Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-05

[tr6tty w fktk $40 t3hAbo wy S0yS8 SVPpHSe
| ed the enactment Of the laws necessary
| 70 carry it iass effect after Il had been
ra,i6sd By the appropriate anthorities,:
in word, they systematically, uniform.
" and violently opposed every leading
principle and measure oil Washington's
administrators.
I. Whether the authors of this indis-
crimlnate opposition we're actuated by;
motives of personal ambition, or natien-
al prejudice, or pure patriotism, we
shall not step to enquire. But charity,
which hopeth all things and belisveth
all things" would in the present In
stance fam nope and believe, that their
motives were pure and honorable, and
that their conduct proceeded from sim {
cers conviction that the principles and
measures of Wnshington's admiaistra.
ton were impoiitic and -mischievcus, &
that unless defeated they would even
tuate in the ruin OF their ceuptry.
Whatever may have been the mo.
tives, it is certain that the effect of their
united aud persevering exericns was
the removal ofstheir political adsersa-
ries from power. and their own promo
ton to the seals thus vacated -
/" Having now obtained. possession of
the helm, they must feel themselves,
bound by regard TO consistency Of
character, if not o.the public welfare,to
steer course directly contrary to tnat
which they had so vehemcntly candemn-
ed in their predecessors. They accord
ingly abandon all the leading principles,
on which Washington had administered
the government. They arrest the fur
Their increase of the navy, and sell or
suffer to lie and rot the materials OF four
ships of the line, which had been pro-
cnred by The preceding administration.
Taey sell the bank stock. They reject
tbs offer of the British government to
revive the treaty of ninety four, although
experience had anpiy evinced the false
hood Of the predictions respecting the
effects of its operation. They also re-
iect Monro's treaty, although more adj
yantageous in several Of its provisions
than the former And as substitute
for aasicable negotiation with G. Britain
they resost 10 Mr. Madison's favoritc
project of coercing that power into con-
cessioa under the lash of commercial
restriction: project, which he, had pro-
posed aud earnestly urged under Wash.
ington's administrator as substitute
for the treaty ~ 81, but IN which he
was ove.ruled By Tat great statesman
The friends Of this experiment, being
now in fall possession Of power, have
an oppoftanity to puI it to the te.t OF
fair trial. They do so: and alter en-
dergoing variety of different namss s
Shapes during the course ut flvc o. SIX
wears after costing the people OF ihis
easnsry al least one haadred millions at|
dollars after exaansting the pubic
treasury d;stracsing the public sent
me u, and seriously neIiacmg the union
of the states, The attempt Is sbaneoned
by its authors as completely hopeless *
abortiye. -Aad IN a paroxysm, 1t would
seem, of disappointment ond morlihcs-
ton, war is deciared--declsred without
adequate preparation, and under total
ucStllulAOH Ot tIC tbSuPSf
talesss necessary 10 carry 1t on.
!. /" II now appears that the present ~.
auspicisus state of our public affairs Is
the natural and necessary consequence
Of departure from the principles and
policy which Washington introduced
ints the government, and ct the adop
ion by our rulers for the last twelve
years, of principles and policy directly
the reverse. If the former conducted
us 10 national honor, happiness and pto'- s
psrity. the latter, being directly their
eppe.itss, must necessarily have led Us
10 our present condition. Nor Is It cay
| to perceive In what other manner We
| can REGAIN our former ensl~oie state
,baa by resumption OF the long DC,
serted principle of that illussrious a"a
transecndant Patriot.
{" No part of the general change OF
policy, which has just been explained
have we as much cause to'dePiore as
that which took place in the conduct OF
our government towards foreign nations.
| Much of the difficulty and danger w'icn
we see all around us, and in prosper
before us, we may Justly ascrlbe TO tue
.ubsti,u,ion of neutrality OF mere pro
fsssion, which served to cover, out nov
70 conceal. the miscrcant forms OF . ae-
voted Partially for one of the 6sihge-
rents, and a deep deadly hatred OF the o.
Their, instead of ,hsreal, impartial neutra-
| litv. which characterised and dtgoihed
| the administration of Washington.
rs exhibit to view the whole ground
on which this wcighty charge against
our government rests, would be to write
| a history Of the late and present a '1i'l-
n;strations. 1t must suffice tor me ). Of
presen, 70 observe, that this imputation