The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

WASHINGTON CITY

MONDAY, AUGUST

Another opportunity recurs for the enemies of the administration to sheathe the sword. Will they embrace it? If their souls are inspired with true magnanimity and genuine patriotism, if in their country's welfare they can merge the hatred of ideal enemies and a culpable self love, they will seize the present propitious moment for atoning for past offences and affording the best pledge of future conduct.

Acting as a party, without, perhaps, a consciousness of the dangerous extent and tendencies of their declarations and actions, they exerted every mean to frustrate measures on the success of which depended the vital interests of the nation. No sooner did the unauthorized misconduct of a foreign agent aggress upon our rights, than they strove to involve the nation in war with scarcely a moment's thought or a day's preparation; and denounced as pusillanimous or criminal all those who did not, contrary to the established practice of civilized nations, and to our peculiar policy, rush to arms without remonstrance or a claim of redress. Grant that they had their way, and that the American government had by force taken New Orleans. Its ultimate possession would notwithstanding have been to be settled by treaty. In such treaty a price would have been set upon it. What that might be cannot now be determined. There is, however, every probability that it would have been very great, and much beyond the sum we have stipulated to give. It would, at the expiration of the present war, have most probably fallen to France or England. If to the latter, we are too well acquainted with her cupidity and wants to doubt the advantage she would have made of it: and if to the latter under the guarantee of a treaty with the former, it is not likely that the price demanded would have been greatly inferior.

But not to pursue these remarks further at present, it may be affirmed that events have proved the wisdom of the measures pursued by the administration, who have exhibited more conclusive demonstrations of national energy by the acquisition of a vast territory without the effusion of a drop of blood; than could have been displayed by arraying the largest army, incurring the most lavish expenses, and by the prodigal waste of human life.

The opponents of the administration must now have awoke to their error; let them have the candor to acknowledge it. The opportunity is a golden one. There is an animated good humor in the public mind inspired by this great event. The nation, in the fulness of its joy, wishes to consign to oblivion all past feuds. It offers the right hand of fellowship to its enemies! Will they reject the magnanimous appeal to their virtue, to their patriotism? Will they continue to oppose their happiness by traducing those whose constant efforts are made to advance it? Let us hope, that on the contrary they will come forward, and say to the government, 'we opposed your measures, but we perceive that our opposition was erroneous; we doubted your patriotism, but events have removed all doubt; we questioned your wisdom, but that time has verified. Enemies from misconception, henceforth we offer you a friendship founded on conviction.'

Federalists, this is your policy, your interest, your duty!