Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-08

petition is thus excited amongst these men,
and while foreign nations behold the Anne
rican standard SO proudly insisting on its
rights and prerogatives, we are at every
hour better prepared for war, and our cha
racter is acquiring 6rmness and consistent
cy. A victory is oftentimes not SO impor'
tant to country as this jealous sense OF
etiquette in the reception and return OF
these national salutations. However glo-
rious triumph may he. a disgraceful 'rea-
ty .xpunges all its brilliance; but this e.
quality OF which we have been speaking;
this determination never TO consent to the
sacrifice of honor. preserves in all its integ-
rity in time of peace, that reputation which
was acquired in battle. lttamlliarlzes the
mind to lofty contemplation. and enables
the commander of a national frigate TO meet
the governor OF the fortress OF Gibraltar on
equal terms. A principle so zealously con-
tended for in peace, will not lightly be a
bandoned in war.
Nor can the remark with justice be made
! that our military officers enjoy the repose CT
the Sybarite, who complained that he could
not rest because the rose leaves lay doub-
led under him. Immense military roads
are now forming on our northern frontier;
Notifications erecting on the most eligible
and commanding sites; skilful engineers
arc employed to mark out the places most
convenient for the erection Of baiteries ex-
ploring parties, under the authority and
sanction OF the government, are sent ont TO
trace the windings of our mighty rivers to
their sources, to guard and protect those
who embark in such expeditions for scient-
fc researches; to hold in awe and check
the prowling sa'ages, who from their ma
tive woods behold with agilated eyes the
advances of our greatness others traverse
our immense range of sea coast to build for
tihcatons for the protection OF the most
vulnerable points. This is assigned to the
duty of the military commander, and in the
discharge of this duty, they hold compe-
tition with the naval. If these men pre-.
serve proper subordinatIon to the legis.
lative authority-if they remember the STA
ton they occupy in the body politic-that
they are not the head to dictate, but the
arm to execute, the most jealous friend of
free government would see in all this no.
thing to alarm 1t is only when congress
themselves seem disposed to reIinquish
their constitutional rights, and when en-
boldened by such imbecility, the military
are enabled to attempt TO terrIfy and to
overawe that Legislature, that the advocate
of real liberty trembles. What no power
on earth can deprive us Of, we are always
competent to abandon ourselves. Our le-
gislators should remember, that the great
energies residing either in physical or in
moral nature, to be productive of benefits,
must be under the superintendent of
controlling power-a steam boat has its
safety valve. But the direct, the infallible
road to ruin is, TO permit such formidable
engines 10 have their own play. The most
rancorous enemy of our infant republic,
would not wish to discover more certain
symptom Of our national dissolution than
any timidity expressed by the guardians OF
their country's welfare with regard to the
investigation of such important points as
the subordination of the naval or military
to the civil departments. Generals or COM
modores, while acting in that capacity,
were never intended to be.legisIators. Ac-
customed to command in their respective
spheres, and TO absolute obedience, they
can bear no contradiction their word is
paramount to law-let them exercise this
power where it can be exercised-let
them be subordinate 10 the legislative bo-
dy-and in this, and in this alone, will
their real, solid, permanent glory consist.
Their reputation can only be built on the
prosperity of that country which they de-
corate and defend they are mdissolubIy
united-lhere are but two alternatives, the
hero and the tyrant! Whenever the time
shall arrive that Congress, in contest Ell
Their with the military or naval powers OF
this country, dares not assert its full consti-
tu,ional dignity and prerogative, to adopt
figure oil speech already used,we will say,
that our political steam frigate has lost her
safety valve.
FRENCH POLITICS.