Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-27
TO be continued }
-zID: Sitter
From the Nezv6urghort Herald
THE CRISIS.
THE SALVATION OF OUR COUNTRY IN THE
HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.

THE SALVATION OF OUR COUNTRY IN THE
HANDS OF TIE PEOPLE.
ErtrGct Of Iefter j7o9H The Country.
6 In answer to your question, What is the
duty of the northern and eastern states, at this
crisis? l would reply, let them be temperate
but firm, in the use Of constituted means for
redeemng the country That an entire
change of the men who direct the councils OF
the u. States, is indispensable, is position
that no rational man can deny 1t is idle to
alledge that since we have engaged in war
we ought to prosecute it with unanimity and
spirit. Unanimity consists in an agreement
Of minds; in harmony of opinions, and how
can unanimily exist in the midst of ciscord :;
How can we prosecute war with spirit, to
which they are utterly opposed! 1t is absurd
1t is impossible.
" hold ii to be certain that Europe can ne
yer be at peace, until Bonaparie sinks into the
grave or G. Britain ceases to interpose an OBJ
Stacle to his boundess ambition. BY uniting
with France against her enemy, we are in dan
ger of connection that will render it inlpos-
sible for US to make peace, without his consent
And is there man in America, that would
pledge his country to continue the war during
the life of BonapArte, or during the existence
If the power of Great Britain to resist him
Where is the man whose mind does not re-
coil at the thought
THAI the chief officers Of government
must be changed before we can have change
Of measures, is individually certain. The pre-
sent administratonha have committed themselves
on certain points, not essential to the honor or
safety of our country and they cannot with
propriety recede from the ground they have
taken. It is in vain therefore that we expect
peace; while this administration or one Of
like character and principles shall hold the
reigns of government
" There is plain rule by which to judge
of the merits of an admnistration--Tha hat
administration which PRESERVES THE
PEACE, CHERlSHES THE INDUSTRY
AND ADVANCES The PROSPERITY
OF A COUNTRY isa good administration,
and deserving Of public confidence. That
administration which DRIES UP THE
SOURCES OF REVENUE, WEAKENS
THE POWER, DlSCOURAGES THE IN.
DUSTRY AND DEGRADES THE CHA
RACTER OF A COUNTRY, and especi-
ally that administration which embroils coun-
tIJ POWC' anu IllNOtScS II III III
necessary wars, is a bad administration. Ii is
totally immaterial what titles or epithets such
an administration may assume-rcpubIican or
federal, arlstocratc or monarchical-anv go
vernment that leaves nation in worse con-
dition than it finds it, is bad government for
that country And to continue such an admit
nistration, after it has produced all those Gala
mitous effects, is mudness-absolute INSANITY.
Men do not thus act in private life and BUSH
ness. If farmer, year after year, should
pursue mode Of tilling land, which brought
him no produce, but impaired his property and
reduced him to the verge of ruin, all his
neighbors would pronounce him fool, an
idiot, proper subject for a conservator. But
is not this the precise fact with the administra-
ton of our government.
President Washington had as difficult
task to preserve the peace and the commerce
Of the United States, as Mr.. Jefferson or Mr..
Madison. Our commerce was assailed and
3s