Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

TRENTON, July 15.

Communication.

A DECLARATION OF WAR on the part of the United States, against France, one year ago, would have been warrantable upon every principle of justice and sound policy. Indeed, to every unprejudiced independent mind, it would seem unaccountable how it was avoided. It is certainly true, that as it regards France, it was a mere formality; for in point of fact, she was then, and for months before had been, as completely at war with us as she could be; so that it would not have at all altered our relations towards her. But it would have very materially altered our own internal situation; for it would at once have brought things to a crisis; it would have compelled our citizens to take sides, and thus have discovered to the government its friends and its enemies. And this country will never be secure from the arts and intrigues of that ambitious and perfidious nation, until this last act of the government is formally announced. Until this is done, France will not abandon her hopes here; her secret agents will be more industriously employed than ever, and divisions and insurrections will be continually excited and fomented by them. But a declaration of war would take us at once out of our present uncertain Situation, and completely crush the French party among us. At the same time it would not create an enemy, but only put us in a situation to act with more energy against the enemy that has already attacked us. Every measure yet taken by government against France, has been opposed by men who have afterwards been convinced (those meaning, who were not completely under French influence) that it ought to have been taken before. And this will undoubtedly share the same fate as the rest.