Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-20

sorting to hoStlllleS. Dul .nS - :,
nc CONGRESS- was to be obtained ana Whethei
majority of both houses could be brought 70
take the daring and hazardous step, no man Ia
or out of the government, without the sii' u
nrophecy, could have predicted
The public mind had been so repeatedly
distracted and deceived by boisterous speech
es and bold but ephemeral resolutions, that II
had sunk into state of apathy, and was no
longer excited even by the sound OF war echo-
ed in the ministerial paper from the proceed
ings of government
When the bill before us was first bro't up
from the other house, it was the opinion OF We
ry few that it would obtain the support OF
majority of this body and even now, 1t was
likely to pass, not because it was approved by
majority, but of the differences OF opinion
which existed among gentlemen as to other
courses which had been proposed
If, with the light and information possessed
in this body as to the views and designs OF the
cabinet and of congress, it has been doubtful
among ourselves whether the government
would resort to war, how was 1t to be known
by our merchants, or any other class OF socie'
ty unacquainted with the intentions ana secret
proceedings of those exercising the powers OF
the government, that the nation would be wan
tonly plunged into a sudden war.
He had heard it said that the embargo was
sufficient notice of the design OF the govern
ment to resort to hostilities uponlts expiration;
and that people must be infatuated, who, alter
such warning, were not apprlzcd OF the APP
preaching crisis. But it is too recently and
deeply in our recollection to be forgotten, that
this is not the first embargo we have expert
enced, and which, though OF longer DURATION
we saw pass away without being followed Dy
war.
The language held here as o people out OF
doors who have doubted OF the war, is retorted
by the public voice with equal confidence and
on better grounds. They rely upon our IN
tegrity and wisdom, and say that congress can
not be so infatuated, destitute as they are OF
the means of aggression or defence, to draw
upon themselves a war with one OF the most
powerful and formidable nations on the globe
If war with Britain be thought unavoidable,
vet, as she leaves to US the time OF commenc-
ing it, surely we ought to select that time,
when the first shock shall be least disastrous
and can best be resisted. Why should we
hurry into a war from which nothing but Gala
mity can be expected? There is no danger
that the redress of our wrongs or the asser-
ton of our rights will be barred by the llmlta-
ton of time. No time has existed Tor years
past when we had less cause to complain OF
the conduct of Great Britain. Her vessels OF
war had all been withdrawn from our coast,
as he presumed in order to avoid collisions
and hostility. IF the war be suspended TIL
November, the government and the people
will both be better prepared to sustain 1t. He
was not friend to the restrictive system, but
with choice only of evils, he should prefer
the embargo to war. Postpone the war and
we will submit to the embargo till November.
This will furnish time for the return of your
ships and seamen and if at the same time
you will abandon the non-lmportatlon act you
will replenish your treasury with at least
twelve millions of dollars, and restore to your
citizens sixty millions now abroad and in dam
ger of being lost. 1t appeared to him that
the course which had been pursued was the
most preposterous imaginable. For eighteen
months past we had beeE sending our proper
ty out of the country, and not suffering 1t to
return; and while contemplating war with
Great Britain we saw cur effects to an i'm
mcnse amount accommodating in that kingdom,
liable any moment to fall a prey TO the govern
ment and to be employed In support OF the
war against US. He asked, why rush with
this precipitancy into the war? Are you pro-
vided with means to annoy the enemy or to
defend yourselves Have you an army or ma
Wy which can make any impression Are your
exposed towns fortified and garrlsoned Was
any nation ever less prepared for war! 1t
would require the whole military force you
possess to constitute an adequate defence for
New Orleans, New York and Newport. It
very well known that the general who will
command at New Orleans, has declared to the
government that he will not be answcrable
for the security of the place, with less force
than ten thousand men, which is equal to all
the effective troops yet raised. 1t would be
natural to suppose that 70 government would