Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-01
ADDRESS
Of the Csnueation ef Delegates q fhe Feof1tes
of Aew-Jersey--CoN7INUED.

1.-The ocean. an immense and sufficient scoPeTe-
/ manned for all our ships, seamen and capital
free from belligercnt and temporary restraints
lThe British orders in council (made the prln
Icipal ground of the war; only put France
Holland. and part OF Italy IN state OF block
ade, preventing our merchant ships gong
There. The whole world beside, was, In re-
lizard to any conduct of the British, as Tree te
Ius as before. China, the East and West-ln
Idies. South America, Great-Brltaln and hel
dependencies, and oil the states and kinguoms
lin Europe, none of all this vast portion OF the
world was affected or Shut against us ny the
! British orders in council nine tenths, at least
of all our trade was free. France only, and
! her dependencies of Holland and part OF Italy
were blockaded, with whom, il no blockade o.
Their ports existed, our trade could be worth
very little, as it was subject to every species
of yexation, loss, plumber and prohibitary du-
ties.
Our own coasting trade of 1900 miles In ex-
tent, serving to employ and to support SO ma
Inv of our fellow citizens, and to transport with
lease and economy the surplus prodnctisns
Of labor from one state to tbs other by sea-
affording a real profit to the community e.
DUAL to the whole of our foreign trade-all
| this too remained to US unaffected by beill-
gerent edicts.
| Our revenue from commerce also was We
ry great-equa, Annually, to the payment oil
every expense of the navy, army, civil list,
and other demands O.. government. beside DIS
charging, each year, portion of the old
debt OF the revolution The average OF this
revenue, not less than twelve millions OF dol
lars, annually, relieving the people from any
direct taxes payable 10 the United States
| In there favored circumstances OF agrlcsl-
ture, foreign navigation, coasting trade and
revenue, was war declared, and il necessarl-
| ly shakes them to the foundation.
In regard to our political, moral, civil and
religious blessings and advantages, they were
surely great and many. Peace Itself, & neu-
| trality, at time when all the European world
| is convulsed, and teading ~ wars and famine
to dissolution, and the tyranny o. one man,
| were to US, who almost solel, enjoyed them,
inestimable blessings. How innumerable &
vast they were, your own feelings, enjoy
ments, and reflections, fellow-citizens. can oct
ter determine than we describe. In great
mercy also, we were removed 5000 mlles
| from those scenes of violence and devasta-
tlon; we had taken no part IN them. Our
pure, and free, and progressing country, had
| Kept itself from the dangerous and deadly
grasp of French connection. This was our
fear and our danger.
| This war, if it is to be continued, depriyes
as of neutrality and peace. 1t makes this
wide ocean. no longer barrier between a
nerica and the ambition and ruthless ven
geance, which are scourging Europe, destros
| ing republics, Liberty and human happiness.
| We are brought by it to touch the confines
of land stepped with blood, oppression and
| crimes. In word, it brings to the people
of these states, with all the rest of its actual
and prospective evils, cooperation In the
war, if not a general alliance, with France
against England. With what anxious fore.
holdings must every heart be torn, that thinks
upon war which not only cuts us off from
so many positive blessings, but launches this
| safe and happy people into the vortex OF Eu'
| ropean broils into wars, which twenty years
of blood and devastation have but served to
infuria.e, extend and perpetuate.
That our country had received wrongs
both in its honor and rights, from England
during her long contest with France, need moi
be disputed. What peaceable and neutral
power has not, and which of those injured
powers, embarking in war or alliance with
France, or alone, to vindicate those rights, tina
has not suffered injuries tenfold greater &
Most of them indeed losing their very liber
ties and independence in attempting to esta
blsh minor pretensions, and vindicate wha
was called their honor. That Great Britain il
wrong in preventing our trade with France
because France interdicted our trade Will
ENGLAND, or that her cruisers on the oceaI
frequently have impressed American seamen
pretending they were British subjects, or un
: der real mistakes of the fact, are undonbte'
wrongs; that of impressment, most iDjuri
: Gus practice, and Justly calculated to kindl'
our resentments, and to ciaim from our go
J vernment prudent and persevering means t