Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

From the Spirit of Seventy six.

The National Intelligencer in all the paragraphs upon the subject of Capt. Rodgers the question of right in a neutral to pursue and seize any vessel upon the high seas; and yet this certainly is the most important part of the enquiry—because in the first place it involves a principle of the law of nations: and it can't be denied that our executive have always contended that this law was immutable and binding upon every civilized country. Because in the next place if a neutral has not a right to pursue a vessel upon the high sea (and the law of nations does say that she cannot out of the jurisdiction of her country) then the pursuit of the sloop Little Belt by the President, Capt. Rodgers was a wanton and wicked violation of national law to endanger the peace and happiness of this country!—some apology might have been found in the ignorance of Capt. Rodgers upon the subject of the law; but the executive having publicly approved his conduct, have taken the odium upon themselves and skulk behind the misrepresentation of their printers for a justification. These printers waive every part of the subject except the last 'scene where Capt. Bingham fired the first shot; and this is trumpeted with extacy and exultation insidiously to rouse the public resentment. -I say Capt. Rodgers as a neutral had no right by the law of nations to pursue the Little Belt. I say when he came up with her he was bound to make himself known as a neutral; and I say I challenge the whole host of sycophants and pensioners to controvert these positions.

IMPARTIAL.