Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-19

broken down, OF rather Not planted; It's
fields were untitled, and its noble waters
and rivers were ehoaked with mud. Spain
under these circumstances, has coded little
in ceding the Floridas.
We have often had occasion to say that
the Americans are very acute people, and
see their interest at as long distance as
the most of profound politicians Of Europe.
1t was with view to the present. cession
that they sent mission along the South A.
mericancoast, during the last summer. The
avowed object of that mission was TO in
quire int, the actual relations of the e.
maneipated cities and provinces of South
America. The real purpose was to hold
out very ineligible menace to the GO
vernment of Madrid, and thereby to con-
vey hint, which, in the recent negocia.
tons with respect TO Florida, has not been
lost upon the Spanish ministers. This po-
hey is equivalent to that of a private dealer
who, desirous OF getting good price tor
his commodity, points out a second bidder
whilst he is dealing with the FIRST do as
you please. think myself bound in honor
to give you the refusal; but you see ano-
ther chapman is at TIE door"
Nor will the republican ambition of the
American people remain satisfied, even
with this acquisition, though the immediate
result of it be. that in any future war with
England. it exposes our West India Islands
to such "a pid and successive invasions, as
must exhaust any feet we can send to save
or recover them. With the single excep-
ton of Jamaira, which is OF sufficient extent
and resources to provide for her own de.
fence, all the caribbean Islands are at the
mercy Of the u States and upon this sim
pile principle, that they will not be worth
the expense of successive reconquests by
government so remote as that of Great Bri-'
tain This is our consideration, but we do
not think it of much importance, Another
consideration IS the progressive spirit be.
coming daily more manifest in the Ameri-
can people and government. The acquisi-
ton of Florida has already excited some a.
VOW ed longings with respect to Mexico it.
self. Their popular writers, and even the
American Senate, begin to speculate upon
the comparative value OF Mexico to Ameri-
ca, and the Spanish government, and under
these feelings wish to push the frontier
boundary Of the United States towards
Mexico. tits thus stated in the Gazette Of
the government, and may be therefore
deemed almost official that there was a
strong indisposition in the American Senate
to relnquish the territory between the Sa.
bine and the Rio del Nor,e, the line of de.
marcation originally commended for, league
of which is justly deemed of more value
to the U. States (and which would include
a considerable portion of seaboard on The
Gulf of MeIico) than the whole territory
west Of the Rocky Mountains, which, for
centuries to come, can be of very little i'm
portance to the United States.
The other principal article Of foreign in
telligence, is, the French proposal for a
new law TO regulate the press. We think
ourselves, that these intended regulations
60 little too and rather lead 10 the SER
vitude of the pubic press, than to the due
regulation of lis liberty. Blu, perhaps the
French press may, under the present state
Of things. require this great degree of legal
control.-Parties and passions still run We
ry strong AMI we understand that some of
their political pamphlets are written with
a most audacious contempt of the authority
of law and government. We cannot say
that we feel much sympathy Tor the French
writers: for in no kim dom in Europe is
the public press more scandalous, indecent
and irreligiOuS.