Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-26
ALEXANDRIA:
MONDAY, Auevsr &c.

4
The following paragraph from the sixth
number Of the Federalist, penned by Mr..
Hamilton, is worthy of the serious eonsi-
| Iteration Of the American public.
" It is said, the genius of republics is
oaciGc.-Have republics in practice been
LESS addicted to war than menarchies :
Are not the former admini,tered by men
las we'll as the Iatters Arc there not aver
|sions, predictions, rivals'lps, aud de-
sires OF unjust acquisition, that affectna
|tions as well as kings /? Are not popu-
lar assemblies frequently subject to the
Impulse of rage, resentment, Jealousy
!avarice. and Of otter Irregular and VIC
Ilent propensities /? is it not well known.
that their determinations are often 60
|vcrned By a few Individuals in whom they
|pIace confidence, and that they are of
|course liable to BE tiuoturel by the pas
|s;ons and views Of those individuals
Who can help perceiving a remarkable
spondence between the above cited
sentiments and the ravipgs Of the Ameii-
Jean Congress at the time. of, and ior
months before the declaration Of the late
war with England The majority, uu-
der the management of a few individuals
who had their own private ends in view.
we're wrought UP tea perfect phrenzv.
The genius of republics is not pacific
So far Otherwise. almost 81! republics, an
'cicnt anal modern, nave manifested q
violent propensity to war Alhens aDd
Sparta. aid the other little republics Of
Greece, were almost ever engaged IL.
wars. The Roman republic carried on
ceasclesS wltiare as its main business, for
a number OF centuries. Ii was a repub-
lean senate that conquered and ensIay
ed tic world. Republican Cartilage was
ne less fond Of war than Of merchandise.
& he war that occasioned her utter des
traction she was the aggfessor. Neaicc,l
ard the otter republics OF modern Italy ),
were as much addicted to wars Of aa,bi-
tioE and avarice. as were the m0narchles
Of their times. Holland, vh;,st she was
a republic, carried her arms AMI extend
Ell her coaquests into the remotelt regions
of the earth. Nay the mu.tfarious aarsi.
IN which England has been engaged, havcI
in no uncomfortable part, originated in'
the popular branch Of her government 10
the early part of the las! century. The
ministry were disgraced, and the people
we're ready to store them, for The cFiine
Of putting an end 70 the lnns war upon
the continent, conducted By The Dnke Of
Marlborough. The nation being intoxi-I
Gated as it were with tie glory Of thail
war, the popular voice was to continue
it, Notwithstanding the immense amount
Of blood and treasure already expended mi
II. and notwithstanding that tie ostensi-I
Die objects for which it was undertaken
had been gained Il the verdict of SO. !
Der impartial history, that, in that m-I
stance the ministry Merein the right, q the |
people in the wreng. So again, about
half century since. the poiu!ar voicei n !
Epc.and Was vehement forwar withSpaln. |
upnn matter Of no considerable consc !
uuence. The ministry, under the direc-
lion Of the crown. entered into Z ne.o !
tiatl0n. and settled the dispute amicabIy |
That deed subjected them to public scorn
and execration bat ia now hnnou' eli
witt. the commentator pf impartial has
tory. We say nnthiug II France, which
during the whole time OF her being re-
public in name, manifested a most raging
appetite for carnage and conquest,
The genius Of the american republic
is not nacfc. low is K more so than
that of any other republic , Is it IMAM
bilious Only think of the gigantic pro-
iect of conGuetiag the Canadas, the Flori-
das, and even Mexico: projects which,
were cherished, with a sot Of Ronan
pride, in the hearts of more than half the
people. Is it less praitic. than othcri
countries, OF restless, ambitious ard un-
characters, to whom war is the
thing in the world that they most desire
Or is its population less easily lnaamed,
or less easily dupsd ? Alas !Fecent ex
pcrience teachesa. different lesson. And
what though the people are sm3rting
now, and for long whiLe to come viii be
smarting from the scoprge of WARP They
are told, and great many of them be-
lieyeit, that the glory Of the American
arms is full equivalent for their suffer
ings. Nor would it be so strange, Il the
peoplc, longer their present wounds
are healed, Should be led By tie arts OF
the crafty 10 rush again into Ties boodyt
ARENA as blind and as head!ong as they'll
lately did.