Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-04

account of her orders in council; in fact we
had ample cause of war with both the great
beliigerents but the true question was, She-
Their we had il in our power to compel Great
prudent to try such an experiment. -----
AS to the impressment OF seamcn, great
deal more noise was made upon that head
THAN than the subject deserved. BE never
would consent to go to warto protect natu-
them while they remained within our terrific
,rv, we Went far enough. Although it was
not consistent with the rights of man, yet the
principle was held in most other govern
inents that the subject owed allegiance to
his sovereign until the latter consented to his
expatriation. He felt for the men who were
impressed; but he would not agree to involve,
the nation in war for the purpose of forcing.
our principles upon foreign governments
for the purpose Of protecting men who were
not native citizens.
Mr.. S. repeated, that there was wide diff
ference between cause for war, and the pro-
priety of engaging in it. He took view of
the state Of our trade with France and her de-
Tendencies, which he asserted was not only
of little value even in. prosperous times, but
was daily diminishing by the shackles impos
ed upon it by the French Emperor. For this
commerce, then, scarcely worth having, We
were to undertake Quixotic war with Great
Britain, in order to compel her to repeal her
imprudent orders in council: For the sake
of maintaining trade not worth above two
millions per annum, we were to sacrifice
trade with the British dominons, worth about
thirty two millions & this sum without TAX
ing into view the commerce with Spain,
Portugal and the Brazils, which might be lost
likewise, in the event of the proposed wars
taking place.
But, he observed, we were called upon to
go to war in support of our honor. There
were times, however, when nations, as we'll as
individuals, ought to suppress their feelings.
The present was such an occasion. The ST.
tuation Of the world was uiiexampIed. III all
former wars, there had been many neutrals;
at present, the United States was the only
neutral nation; and it vas unreasonable to
hot i've r he
now carrying ON between the two belligerents,
neutral rights would be respected. This
principle of honor ought to be regulated by
prudence. 1t would be truly humiliating to
our honor, if, after having waged a seven
years war, we should be compelled to sit
down without having attained the object fol
which the war was undertaken. While he
! thought little of the fanciful notions of honor
entertained by some, he had high respect
for that sort of honor which was tempered by
ces, when circumstances would not yield to
them. In fact, such had been our own con-
duct heretofore we had purchased peace of
Algiers by tribute and we did not resist
the Berlin decree, which was fragrant vio-
lation of neutral rights, because it would have
been perfectly visionary to attempt to compel
the French Emperor to repealit.
With regard to the opinion held by some,
that we oughtto go to war in order to pre-
serve our warlike character, and for fear that
TOO long continuance in peace would render
US an easF3prey tosan invading foe. Mr.. S.
said, the history OF nations did not justify it.
Nor should he be willing to render this coun-
try miserable now, in order that it might be