Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-14

OF those great lhtcftSlo, Wiliol, IL %"
tons of the country, nature has made predo-
minant and, that no political connexlon, a.
mone free states, can be lasting, or ought to
be, which systematically, Expresses, or sys-
tematicaily refuses to protect, the vital inter-.
ests of any of the sovcreignries, which com
pose 1t,
Ihave required to these general consldera-
tons, 20 introduce, and ejucldate this primer
Die, whiohis, the basis OF my argument -
that, as it is the Incumbent duty OF every ma
ton to protect Its essential interests, SO II Is
the most impressive and Crucial duty OF ana
ton, composed OFFS voluntary assoclatlon Oh
vast, powerful and independent states, to pro-
tect the essential interests OF all Its great,
component, parts. And add, that this pro-
lection must not be formal, or fictitious but
that it must be proportionate TO the greatness
of those interests, and ot nature to give con
tent 10 the states, concerned IN their protec-.
ton.
in reference to this principle, the course OF
my reflections will be guided by two general
injuries the nature of the interest to be pro-
tected the nature Of the protection to be ex-
tended. In pursuing these inquiries, shall
touch very Slightly, il at all, on the abstract
duty OF protection which is the very end OF
all political associations and without the at
tainment of which, they are burdens and no
blessings. But shall keep it mainly, In my
purpose, to establish the connexlon between
a naval force and commercial prosperity; and
to show the nature of the necessity, and the
degree Of our capacity, TO give to our mari
time rights maritime protection.
In contemplating the nature OF the interest
to be protected, three prominent features
strike theeye and direct the course OF lehec-
ton; It's locality its greatness ;-and Its
pefn.nency.
The locality Of any great interest, in an as
ISOLATION Of states, such as compose TINS UNION,
will be circumstance Of primary Importance,
in the estimation of every wise statesman
When great interest is, equally, dlttused o.
yer the whole mass, it may be neglected, or
oppressed, or even abandoned, with less haz-
ard of internal dissention. The equality oil
the pressure lightens the burden. The COM
mon nature of the interest removes the causes
of jealousy A concern, equally affecting the
happiness Of every part of the nation, 1t is na-
tural to suppose is equally dear to all and e
qually understood by all. Hence results &C.
quiescence, in any artificial, or political en-
barrassment of it. Sectional fears and sus-
picions, in such case, have no food Tor sup
port and no stiinulant for activity. But II is
far otherwise, when great interest is, from
it's nature, either wholly, or i'll very great
proportion, local. In relation to such local
interest, it is impossible, that jealouses and
s ssaHPtfaaassy any sFtacia 81 Political embar
rassment And it is also, impossible, that
they should not be, in greater, or less de-
gree, lust. 1t is true Of the wissst,
and the best, and the most thoughtful, Of
our species, that they are so constituted, as
not deeply to realise the importance of inte-
rests, which affect them not at all, or very re-
motely. Every local circle of states, as well
as Of Individuals, has set If interests, Ii the
prosperity of which, the happiness of the sec
ton, to which they belong IS identified. In re-
lation to which interests the hopes and the
fears, the reasonings and the schemes Of the
Inhabitants of such sections are necessarily,
fashioned and conducted 1t is, morally, I'M
possible that those concerned in such Sec
tional interests, should not look, with some
degree of jealousy, on schemes adopted, in re-
lation to those interests and prosecuted by
men, majority of which have very remote
or very small stake, in them And this lea-
lousy must rise to ah extreme height, when
the course of measures adopted, whether they
have relation to the management, or the pro-
lection of such interests, wholly contray enc
the opinions and the practical experience of
the persons, Immediately concerned in them.
This course ofref1ection has tendency to il
Illustrate this idea, that as, In every political
association, it is of primary importance that
the great interests of each local section should
be, skilfully and honestly, managed and pro-
tected, so, in selecting the mode and means
of management and projections, an especial ,
regard should be had to the content and ra-
tional satisfaction of those most deeply con-
cerned, in such sectional interests. Theories &