Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-04-14
ALEXANDRIA.
THURSDAY, APRIL "a.
"To STEW
Fas vaRY AGE & Bopy or THE TINE
KS 7oRM AND PRESSURE"
THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM.

THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM.
The facility with which the Dema-
gogues have changed their opinions re-
specting the wisdom of this system in
America, must be traly surprizing to all
who are unacquainted with their accom-
modasing temper. The very men, who
told us few days before the Presidents
II sage, that our Embargoes aad Non
Intercourse Laws were to be the ruin Of
Great Britain and the salvation Of our
own country, have the brass now to say
mat there is no good purpose to be an.
wered by system of commercial re-
.trictions. God help the seople who
are putunder the care OF these missra-
bic state quacks. The palace weather
sock turns FIST, and shews which way
rae wind blows; the signal is known
and - in moment, aH thu weather.
cocks from Maine 20 Georgia point to
the SAGE quarter. When the embargo
was laid, the National Lfrlhgencer an
nouncsd it as . measure, the Foley and
9ecess8Y of which were too evident 10
need calculation. " The Representatives
og the people (said Mr.. Gales at the in
stance of a ymtuous chief magistrate,
have nasnanimonsly determined, tina.
Individual interest shall yield to the &C.
neral good, that spectators. knaves and
traitors, shall no longer enrich them
selves at the expense ofthe COMMUNITY
II only remains for the heotfc TO SUPPORT
so rise measure =" The National I'D
vocate al New York, hailed it as the
harbinssr OF system of fnergy-a sys-
TEN, under whose fostering influence,
our manufactures were to flourish, and
our internal trade and resources to be
developed and extended {! The Bait.
more Mig, not satisfied with giving 1t
he high sanction Of its appreciation
was for tarring and feathering, hanging
and shooting every man in the nation
who did not support it; and directed
the President to be particular * prompt
in dismissing every officer employed IN
its execution, on the least omission OF
his duty. There are patriots enough
fsaid his impudent and servile print In
the country, to put down disaffected
men and traitor. ;" Such was the lam
guare of these accommodating patriots
and their brethren, when the Continen.
tai system was aaetted in America
but now that it has been abandoned, the
case is altered new state Of things has
arisen, and The wisest thing that can be
done, is to pnshackle commerce, and to
let free trade and sailors rigAts take care
of themselves.
On the First Of April, Mr.: Gales tells
w, that he has been in the habit OF think
ing the restrictive system, one OF wls-
dom. But on the <ighth, it seems, he
has entirely changed his mind; and for
some days before, had. entertained q
strong impression ef the total me6lcocy
of The svssem. 1t is fortunate tor Mr..
Gales, hat he expressed his first opinion
on day set apart by the common con-
sent Of all men, for the purpose OF mak-
inp fool. of themselves and others. He
was entitled to the liberty which the day
allows 10 the wisest, and, may plead it,
without any di.p,raeement either to his
wit or consistency:
For ourselves, VIC are not disposed to
quarrel with the President for doing
what we think right. We are of the
vulgar opinion, that it is never too late to