Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Portsmouth Oracle.-We never read
this paper without pleasure; and we
have reason very often to admire the
style and argument, by which it is distinguished. The following is entitled to a
very attentive perusal.
From the Portsmouth Oracle.
In a former number, we observed, that
the present time was peculiarly favorable
for correct opinions respecting the
real policy of the leading men of the two
great parties in our country; that it was
the duty of every citizen to form such
opinions; that the policy of leading men
was to be inferred from the result of the
respective systems of measures of the
different administrations of our general
government. That our national character,
at the time of the adoption of the constitution, stood as high as that of any other
nation. and that the public debt, at
that time, amounted to nearly $10,000,000; that our public debt now. is at least
$150,000,000; that our national character stood unsullied at the close of Washington and Adams administration-
that at that time the revolutionary public debt was reduced to $83,000,000
that all these facts. were now admitted
by men of all parties and opinions.
In order to place, in a clearer point of
view, the relative economy or prodigality
of the two former and two latter administrations of our general government,
might have added, that during the twelve
years of Washington and Adams' administration. the whole amount of revenue.
was $78,000,000; that during fourteen
years and nine months of Mr. Jefferson
and Mr. Madison's administration. the
receipts into the treasury were $268,000,000. It appears, therefore, that the federalists on coming into power, found
the public debt about $100,000,000; that
they received of the people's money
$78,000,000. and left them, $83,000,000
in debt. That the republicans, on coming into power. found the public debt
$83,000,000: that they received of the
people's money $268,000,000, and now
hold them responsible for a public debt
of $150,000,000.
Now, if we deduct from the public
debt a sum equal to what it was at the
close of Mr Adams' administration, viz.
$83,000,000 dolls and add the remaining
67 to the 268,000,000 dolls. received into the treasury since the republicans came
into office, it make an excess of 257,000.
000 dolls. which has been received and
expended by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison's administration, more than all
that was received by the two former administrations. Besides of the 78,000,000
dolls. which they received 17,000,000
dolls. (or about that sum) was appropriated to the reduction of the public debt.
The inquiry at once forces itself upon the mind. what has become of this
enormous sum of the people's money?
One thing is clear, it is gone, and we are
still in debt 150,000,000 dolls.; that
therefore is no longer a subject of inquiry. We will not, however, call it a
prodigal expenditure till we have inquired
into facts and see whether indeed
they will support so high a charge. Perhaps it has been judiciously expended
upon works of general utility to the nation; as in building public roads, opening public canals, and in aiding the infant literary institutions of our country.
Perhaps our frontier, our seaport towns
and cities have been rendered more secure against the desolating ravages of
war. Perhaps our liberties have been
enlarged, national injuries redressed,
and questions of national right, which
the powers of Europe would never before yield, have been settled and confirmed in our favor.
But to these, corresponding inquiries suggest themselves.
Where are
those public roads and canals? Where
the literary institutions that have felt
the munificent and fostering hand of the
administration of the general government? Why then in the late war, was
our frontier laid waste, our seaport towns
and cities threatened with plunder and
conflagration, which were averted only
by the extraordinary exertions of the
state governments? In what respect
have our liberties been enlarged? What
national injuries have been redressed?
What questions of national right have
recently been decided in our favor. The
voice of all parties, the voice of the
whole country responds in the negative.
Surely then if Washington and Adams's administration were too liberal of
the people's money, Mr. Jefferson and
Mr. Madison's have been prodigal indeed.
How does our national character under the present administration, compare
with what it was while the government
was in the hands of federalists? While
the latter were in power, as a nation we
were every where respected. Though
in infancy, we were treated with all the
respect due to manhood. We had
fought for independence and obtained it.
The government we had established.
as the government of our choice. Our
constitution was formed by freemen, and
administered in the spirit of freedom.
The most powerful nations courted our
friendship. Our public credit was a treasure sufficient to meet every exigency.
Our public measures were to be depended on. Our policy was bold and commanding.