Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-01
furnished Great Britain with an apols'

own have renewed the non-interCou'oe'
The object had most at heart was 70
prevent the war, without sacrlhcing my
own popularity or the honor Of the couh-
try and would not have countenanc'
ed war upon the principles the most 20
norabie, but from respect for public
feeling. Thi. plan Of revoking the ar
rsneement with France before We com
menced hostilities, pressed OH the IRE
siden, verbally, and in writing, many
months before the declaration OF war, &
ultimately on the Senate. This project
failed. 1t will be recollccted that on the
asa day of May, few days before the
war message was sent to Congress- the
Hornet, which had been sent after the
meeting OF Congress, arrived from
F, ance. with the result so far of Mr. Bar
lows mission Barlow, after near twelve
months negotiation had not been able TO
get single article of treaty signed
and while the French government were
amusing him with the prospect OF trea
ties, they sent out squadron OF public
AIMED ships, which were burning ou'
vessels for several. months before the
declaration Of war. Upon the whole 1t
was very evident that We had been
tricked and trifed with.
A day or two, / think, before the Pre-
sident's war measures were commune
Gated, leading friend of the adminlstra-
ton, of the Senate, asked me my opinion
as to the course to be pursued. ! an.
swered him, that the only honorable
course left US was to authorize hostilltles
with both, to commence with letters OF
marque and reprisal and that ground
=. aintained to the last |; nor did give
or intend TO give al assurance or pledge
70 any man that would vote for 1t.
Some may have supposed that would,
slough unwillingly vote for it; that is,
that would not hazard vote against It,
and am ready to confess that | was We
~ reluctant to differ with some men OF
The majority on The question. l did
think that we owed it to our own honor
% manifest our indignation in some way
;, the conduct of France Such a Course
would have rendered war less popular
in England, and have produced more
confidence and union at home Nothing
but notions Of honor should have Undue.
ed US to 60 to war; without change
in the policy OF France we had no mo.
i've of interest to resist the British or
ders in council, to prove which Iappeal
to DO less authority than the instructions
Of our government 10 BARLOW, few
months before the declaration OF var
On the subject of impressment, il must
be evident to every man who understands
the subject, that proper law on our
part for the surrender of B. itish desert
ers, and for regulating the employ
of foreign seamen in our service. would
have led to an honorable and satisfactory
arrangement of the Practice. In sup
port Of which refer to the letters of the
present secretary of state and attorney
general, Mr.. Monroe and Mr.. Pinkney.
The political men who support the
war, act under the influence of very dit
ferent motives and objects Many and
The most sincere advocates of the war,
mink, perhaps, that we ought to make
common cause with Fr,nee, 10 compel
Great Britain to recognize The principles
of the treaty of Utrecht (; substantially
the same contended for by the armed
neutrality Of 1880, the establishment Of
which Bonaparte declares to be necessa'
~ to the freedom Of the seas! Others
are for il, because it is supposed to BIT
popular, and will be for it no H. ger than
II is so. A third class probably think il
is necessary to have the nation sconrgetl
while with war and taxes, or the fear
of taxes to reconcile them to a reasona
bic treaty with Great Britain.
Whether it is the interest or policy q
this nation to contend for the principles
which appear to constitute the avo~eo
basis Of the war on the part of France &
her allies, or upon what terms our go
vernmeDt ought to make peace, are que..
tons upon which should not, ii 81 ffici
ehliy INFORMED presume at present t.
give any opinion.
While no man can dislike more the
Course pursued since the arrahgc ment
with France, or view with less respect
or appreciation the declaration OF wa IN
der these circumstaces, because, howe
YER just, we appeared to be shufned into
i by the arttul, mapGuyrng policy of a
foreign nation, | certainly had no design
to etnbarrass tho constitutional levin
mate operations Of government did
intend to enter my protest agan,, the
interference Of the state ieelslseufe ,r
the management Of the fcar To Con
gress has the Constitution con6ued the
power Of ctlaring war and carrying it
on and it is their duty to eeuatze its