Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-25

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,ub;ueating. the rest of Europe.
It was imtoLitic, as it tended to unite
all descriptions of people in England in
favor of the present war, and to convince
them, however enormously, that mode
ration and fairness on her part, only laid
the foundation OF new claims and CHER
pretensions on ours.
II zpas unjust, because the evidence
afforded by the prompt repeal OF the or
ders in council, ought TO have satisfied
as. that Great Britain was sincerely dis
posed to maintain and preserve pacific
relations with the United States; and
all wars are unjust, the objects OF which
can be attained by negotiation.
IL mas unjust, because the whole his.
tory of our diplomatic intercourse with
Great Britain shews, that We never m
duced her to believe, that we considered
the ippressment of her own seamen, on
board our merchant ships, as reascna.
bic ground Of war, and We had nxver Of
feed her the alternative of war, or q re-
Iinquishment, of,his practice.
1t quos unjust, because the preteDslons
and claims 90 one side and the other,
although attended with difficulties, were
not irreconcilable. Great Britain did not
claim the right to impress our native
seamen.. She disavowed the practice IN
all cases when the fact was made known
to her-she restored on legal evidence
-shs had recently offered to return all
who were Of that description, of whom
list should be furnished, by our &C
vernment and she had many years be-
fore. made such Offers Of fair and AMIGA
BILE arrang eDent of this whole subject, as
10 two distinguished members OF our ca
h;net. anne red Z" both honorable and ad-
outrageous"
I. spaS Najust, because We had not
previously taken all the reasonable steps
on our part to remove her complaints OF
the seduction and employment OF her
seamen. This is made manifest, BY the
conduct of the same Congress which de
cIared war, they having admitted the
propriety of obviating those complaints
bv an act passed subsequent to the COM
mencement of bostilities.
No state in the union can have great
er interest or feel stronger desire to
protect commerce, and maintain the le-
climate rights of scamen, than this com
monwealth. Owners of one third Of all
the navigation, and probably furnishing
nearly one half Of all the native seamen
of tie United States, we are better ena-
bIed to appreciate the extent OF their
sufferings, and must also be presumed
10 sympathise with them, more sincere
" than the citizens of states destitute of
commerce, and whose sons are Dot en-
gagged in It's prosecution, unless 1t be ad-
miued that the sufferers, their parents,
relatives and friends, are less interest
ed in their welfare and protection, than
those no are cDited to them, only by
The feeble tics of political coEnexien.
With all the means Of Information,
furnished by every motive OF duty, and
very inducemeSt ct inte,est,we are con-
st, AIMED to Say that this evil OF impress.
merit has been grossly xagsera.ed; tbet
we nave tcGSO'f W bsite'S al hScSo' ~
fir proposal, as hoaesly and fairly ex
ecuteu, to exclude SUD tests Of Great
Britain from our service, would have
much more ctfecsualiy rs iieved our own
scamen, and more essentially advanced
their interest than resort to war that
the true interests of the United States
coincide with tie policy adopted by all
other countries, and that we shnulG be
more Independents, our seamcn would be
better detected, ard our country even
tuslly more prosperous, by renouncing
altogether, the pretension Of screening
AID employing British seamen.
The doctrine Of u,al allegiance is
too well founded, has been too long es,
tablished, and is too consonant with the
permanet interest, the peace and indie.
pepdence Of all nations, to be disturbed:
fol- the purpose of substituting. in It's
place, certain visionary notions, to which
the French revolution gave birth, and
which though long since exploded there,
seem still to have al unhappy influence
in our country.
Having thus found the avowed causes
of the var, ard especially the motives
for perseverance in it, so wholly ina-
dequa,e. to justify the adoption Of that
policy, We have beer obliged TO resort
ether and more conceal1d motives -
We Cannot, however, wilhpu. The most
conclusive evidence. believe, although
.ibe measures and iauruagc of sOC e high
public functiosaiies indicate tire fact
tia, ambition, and not justice, a lust OF
conquest, and rot defence OF endan
sered rights, are among the real causes
OF perseverance in our present hostiii-
ties.
Must We then add another example to
the catalogue of republics, Witch have
been ruined BY spirit eff foreign con
10 he