Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-11
-. and prudent to wait till 6 the troub'

wise and prudent to wait TILL . 'he ., I'm !.
..,ent landmarks otthe woI!o le'ep
move the food" vita living s.a.ss
nan, l. Thought / saw in the very e', ~.
yh,ch black all our horizon, ~.
,.w which was set for token, 'has '"e
temtrst qvould not be forever *,
Rn,. sir, war was declared, and me
aoet,;ne bas since .bssn promulsa'eo'
that it is now the duty Of every man "
support it; that all inquiry mus.
hushed, and ali examination Oh l'' g,
pediency and proprie,y Cease % 80 -
as this doctrine incuicstes obedience &c
the laws, it has my cordial approoa,sloni
h,t ;nasmuch as it denies the rig ht u
the citizen to examine into the cauS:
of the war, to express and publish N
opinions respecting its policy; 1t Is a.
insult to the understanding Oh all i"'e'
ligent people, and inconsistent WIN Wv
character and spirit OF the constitute"
War is declared BY law. how shaii 'ne
law be repealed How Can we GET -
of the war, if wemay not say that =
inexpedient. impolitic and ruInous =
How abomina ble the doctrine IS, th"'
the declaration of war shuts the door a. :
gainst all inquiry is aanltrst from the
consideration, that 1t would enable
wicked administrat on to perpetoate Ia
mower BY declaring war. Again, sir l
would ask the advocates of tne doctrine
am reprobating, when Will 1t De pro
Der to show the folly and rulnous conse'
auences of the war ? Suppose the wa
to have continued Ave or ten years, anu
The country to be Impoverished
its commerce anDihilated, its re-
sources exhausted, its best flood ex.
pended in wild and fruitless projects %
conquest, the people oppressed by debts
and taxes; will it then be deemed i'm
proper to expose the absurdlty and mis-
chief of continuing the war! Surely sir,
i, would be patriotic and Iaudable to a
larm the people, to entreat them to put
an end to that which is the cause OF thel'
calamities. And if such conduct will
then be proper, it must he laudable and
patriotic now 20 shew them their evils
and dangers, and to point them to the
means of escape.
But. sir. what has been the state OF
the country since the declaration of war?
l speak again in reference to public OPT
mon. The people of the north and east
have poured out their feelings and OPT
mons, their complaints and groans, In
addresses, petitions, resolutions and re.
monstrances against the war. Look, sir,
at the presidential election. and you see
all the northern and eastern states, with
the exception OF Vermont. arrayed a.
ga;nst the administration: You see the
people disregarding the old line ofpar-
ty division. Yes, sir, in spite Of such
division and distinction, " buying their
mutual animosiies," their ancient pre-
iudccs, Sin their common dctestation"
OF the policy of tie government. rising
up inlhcir might and strength to mann
fest'thrir hostility t. the course Of mea.
sues It has pursued This, Mr. Chair
uan, is state of things which, ought to
arrest the attention: and engage the re
nsctin Of lie 1a,lona! Legislature, for
witnout ,hat section of the country, our
Strength is wcakt:c:s-1 karw how un
gracious and invidious topics of this
Kind are t, some gentlemen. Bat sir,
VIC cannot help il, that the countc, is
made up Of sections. We are legisl.t
ing for such country. and it is our bu-
siness ana duty 10 regard the circum.
stances, toe rntcIests and feelings of the
people OF o;ffr' ent rsr's of the union-
We declared Nar tor Commlrce-the
people most Interested in commerce
were opposed 70 it. We continue the
war for sailors rights, and three fourths
OF our native American seamcn belong
10 New York and I've asreln states, the
people Of which are siehiog al peace.
ITO be contmurd