Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-26
FnoM THE cossEcrtcur CouRAsr.-

| Now and then, in the papers OF the
dominant party, there is reiterated the
warniog voice of Washington, in his va.
ledictory address, against dissolving the
union of the states. 1t is the only piece
Of advice, or OF caution, from the pen
or from the lips of Washington, which
they think proper ever TO remind the
public of; and their motives for repeat
ing this one paragraph are easily seen.
In this same address, Washington
speaks of the danger OF putting In the
place of the delegated will OF the nation,
the will of harty :" ard of making
t" the public administration the mirror
of the i'll concerted homogeneous pro-
| iccts OF faction. rather than the organ
of consistent and wholesome plans"
In this same address, Washington
SAYS, As very important source OF
strength and security, cherish pubic
| credit One method OF preserving II, Is
to use it as sparingly as possible; avoid
| ing occasions Of expence by cuiuvatlng
peace. but remembering also that time
" disbursements to prepare for danger,
frequently prevent mach greater dis
bursemenls to repel it !; avoiding like
wise the accumulation of debt, not only
by stunning occasions Of expence, SC.
In this same address, Washington
gives the following warning" The spi-
ri, of encroachment tends to consolidate
the powers of all the departments in one,
and thus TO create, whatever the form OF
government, real despoasm. For
instance, if the president, by whatever
means, obtains permanent servlle ma
iority in both houses of congress, SO
that, virtually, his will is the Law of The
land, the nation is under despotism as
really as il the form Of the government
were despotic
In his same address, Washington ad.
vises the United States to take care al.
| ways to keep themselves, by suitable
Establishments, on respectable deien-
sive poslure-w hich could mean no less
than respectable naval force, arsenals,
strong Notifications of our barbors, sc.
In this same address, Washington
uses the following memorable express
sons. 1t will be worthy OF free,
enlightened, and Cat no distant period)
great nation, to give to mankind. the
masnanimous and too novel example of
people always guided by an exalted
Justice and benev0lence"--"in the ex-
ecution of such plan, nothing is more
IL Shan fhut
rate an,ipathies against particular ma.
tons, and passionate attachments tor
| others should be excluded aud that in
place of them, Just aud amlcable teel-
| ines towards ell should be rui,'~otHd."
Z" The nation, prompted by ill-~lii and
resentment, sometimes impels to war
the government, contrary to the best
calculations of policy The government
sometimes participates in the national
propensity, and adopts, through passion,
what reason would reject; at other
times, it makes the anin,osi,y of the ma
ton subseryient to projects of hostility,
;ns,igated by p'lde; ambition, and other
sinister and pernic'ous motives The
| D. ace often, sometimes, perhaps, the
| liberty Of nations has been the VICTIM.
{" So likewise. a passionate attachment
OF one nation for another produces va
| riety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite
nation, facilitating the illusion of az ina
| einary common interest, In cases where
no real common interest exists, and 10.
tfusing into one the enmities OF the other,
betrays the former into a participant on In
the onarreis and wars of the latter, with
out adequate iuducement or JuSlltlca-
ton. Ii leads also TO concessions To the
favuri,e nation Of privileges denied to
others Such an attachment OF a small
or wsak, towards great and powerful
nation, dooms the former to De the sa-
tellite of the latter. "--Speaking OF the
necessity of guarding with jealousy "a
eainst foreign influence, he says" But
that jealousy to be useful must be I'M
partial, else it becomes the instrument
of the very Influence to be avoided, IN
stead OF defence against it. Excessive
partiality for enc foreign nation, and ex-
cessive dislike of another, cause those
whom they aCIuate 10 oeo yang o'''y
on one side, and serve to veil and even
second the arts ofinfinence on the other
Real patriots, who may resist the IN
uigues of the fasorite, are liable to be-
come suspected and odieus; while Its
tools and dupes usurp the applause and
confidence OF the people, to surrender
their interests"
In the same address Washington re.
marks" Harmony, and a liberal inter-
course with all nations, are recommend
ed by policy, humanity & interest. But
even our commercial policy should hold
an equal and impartial hand neither
seeking nor granting exclusive favors
/ or preferences consulting the natural
course Of things; diffusipg and diyersi-
flying by gentle means, the streams OF
lsrnmmerce. but forcing nothing"