Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-03

ton mas not VSSo Sonuucu W our minis.
tiers abroad. The Secretaries Of State
have been constantly engaged upon it,
and Robert Smith, and Mr.. Munroe
both hays written abundantly uponit in
their discussions with tbs British Wins.
tiers. What shameful ssneeslmen, and
fraud have been practiced by the Ad.
ministration, if they have all the tims,
sine thu summer of 1911, had it in their
power to produce this act of repeal.
What an immense amount of property
would have been saved to our pillaged
and plundered merchants, which Ia,
been condemned under these DEGREES.
But this. is not the moss interesting
light in whish this subject present, it.
self. This destructive, dissrsceFul, and
wicked war would have been prevented,
had this repeating act beon prAdnced to
the British government, IN 1911. What
a tremendou. consideration is this |,
is, however, strictly true, that had thi.
bsen done in 1911, wa, Should have had
no war with the British. The subject OF
iinpr.ssn,cnt, as a cause OF war, WAS
not talked about at thaeriine. Had the
orders in counciI been removed, the Pre-
sident would not have dared to provoke
a war, even for tho purpose of securing
his own rc.slection. Thattnese orders
would hsvs been removed, had tbs for.
nal act Of repeal ofsthe F,eneh dcsroes
been made known 10 them, is prov-d by
the fact, thai the moment they did re-
csivs it, ,hsy did revoke their Orders
Admitting then, that the Duke OF Gsssa.
no ted the truth, MIR. Madison is par
sona!ly responsible for all the distress,
all the expence, which this war will &C.
easion, ara all the blood. which it has,
or will cause to he shea-bscaess he had
ii in hts power honorably to Pre,enti..
If, howsver, tae Duke OF Bss,ano told
a fslsehooa, hi, conduct is TOO bsss to be
spoken Of with raticncs; and tho for.
hcarance OF MIR Madison snder it, is a
foul disgracs to the first Magistrate Of
the nation, ard, indeed, to the nstion it,
ssif On thi. subject we arc fsrn!:hcd
with no evidence, except circp,nftantisl.
The editor of the Court, Gazette has, IL.
deed put hi. life into his hands. and cal.
led the assertion OF tho Duke cour.lv
msmcerity." Whether this eoursIy
phrase, means to charge the Duke with
fslsshecd, or with having betrayed the
secret. and exposed the Precedent, we
are not able to determine. 1t would
seem impossible, that he shosld be vii.
ling TO pocket the insult, and net even
demonstrate against tbs falsshsod. l,
would also seem, that MIR. Russell, IT he
has .bu. a small portion o.. that sense OF
integrity and honor, which ebaracterlzss
the gentleman, would find i, an uncom.
Portable state to rest in. with so foul
charge Of infdslity lying at his door.
l. is truly extraordinary, that the Prssl-
deat should take such psin, to keep this
declaration concealed f;em the pubic, &
last Mr.. RrsstIl should MT bs called 10
account by tie President, nor volnntaFl.
ly ,cqui, himself from the charge ct tla-
viSg concealed the repesling act from
tins government.
We give no opinion on tie weight CT
evidence IN this case. Whether the Duke
OF Ba,s,no told the truth or asserted
fsl>ehoosl, We p etend cot to BAY. We,
however. think that tire subject is too
to the country, to be suffered
to Da:s off without some further enquI-
~. IF the repeat CT the french decree
WIS, ia fact communicated TO our govern.
m.ut, as tho declaration ct the Duke OF
Ea.ssno implies, wa lncw of no punish.
ment thai the constitution will warrant,
L,.a, Will be toe severe to fall upon AIR
Madison. The country has suffered, Ss
is likely to tuffsr, too much, tor the
mere qualification Of his whims, or his
perniciou. policy. If 1t WAS not commu-
Iicated, his mean and AFFECT conduct IN
submitting to such base charge, aryues
% perfect a devotion to the views and
politics Of Bonaparte, that we should
hardly suppose it possible even tor 90
nocratic assurance to deny the 'H"''
nee &c French influence In the reessSes
II eur Cabinet.
We hope to see this subject brought
nto notice at the Approaching session OF
congress and that measures VIII DC
aiken, which will, at least. force the Prs.
ident to say, sytether the dselara'i0" o.
he Duke Of Bassano TO Mr.. 6arl0u"
rug orjaise.
NEW YORK, May 81.