, ought the government
OF this country,to aid The French cause, by
engaging in war, ags;nstytbe enemy OF France!
To supply the waste of such war and to
n.eelthe appropriations Of millions extraordl-
nary, for the war expenditures, must our iel-
low citizens, throughout the union, be doomed
to sustain the burden of war-taXes, IN various
forms of direct and indirect imposition! tor
oEici8i information, respecting the millions
deemed requisite for charges OF the war;
FOR like information, respecting the nature and
amount Of taxes, deemed requisite for draw
ing those millions from the community, It's
here sufficient TO refer TO estimates and re.
ports made by the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Committee of Ways and Means and
to the body Of resolutions, passed In March
last, in the House Of Representatives.
1t would be some relief to our anxiety, II
amends were likely to be made, for the weak
ness and wildness of the project, by the pru-
dence Of the preparation. Butin no aspect OF
this anomalous affair can we trace the great
aud distinctive properties OF wisdom There
is seen headlong rushing, into difficulties,
with little calculation about the means and 1T
tie concern about the consequences. with
navy comparatively nominal, we are about to
enter into the lists againstthe greatest marine
on the globe. With commerce, unProtect-
ed and spread over every ocean, we propose
to make profit by privateerlng, and tor this
endanger the wealth, OF which we are honest
proprietors. An invasion is threatened OF the
colonies Of a power, which, without putting
a new ship into commission, or taking ano-
her soldier into pay, Can spread alarm, or &C.
ISOLATION along the extensive range OF our sea
board The resources Of our country In then
natural state, great beyond our wants, or our
hopes are impaired by the effect OF artlnclai
restraints Before adequate fortihcations are
nrepared for domestic defence, before men or
moaey are provided for war oil attack, why
hasten into the midst Of that awful contest
which is laying waste Europe 1t cannot be
concealed, that To engage, III the present war
against England is to place ourselves on the
side of France and exposes US to the vssaai.
are Of states, serving under the banners OF
the French Emperor
sc'rte undersigned cannot refrain from ask
ing, what are the United States to gain by this
war? VIII the qualification OF Some prlya'
teersmcn compensate the nation tor that sweep
cf our legitimate commerce by the extended
marine, of our enemy, which this desperate
act invites Will Canada compensate the
middle states, for New York ; or the western
states for New Orleans let US not be. deceiy-
ed. A war of invasion may invite retort of
invasion. When we visit the peaceable, and,
as to us innocent, colonies OF Great Britain
with the horrors Of war Can we be assured
that our own coast Will not be visited with like
horrors g
IF these observations are correct, and that
they are, / appeal to the breast OF every fflena
to his country'S happiness; why do we see the
war continued, when the prominent causes OF
it have ceased to exist IF those are the reat
causes of the war, which Mr.. Madison has de-
clared to be so, what can we gain by protract-
inp If. which we have not gained, and would
not have gained, without entering into It, Ii
tbcv are not The real ones, let US know, what
in truth they are, that we may at once be m
forued what it is, for which we are to risk
orr lives. our fortunes, our peace and union to
obtaio. The smiles of the Emperor we coyet
Motive fear indeed his friendship. We shall
not therefore fight for it. We will not fight
10 make President, or prop sinking partyt
oL4 he and for shich WE