Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-12
From the Constitutionalist.
MIR. WEBSTER's GRAFTON


mouth, on the Nth Of July, we can hardly
find sufficient terms of commentator. lie
who could have heard it delivered IN the
true spirit of eloqucnce, and not have ex-
periencod something ofthe melting mood,
as well as something ofindignation against
the cruel betrayers OF our country best IN
terests, must have been callous indeed. Mr.
Webster's Grafton, of which a second edl-
ton is already published, is a Hatterlng pre-
cursor Of future eminence as an orator and
statesman. To say less were unnecessa-
~, as the following extracts will prove the
correctness of our postions-Ed Con.
With respect to the War, in which we are
now involved, the course which our prncl-
pies require as to pursue, cannot be doubtful.
1t is now the law of the land, and as such we
are bound to regard it. Resistance and lnsur-
rection form 10 parts of our creed. The dis
ciptes Of Washington are neither tyrants in
power, norrebels out. If we are taxed, to
carry on this war, we shall disregard certain
distinguished examples, and shall pay. II our
personal services are required, we shall yield
them to the precise extent OF our constitution
al ability. 1T the same time, the world may
be assured that we know our rights, and shall
exercise them. We Shall express our opinions
on this as on every measure OF government,
trust without passion am certain without
fcor. We have yet to learn that the extraya-
giant progress Of pernicious measures abro-
gates the duty of opposition, or that the inter-
est of our native land is to be abandoned, by
Us, in the hour of her thickest dangers. and
sorest necessity. BY the exercise of our con-
stitutional right OF suffrage, by the peaceable
remedy of election, we shall seek to restore
WISDOM to our councils, and PEACE to Our
country"
There is no common character, nor can
there be common interest, between the Pro
teslants, the Dissenters, the Puritans of New
England, and the Papists, the Atheists OF
France or between our free, Republican In
situations, and the most merciess Tyranny
that ever Heaven suffered to affiIct mankind.
Let the nation be named, that is the Ally OF
France, and not her slave /" let the degree
of submission be marked, with which SHE
will be content; let the line be drawn be-
tween French usurpation and national indie
pendence, which SHE will not pass. -
What people hath come within the grasp OF
HER power, that hath not heen ground to
powder or hath command of HER principles
or received the bride of HER friendship, that
hath not been covered, like the mercenary SER
| want cursed of the Prophet, with lcprosy, as
white as SNOW
Hath any Nation or Government, Monar-
chy or Republic, yenturcd within the den OF
| this Monster, and returned
" Me Uesfgia terrent,
" Omnia te adversam ahectantia, nulla retrOr-
4 o1,u
4" The fields of half Europe are whtened
with the dried bones OF human beings, slaugh-
| cred by this inexorable Tyranny last wear, and
| thousands Of human beings alike slain this
wear From the extremity of Italy to the
| Baltic sea, from the Atlantic to the mouths Of
the Danube, can you place your foot on one
inch of ground, and say you stand on the soil
| of a freeman Can you, in that whole space,
| point me to one man whether king, prince or
! peasant, that holds life or property by any o.
| Their tenure than the Tyrant's will ? Can you
| show me, within the tremendous sweep
of His firm, one institution of religion not pro-
| famed, or of learning not prostituted one
| fountain of moral instruction not corrupted !
/ one barrier of purity and virtue not demoish
| ed or one principle of justice and natural
right not CELEBRATED?
| [" If there be any among US so infatuated or
so supplied, as not to shudder at the prospect
| of French Alliance, let them come and behold
the nations that lie mangled and bleeding at
the foot of the Tyrant's throne in a mixture
of moral and political ruin.---If they will not
harken to the warning voice, they may yet
| perhaps be shocked into some feeling by the
| evidence Of their own senses Let them ap-
proach and look into the horrible pit of Euro
| pean suffering and calamity. Although they
will not hear Moses and the Prophets, they
may yet belieye.-when they draw near to the
| brink Of the gulph, and with their own eyes
look into the condition of the damned
NEWBERN, IN. c. July IS.
! The council of state assembled at Raleigh