Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-21

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WnRN Il TaB COUNTRY To HAVE
PEAcKl
Two effects were answered ny
the project about commissioning en-
soys to negotiate under the media
ton of Russia. One was, to fill the
loan for sixteen millions of dollars;
another. to aid tho recruiting SER
vice. Ifthe project we're not to cost
the United States more than one
hundred thousand dollars, il would
not exceed what might be estimated
as the general expenditure for one
day including all the war extraordi-
naries. Special causes for joining
Secretary Gallatin in the commission
are not matter Of public history.
What shalt be the basis Of pacitica-
ton for the United Stntess Such an
inquiry SO vital to making q peace,
may have occurred to some OF the
contractors for the loan.
But-have the passions which en-
kindled the war exhausted them
selvess Is public attention yet d.
rected distinctly to the objects pro.
per for this country with view to
peace? Much indeed is said about
this topic of general concern, and
with much variety in detail. And
what is the great practical result, to
which the details have tended Is
the government Of Russia TO provide
a peace for the U. States3 How
long has that government been dis
tinguished as friendly 10 personal IL
berry
amidst the 1rar in Europe, A
TRUCE ,cith England might alo1c a
period Of months or gears for enjoy
ing the advantages Of neutrality on
the part of this country. 1cifhout sacri>
.fcing any principle Of maratime
rights. Although truce would not
de6nitively settle the points in con-
troversy between the governments
it might present a favorable time for
the adjustment of terms. Atthe ex-
piration of the truce, ifa peace should
not have been concluded, offensive o.
perations. according to the declara-
ton Of war in 1912, might be carried
on against the British, in continua-
ton Of the old controversy, without
declaring war anew.
In the mean time, much might be
saved to this country. much might be
gained.-The enormous waste of
mismanaged war on land might be
checked, Measures might be ma
tured for guarding the rights ofthe
country on the ocean. Our own sea-
men might be patronized. and our
own trade might be encouraged.
Commercial enterprize might re-
pleRish the treasury. Our public
vessels of war might visit the Me-
diterranean. and be employed with
eminent utility .sgaiDstthe Algerines,
who have began a piratical warfare
upon the American trade.
Such are some of the beneficial
results which might follow q truce
without peace in the first instance.
And the history Of Europe presents
various examples of truce, where it
was impraeticable at the time to set
tie the permanent terms Of peace.
Cases may be found many years pri-
or to the eighteenth century. With
out making a peace, the parties laid
aside the character OF war. Thus
they did not act against each other
as enemies ; they we're not entirely
reconciled as friends. Their claims
and pretensisns were not prose-
cuted by force, as in state Of
war; nor were they all settled,
as in the establishment Of peace.
In fact, the state Of things introduced
for the time was such as may have
seemed impossible to some Of our
dealers in politics. Ii was Of an in
termediary, a neutral character, in
strictness neither war nor peace, but
has been distinctly known under the
name oftruce. 1t was time ofrest
from war.
Truces have been adapted to the
exigeneies Of peculiar situations and
circumstances. War has continued
to rage until its desolations were
deeply felt and deplored Yet the
hope ola peace was excluded BY pre-
yaIent nreDossessiOns, or obs: macy ,0r