Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-03-07

VI ltiO WV ~
1efrayed by the difference in the
sum necessary to maintain the force
which would be adequate to our ae,
fence with the aid OF those works. ana
that which would be incurred without
them. The reason Of this difference
ia obvious. If Notifications are Jndl'
ciousl, placed on our great Inl'ts, as
distant from our cities, as circumstan-
ces will permit. they will form the on.
" points Of attack, and the enemy will
be detained by small regular force,
a sufficient time to enable our militia To
collect, aud repair to that on which
the attack is made, A force adequate
to the enemy, collected at that single
point, with suitable preparation for
such Others as might be mrnaccd, is all
that would be requisite. But. if there
were no Qualifications, then the enemy
might go where he pleased, and chang
ing his position. and sailing from place
to place, our force must be called out
and spread in vast numbers along the
whole coast, and on both sides Of every
bay and river, as high up in each as it
might be navisable for ships of war.
By these Notifications. supported by
our navy, to which they would afford
like support, we should present to o
Their powers an armed front from ST..
Croix to the Sabine, which would pro
tect. i'm the event of war, our whole
coast and interior from invasion. and
even in the wars of other powers. in
which we we're neutral, they would be
found eminently useful, as, by keep
ing their public ships at distance
from our cities, peace and order in
them would be preserved, and the 60.
vernment be protected from insult.
1t need scarcely be remarked that
these measures have not been resortsd
to in spirit of hostility to ether pow
ers. Such disposition does not exist
towards any power. Peace and good
will have been, and will hereafter be,
cultivated with all, and by the most
faithful regard to justice. They have
been dictated by the love of peace. of
economy, and an earnest desire to save
The lives of our fellow citizens from tina,
destruction, and our country from that
devastation, hiCh are inseparabl" from
war, when it finds us unprepared for it
It's believed. u experience has shown,
that such preparation is the best ex
pedient that can be resOrted to, to pre-.
vent war. add. with much pleasure e,
that considerable progress has already
been made in these measures of defence,
and that they will be completed in a
few years. considering the great ex-
tent and Importance of the bject, if the
plan be zealously and steadily perse.
vered in.
The conduct of the government, in
what relates to foreign powers, is al
ways an object of the highest impor-
lance to the nation. Its agriculture,
cummerce, manufactures, fisheries, re-
venue; in short, its peace, may all be
affected by it. Attention is, therefore,
due to this subject.
At the period adverted to, the pow.
ers of Europe. after having been en-
gagged in long and destructive wars
with each other. had concluded a peace.
which happily still exists. Our peace
with the power with whom We had b en-
engaged, had also been oncluded.-
The war between Spain and the colo.
MES OF South America. which had com
menred many years before. was then tic
only conflict that remained unsettled.
This being a contest between different
parts OF the same community, in which
other powers had not irterfered. was
not affected by their accommodations
This contest was considered, at an
early stage. by my predecessor. CT
vii war. in which the parties were en-
titled to equal rights in our ports. This
decision, the first made by any pow r.
being formed nn great consideration of
the comparative strength and resources
of the parties, the length of time. and
successful opposition made by the CO.
lonies, and of all other circumstances
on which it ought to depend. was in
strict accord with the law of nations.
Congress has invariably acted on this
principle, having made no change in our
relations with either party. Our atti-
tude has, therefore been that of neutra.
lily between them, W ,irh has been main
tanned by the government with the
strictest impsrtiality. No aid has been