Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-23

I a = --r =. . u.
people Of the United States. Their de-
cision is all important not only as it is
10 determine the siccerity OF the two go'
yernments in their amicable profess
sions; but as it will decide the mo-
mentous question of Peace or var
IF they shall be of opinion that the war
which we have commenced, was IN the
first instance necessary, and that the con-
ri,ions which our minister proposed tor
its cessation, were such as the British
government ought to have accepted,
they will Of course support the war and
those who have declared it. If on the
other Eapd they shall be of opinion, that
there was not in the first instance Ne
cessity for the war, ard that the terms
which have been offered through our
minister for an armistice were unreason-
able, they will without hesitation put an
end to it, by dismissing from their con-
fderce those who have commenced it,
and who advocate its "vlgorous prose-
oution." AS to the 6rst question--Was
the war in the first instance necessary 2,
we think bet. In order to constitute
war ofnecsssi;y, two things are required.
First, that the rights which we claim
are indisPutabla and essential; and Sc
condIy, that war is the only way OF OBJ
tanning them. II the rights themselves
should be unimportant or dosbtsul, or
if they might be secured BY negotiation
or compromise, the war which seeks to
establish them is unnecessary and an
iusli6abie. The orders in council having
been repealed, and the system of block
ade reduced to proper shape tornsgo.
,iaiioa, the practice Of imhressment is the
only remaining cause of the war. Great
Britain claims the services of her sub
iects wherever found on the high seas,
Except on board public ships who have
expatriated themselves without the pri-
witty or consent of their governments
This claim is eommon to ali nations, and
strictly coniormable to the first Princi-
pies of the social compact-namely, the
protection Of each member of the So
cisty by means of tbs united strength of
eli. The contract between the govern
ment and the subject is mutual. The
government owes its subjects protection
the subjects owe the government al
legiance. The 5eaeft is equal and reci-
procal. The subjects are protected in
the enjoyment of their rights BY the
strong arm Of the government, and the
government is advanced in glory and in
power by the united strength and wealth
of it's subjects but if any doubt should
exist as to the LEGALITY ct impscssing
British subjects from our merchant
vessels, We have given up all adj
vantage to be derived from it as an
argument. BY offering the British
government an equivalent for the sus-
pension of the practice, NC have adj
mittcd its legality, and by admitting its
legality, we acknowledge our obiiga-
tion to give them an equivalent for Its
suspension, But is the security of the
British subject while on board our mer-
chant vessels, essential to the honor or
to the interest Of the United States .
We deny that it is. We have admitted
the right Of Great Britain to take them
from cur merchant vessels, and by this
admission we acknowledge that it is not
essential to our kcuor to keep them
,hcrs, because it cannot Do honorable to
withhold from an enemy what he has
right to demand. Is it essential to the
intrrss! of the nation? 1t is not. We
have seamcn enough of our own to ma
vigate our vessels, and by introducing
foreigners on board them, VIC do an IN.
jury to our own citizens by giving to
foreigners that employment which they
have 2 prior and paramount claim to.
Indeed, il is serious injury to our own
seamen. BY encouraging the employ
ment of British seamen N our merchant
service, we afford pretex:, If We DO
not make it necessary for British cruz
GERS IN visit our vessels for the purpose