Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-06-03
NEW YORK, May q.

IalTreGu7S Sketch, -S)ur feauerS VIII
be amused this evening with a transla-
ton of the opinions which Mons. Iur-
reau, formerly French minister OF the u.
States, formed from what he saw during
a residence of some years at Baltimore
and Washington. He speaks contempt
uously enough of us. of our 8" eminent
our morals and customs, and it must be
acknowledged not altogether without rea-
son. Have we forgot that in such terror
was he once held at Washington, as the
representative of the great nation, that he
had only to curl his whiskers and look
bic in the name of his master, and it
was sufficient to putan immediate stop to-
trade we had commenced with an indie
pendent nation? Have we forgot that
he once insulted the administration in
the most gross manner by writing them
a saucy letter, and added a second in
suit by refusing in the most contemp-
tuous manner to take it back; all which
they quietly pocketed aud smothered the
disgrace till accident brought it to light !?
AS to what he says of our morals and
manners we beseech it may be recolect-
ed it could only relate to the society with
which lie was conyersant.
Translated for the Nelc-Tork Evening
Post.
From. the Journal de Paris, .9pril s.
A Sketch Of the political situation of
the United States of America, by Gen.
Turreau. formerly Minister Plenipoten-
tiary of France to the United States OF
America.
We have many accounts of the United
States, butwe are never wearied of hear
inc of those commonwealth civilized
upon soil yet savage, OF that transplant
tation less English than European, of
that country still new and already ifou-
r;shing, which appears never to have be-
longed to England but Tor the purpose
of blending in its manners the British
originality with the independence eff the
new world, religious sentiments with
the fantastical innovations Of modern re-
formers, and the Unsuitable industry OF
commerce with the simplicity of the in
habitants of the forests.
M. Turreau has not seen the Anglo
Americans With enthusiasm: he extols
not their morality, and he approves not
of their political system. His principles
are severe. He asserts without hesitation
:: that state at once democratic and
mercantile cannot have long political
existence" He says to the Americans
and it is bis general conclusion: +" Ma
tUre has been too liberal towards you Tor
you not to renoance advantages which
are but precarious, because they enter
not into her views, and because they mis-
lead you from your true destination.
Be agliculturists! IF YOU become ma
nufacturers, lett be oniy to supply your
necessities stop there above all, have
no foreign commerce, except IN your
ports. Open them to the merchants of
all nations, and go not ont of them your
selves! Amend your constitution: do
not grant naturalization with SO much
facility: your population will increase
with less rapidly, but it will be more
sound. Reform and simplify your juris-
prudence. Renounce conquest. Be in
short what you ought to be, an isolated
people, &c.
The. author maintains that the legisla-
tors who founded tie federal government,
and those who constituted the particular
states. had not any determinate plan,
and that upon every occasion when they
deviated from the English system they
have shewn themselves incapable of
grand political conceptions. Z" Unless"
head1s, we may attribute to them asecret
design, the object Of which was to re-
place their constituents gradually and
insensibly under the yoke of England.
It is apparent that M. Turreau does not
admit such a suppositon; his intention
cannot be to calumniate the Americans,
but he expresses himself with that force
in order to divert them from system,
which by crowding them upon their infer
tile coasts, & drawing them to the ocean
without their having areal naval force,
delivers them, according to him, either
to the influence. or to the insults of
England. and authorises the latter to
treat them when the opportunity offers as
reheIlious subjects.
Since 1871, the period at which this
sketch was written, the events, which
had at first appeared to justify these
fears of the author as to tie destiny OF
the Americans, proved in the sequel that
popular governments have secret pow
err. upon which they themselves dare not