Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-26

htable trade, whichthey had carried on
with England, Denmark, Prussia, Ham
burg and Holland-subjected the pro
perry of American citizens, On the high
seas, to capture and condemnation, for
no tother reason, than It was of British
manufacture, and produced the seizure
and condemnation Of American ships in
friendly ports, merely because they were
laden wiki the produce of British ISL
ands This was the Beginning ct al
tho insults and aggressiops, wbieb have
been beaped upon the independence and
commerce of the pation---and tvs VAS
the aaspicious moment, TO have Fepeife
them. Twas then, that tae govern
ment should have proclaimed their &c
termination to seaport their neural
rights, and to consider either of the bel
liperentg who sheaId violate them, their
enemy. Had such d stand been made,
neither,France ner England would have
persistedsin their wrongs, We should
have supported our neutral character, s.
have continued to enjoy the blessings
Of peace aud commerce. But instead
Gf this, our gorernment conteoted them
selves. With saving, that the Berlin De-
| cree, was nothing more thaa munici
! pal regulation oitbc French government
and not intended 70 affect the United
States! Thus was the first tide in our,
affairs omitted.
| The next favorable aRd most ya,uablc
opportunity which presented itself +; to
secure the term anrnt> Interests OF
| the country was the ccpcluSTnn ,E TIC
treaty with England, by Measrs. Monro"
and Pinckney--a treaty highly favorable
to the commerce, and perfectly satisfac-
tory TO the honor Of the nation. This
I" Tide" was also omitted. President
jefferson, rejected the Arrangements
made by his ministers. withuu. ever SUBJ
hitting them 10 the Senate thus
by one Ct the most fragrant wrongs, tha,
ever was inflicted upon free people
added another link to the chain Of his
vassaiage, and Of cur calanities. The
nert and last opportunity, TO retrieve
the sinking fortunes of the NATION, pre-
scented itself in the repeal OF The ord rs
liz Council. These orders were ost~nsi-
6Iy the sole caose of the war. 1t was
! therefore reasonable L. conclude, that
wheDthey were repealed, he war would
end, Under. this impression, the repeal
of the Orders in Ceunci,, was hailed ty
| every good man in the nation with dc.
! delight was the harbingcrroi peace.
But here again as if IN love with war,
and " pleased with ruin" Mr.. Madison
refused TO exercise theauthoriiy vested
in him by Congress, and instead Of pro.
claiming the fact of the repeal Of the Or
I ders in council, and thus bringing a.
bout restoration Of peace; required Z
new ard iuadmissible concession on the
| part of England, as the only conditions
upon which he would discharge the
tfsst reposed in him By congress. So
| passed unimprovsd, the lost flood tide
in our affairs. Whether We shall ever
agaiA be blessed with opportunities, G.
| qually favorable, to escape the ruin that
] stares Us III the face is extremely
| deubtful-and whether, if fortune, not
witbstanding the contempt with which
we have treated her tavors, should
deign TO afford US another, orr rulers
would GvaI the n selves of il, is still
more problematicaI. Like the Jews
of old: they have eyes, and zee not
ears, and hear not--hearts, and feel not.
1 Coprreoc pf the IT States