Kentucky Gazette

From the Eastern Argus.

The following extract is from Bell's London Messenger. How seldom were such expressions heard from Englishmen before the late war, so wicked, unnatural, unholy and disgraceful, according to our political federalists. We are viewed not only with respect in Europe, but with no small degree of fear. Our friendship is thought worth courting. How much of this respect do we owe to Governor Strong and his counsellors? And what would have been our condition at this time, had the policy of the federalists of this state, during the war, been successful? These things ought to be held in remembrance.

"Of all the nations in the world, the Americans are formed to become, eventually, the equal rivals and competitors of England; they are of the same root and trunk with ourselves; their constitution is as good, because made after the experience of our own: and it is absurd to imagine that their understandings differ much more from us than their bodies and persons. It always appears to us unnatural, as well as most absurd, to speak with any contempt of what is 'our own family—transplanted only into a remote region.

"We will even say more; we conceive that the institutions in America, and particularly the practice of government, may afford many useful lessons to the more ancient governments of Europe; and that kings and people may learn, that governors are made for men and not men for governors; that the first consideration, every where, is the people, and the comfort of the people; that there is no very close and necessary connection between the expensive splendors of Princes and the happiness of the country; and that the Americans are free and happy, though their president hangs the bridle of his horse to a pale, whilst he enters the Congress.—If America wants something which we may possess, she likewise possesses much of which we are in want."

Such is the style in which our country is now spoken of by the sensible politicians in Europe. The following remarks are from the same article, and they are distinguished by that good sense and moderation, which are eminently characteristic of the paper from which they are taken. They afford another proof of the power of that restrictive system, which was so much ridiculed formerly by the folly of the federalists, but to which by their support of the great navigation law, they have become decided converts. It is this very law on which the editor of the Messenger is commenting, and from which he anticipates much injury to his country.

"There is reason to apprehend that the effect of these laws upon the English colonies will be very serious and mischievous, as their plantations have always been supplied, and their population fed, from the adjacent American coast. It is said, indeed, that in the short interruption of the late war, they procured the same supply from our own British American possessions, and that they may repeat the same method. But, in the first place, the interruption of peace was too short to afford the due proof of the sufficiency of this supply; and secondly, that according to the memorials of the colonists themselves, Canada and Halifax are totally inadequate to that purpose. If this be the actual state of things, we may expect a scene of much commercial distress, and such an increase upon the price of colonial produce as will be felt by all classes."

The doctrine of Bell, the doctrine of our navigation law, is precisely the doctrine of the restrictive system, and of Mr. Madison's resolutions in 1794. That system, but for the violence and frauds of the federal party, would have redressed our wrongs. As it was, the pacific system was exchanged for war; and we owe to thanks to the federalists, if the result has proved that war, though perhaps not more efficacious was a remedy more rapid in its effects, as well as more honorable to the country in its progress, than the pacific policy first adopted.