Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-24

contact. this might be a sufficient reason Why
eAieient measures ought to ac taken to prevent
spch argressions, or repel such insults mid
tpre. But there could BE no use in eXpend-
in millions 70 raise an army which, when ras-
ed, we could rot bring within three thousand
miles Of the power which had lnJured US, or
in formally declaring war which we did not
possess the means of waging with effect. l
do not state this as, il all respects, parallel to
the present case, but state 1t as case which
might occur, in Which there would be sutt1-
cieat provocation to war, but one IN which an
attempt to make it, would be unwise and i'm
polite in the commencement, and frultless IN
the end do not say that we have 10 cause
Of war at present, or that we have received no
injuries from foreign nations. Grcat-Brltaln
has, without doubt, injured US So has France.
So has Denmark. Indeed we can scarcely
point to single European nation which has
not injured US more or less. Each OF the two
latter has done US infinitely more injury, com
pared with the extent OF their means, than
Great Britain. Yet it seems that while we
tamely submit 70 the injuries Of other nations,
we are disposed 60 select that nation alone Tor
our enemy. with whom we have the greatest
interest III being at peace, and who is abe TO
do us the,most harm in the event OF war l
have no disposition to appear the advocate OF
either the orders in council, the blockadlng
system, or the impressmcnts, OF the one pow
er, or of the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, the
treacherous seizure of our property In port,
where the owner supposed it secure under the
protection Of the laws, or the immuring OF our
seamen in dungeons, and compelling them as
the only alternative, to serve on board her prl-
vateers, practised by the other Much less
would l attempt to make an apology tor her
repeated burning of our vessels at sea, fact
OF the reality Of which we have almost every
day fresh proofs; sometimes under the stale
and false pretcnce of their being British YES
sells and British property, and at others, with
out SO much as al attemptto cloak the outrage
with that Aimsy veil, or with her bubbling
US with a pretended repeal of her Berlin
and Milan DEGREES, with a promise which
she never has, nor ever meant to fulfil
in good faith, while they were never car
red into more rigorous execution than at
this moment. Nor shall | paliiate the plra-
cics Of the Danes which can be considered
in no other point of light than as French Pa,
racies.
In the remarks which am about to make
know not butI shall be denounced as BIZ
fish partisan, not only In the slang OF upPrln-
-cipled newspapers, but by some members OF
this house Being conscious Of having no in
terest to serve only that of my country, shall
not be deferred by that consideration from
making the observations had contemplated.
War is, on all hands, allowed to be great
evil, as we'll AS uncertain In its Issue, a state
of things in which might frequently takes the
place of right, and in every view OF Il, IS at
tended with such calamltie3 that ltneVer oagbt
to be resorted to unless in cases ot the most
urgent necessity The true policy CT nations
therefore who are DESTROYS OF maintaining
peace. OUGHT to be to narrow down the sub.
;ests in dispute as much as possible and, in
stead of enlarging upon and aggrayatng eve
ry subject Of difference, instead OF constant
brooding over the injuries they have received,
to explore ways and means, and cultivate
disposition in every practicable way to effect
an accommodation. and it may not be amiss
sometimes to take rapid glance at causes OF
difference which have originated with them
selves Whenever either nation or an indi-
vidual takes the high ground OF complete self
justification III every particular, and Will re-
ceive nothing short of the most explicit sub
mission from the opposite party, the prospect
Of an amicable accommodation is very srnall.
When there is disposition in either or in
both parties to distort, to represent every
thing in the worst possible light, it has ever
been found very easy thing to produce a
quarrel either between nations or individuals,
even in cases where by mutual and candid
explanation the difference might have been
easily adjusted. A gentleman from Georgia,
(Mr. Troup) when abiding to the subject of
our foreign relations some time ago, made
several observations which struck me with
considerable force at the time. speak mere
ly from recollection, as I am not in the habit
of taking minutes do not pretend to give