Alexandria Daily Advertiser

FROM THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND.

COMMUNICATION

It is boasted as the exclusive privilege of republican governments, that the people are, or ought to be regularly informed of the state of public affairs. Yet, it has fallen to the lot of the American nation, to be jesuitically left by their present rulers, in more than Cimmerian darkness, as well in regard to the portentous situation of their foreign relations, as to the imputed treason and menaced defection of a large portion of their territory. We know as little of the state of our disputes with Spain, England and France, as of the conspiracy of Burr and his adherents.

Who are justly chargeable with this shameful dereliction of duty? Why does not the executive without delay inform us of the exact state of things? Is not his inexplicable silence presumptive proof that there is something which he feels requires concealment? Why commit the peace and happiness of the country to the mercy of circumstances? Why, when the tempest lowers, and "storms and clouds obscure the sky," leave us to float any longer on the broad ocean of conjecture, without chart or compass?

It is high time for the intrepid pilot who is to weather the storms which are fast collecting around us from without and within, to call all hands to assist him in carrying the shattered vessel of state into the harbor of national honor, safety and peace. Let the heroic commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, at length be awakened to a sense of his country's danger, let duty and the sacred obligations of his oath of office, let the holy spirit of patriotism now inspire his great soul. What—

Shall we upon the

"Footing of our land, send fair play orders

And make compromise, insinuation, parley

And base truce to arms rebellious! shall a

"Recreant knave with pillage in his van

"Approach our fields, and flash his spirit in a

"Warlike soil, mocking the air with

"Colours idly spread, and find no check?—

"Let us to arms!" and grapple

"With him ere he come so nigh,

"What!—shall they seek the Montecellian

LION in his Carthaginian cave?

Happy would it be for America, could a small portion of that divine glow of patriotism which fired the breast of the immortal bard, be transfused into the philosophic bosom of our serene illustrious chief magistrate! The times are alarming—They demand vigor and resolution. a prompt and bold display of the united energies of the country, in crushing in embryo, the traitorous views of that part of the union, which is said to have planned schemes of revolt and dismemberment, would give a stability to the government, and a confidence to all who are now justly apprehensive for the fate of their country, that would damp the hopes and baffle the attempts of Bonaparte to controul, dismember, or subjugate these states. Burr's conspiracy affords a fine opportunity for the executive to swell the veins of Americans with that patriotic fervor, which would sink our increasing party squabbles in the paramount consideration of public safety. His unseasonable partizan addressers, would shew their undefiled purity of love of country, much—much more by offering their services to march at a moment's warning to crush treason or invasion, than their begging him for the sinister factious purpose of perpetuating themselves in office, to accept of the presidency for another term. Let it not be said, that our apprehensions as to the distracted and discontented state of the western country are groundless—and that Burr has no other object in view than the settling of lands. If for no other purpose, why those military preparations? Why that quantity of arms and ammunition—why those gunboats? Strange mode of settling lands—continuation of the traitorous views of the conspirator?