Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

For the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.

THE danger of our being drawn into the war, has not passed over. The cloud is still black, and agitated with the struggles of an imprisoned whirlwind. It may, in spite of all the efforts we can make to shun it, burst upon our unsheltered heads. God forbid! War would set us afloat once more—it would sweep away, like a torrent, all that ten years of peace have gathered; yet, dreadful as it would be, perhaps we shall be compelled to face it.

Appearances are to the last degree threatening. The sober citizens, the true patriots who love their country best when they tremble for its safety, should now take their post.

The extreme danger to our peace is obvious. What shall be done? Nothing rash—nothing that will bring us a step nearer to a war—nothing that will aggravate the danger without affording us any aid to resist it—no angry measures to indulge our own resentments, and to exasperate those of any foreign nation. Court peace—maintain it as long as it can be maintained. Even when it shall be seen that it must be finally lost, defer war to the last, because we may profit by such a delay to prepare for war—we may be gaining strength, while the nations of Europe are wasting their resources and their rage. The chance of events is thus also on our side. Time hurries on changes of the most unexpected kind, and some of them may favor our desire for peace, or our measures for a just defence. The combinations of nations may break to pieces, and we may be able then to take high ground for peace or war. Never was there more need of prudence. It is a crisis which rashness and intemperate passions may turn to our ruin.