Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-29


if YOU suppose me, with the help OF these Ca
nable of oyerturning decisita, which the
cries of twenty commercial cities going to de-
cav, and the united voice OF all the wise and
honest men of this nation have not been able
to shake nor scarcely to modify, can only
wish, and that with little hope, that you may
not be disappointed"
This letter was written after the letter to
Mr. Granger, which gave the assurances OF
commercial treaty, and only three days before
the postscript endorsed on the letter which al
lodged the detention Of the Hornet to DC IN
order to send the treaty to this country. 1t
did not belong to him to account Tor the con-
Predictions between the letters; poets might
be entitled to indulgences when even writing
prose, which were denied to the rest CT the
world; but it was his purpose III reading the
extract Of Mr.. Barlow's letter, not only to
avail himself of the authority Of the minister,
but of what he valued more, of the weight of
the reasons assigned in the letter, for not ex-
pecting a commercial arrangement with
France He would repeat in the language OF
the letter, if the cries of twenty commercial
cities going to decay, and the united voice OF
all the Sc and honest men OF the nation had
not been able to shake or scarcely 10 modify
the anti-commercial system Of Napoleon, what
was to be expected from the negotiation of an
American minister? For his part he expect
ed nothing but false promises and deluslve
hopes.
Can you expect that Napoleon will relax his
anti-commercial system in favor Of your COM
merce, when you see him bring into the held
$780, 900 men, and ready to hoard the imperial
crown, in order to compel Russia to adopt
and enforce the same system To indulge
the expectation was to make ourselves the
sport of the most visionary hope. The Wasp
would bring us duplicates Of the dispatches
which had been received by the Hornet, and
protracted hope would at last sink in despair.
He thought, however, that those gentlemen who
still kept expectation alive, that France woNld
do Us Justice and grant US commercial tavors,
under The weight of doubt which must depress
their hopes ought to wait tor the ultimate
Intelligence which was to determine our rela-
tons with France and show us more clearly
tie course which our interest or Our honor re-
uuired that we should take IN relation to q
Britain.
Sir said Mr. B before l sit down, will
call the attention of the senate to another
groundsfor post onement which can neversate-
~ be overlooked nor neglected in a govern
ment like that of the United States. This
war is not to be supported by the men only
who declare it ; It's weight will fall upon the
great body of the people, and they are to 6us-
tain its pressure Can YOU maintain the war
without The general support OF the people =
The public sentiment is not at present known
on The subject. The people have never yet
believed us serious in our intention Of making
war against Great Britain. Let us wait till
we can have full and distinct expression of
their opinion. Are you afraid that opinion is
against the war ? And if SO, are you hardy e.
nough to make war Do you forget your ORR
gin, that you are creatures Of the peoples ia
vor? That it is their power which you are eX-
ercising, and that you have no strength OF
your own He must be little instructed in the
nature or history OF our government WHO
supposes that war can be long supported a.
ganst the viii of the people. The consttu-
ton makes the general will, the basis OF the
government That will, upon all occasions,
must be consultcd-and must be obeyed.-
You may commence the war against the will
Of the people but how long Can you exercise
the pow ers OF government against their Will
He knew well that some gentlemen calculated
much from the war spirit. That war spirit
was at most but the ebu!lition of the passions;
short lived in its nature, are all the pas
sions.
Taxes and privations will soon extinguish
it, and you will have to settle your account
with nation in their sober senses. It, un-
fortunately the spirit Of the war should infame
the party passions to madness, and the people
should be willing to sacrifice their country to
support party, then indeed might ministers
calculate upon holding their power. But can
we foresee the consequences ofthus inHaming
the furious passions of whole people Have
you saving power in the constitution, which
shall bring us out of the mad struggle, an en-
tire nation Our constitution was deslgned