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


lation ought 10 be extended by means of
every newspaper friendly to peace, IL
berty and commerce.-.N. Y. Ev. Post.
A DAY OF RECKONING, AT HAND!
FeiIow Citizens,
You are soon to give your votes for
mea to manage our public affairs, and at
a time teo when those affairs are &C
knowlcdged by all to be in desperate
condition. And since all our present
rulers have done, tor some years past,
has plunged US deeper and deeper in
distress, it is time to reflect often and
seriously on the end to which such
course of proceedings may bring u.s.
AS war was declared before our sea-
port towns or our frontiers were put in
state Of defence, and before an army
was raised or disciplined, let us sse
whether our rulers have avoided ex-
pense and forborne to ruin US with
grieyous taxes. But let no man deceive
himsell-examine, serutinize, and con-
slider we'll the reasons why We have not
been called on before this time by the
tax ,gatherers for our money. Remem-
Der, that although thirteen laws were de-
vised by congress fer laying direct taxes
on houses and lands, additional impost
and shipping taxes, a stamptax and taxes
on liquors, salt, &c. yet the day for or
deripg the collection of them has been
put off till the next meeting of congress
in May, lest the people-yes, lest the
people should see and feel the enormity
Of their burdens aud disapprose the
conduct of their public servants!
But loans and paper money have been
resorted to, thereby only adding interest,"
to the sums we shall have to pay at last
Befole you vote for men, who declare
war and support it by enormous loans
and taxes, and for men who will uphold
such measures, look at their effects on
yourselves. your families and neighbors.
TO say nothing of the last years eX-
pense, YOU know that, through Mr., Gal
latin, the administration called for forty
millions of dollars to suppert their inca
sures, during only this present year,
ending s0th September next! Take
this sam and behold the plain conse-
quences.
The free population of the u. States
is 6,o4s,5 S9--the free population OF our
state 945, 0O0-of course our portion OF
the ABOVE eyrense, for This single yeae,.
will be something over 5,l42,soo dol
lars
Allowing seven persons to family,
the cost for this year only, will be over
forty-five dollars to each family taking
rich and pnor together.
Now the above is only one item--a
small part of the cost of this war. The
army alsno had cost upwards OF SIX mil
lions, when we had been at war only
three months. But there has been
four million loan, an eleven million loan
and pow sixteen million loan, already
charged upon Us ! besides which, 'trea.
sary notes (ano,her name for continent
til paper money! has been and are or
dered to be issued TO the amount ct nine
Notwithstanding in all S4o,oeo,ooo ad-
dltional national debt, laid on our shout
ders thus early in the war The bare
interest of this will be moro than two
millions five. hundred thousand dollars
YEARLY!
But the army expences will greatly
increase every year, and it you elect tho
war candidates this spring, var will Ger.
tainly sontinus three years longer-tor,
remember last year warned the peo-
PIE, in some towns, that war would fol-
low the embargoss-some laughed at 1t,
and some doubted it: but behold IN
June war was declared. Let no man
deceive you" The war cannot cost
less than fifty millions year hereafter
SO that two hundred millions, or $50
dollars for every family Of free people,
will be the price you must give Tor
war-men as rulers, if you choose them!
And if you put such men again IN pow
er. the war will be more likely to last
six or nine years as is calculated at
Washington city, & that weuld increase
our debt and taxes TO S60o,Ooo,ooo-or
about seven hundred dollars to family,
besides the interest !!
Such are the effects Of this war on our
propertv, without mentioning what our
enomy may destroy! How can we en-
dure such loss and expense ,! Inc re-
venue is sunk almost to nothing-Com-
merce is gono-Fisheries are nesry
broken up--and Except feeding OF tGr-
nishing the army no business affords
us gain. All these evils stare US n the
face, besides the dreadful sacrifice OF
eur sons and brothers in the sickIy camp,
or in the field of blood
Let every reasonable nian-cycry good
citizen-evcry father of family, re-
feet cooliy on these things. Lay the
name and passions of party aside; rea.
son points out cur true course, when we
commune with ourselves alone. Let
us ponder on our condition BY our hre