The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-10-08 00:00:00, page 2

case admit,retribution for the mur
der of our. fellow citizens, we hereby
pledge ourselves to support to the ut
most of our ability.
5. Resolved unanimously^ That the
( haimian of this meeting be requested
to communicate a copy of these resolves
to the President of the United States,
md one to the Executive of this state ;
and that the same be printed in the
V\ heeling Repository.
6. Resolved unanimously, That this
meeting tender their thanks to the*ir
Chairman, for his attention to the ob
jects ol ihe meeting.
Moses Chapline, Chairman.
Thomas Evans, 1
Secretaries.
Noah Zane,
At a large and respectable meeting of
-tiie citizens ol Ohio and Brooke Coun
ties (\ irginia) convened by public ap
pointment at West-Liberty, on the 4th
day of September, 1807,'for the pur
pose of taking into consideration the
present momentous crisis in the political
concerns of our country, and of uniting
cm- voice in the general expression of
the public sentiment.
(~»eneral Benjamin Biggs, was called
to the chair, and the Re v. James Hughes
chosen Secretary of the. meeting.
The proclamation of the president of
<>1 the United States, dated the 3d clay
ol July, 1807, and sundry other docu
ments were read ; from which it appear
ed that a must wanton and cruel outrage
had been committed upon the United
States frigate Chesapeake commodore
Barron, by the British ship of war Leo
oartl, Captain Humphries, in which our
citizens have been wounded and mur
<dered, and the flag of our nation insult
ed and violated.
After conference and due delibera
tion had, William M‘Kinlcy, I)a\ id
Chambers, Nathaniel Coalman, Gabriel
Jacobs, Isaac Kelly, Robert Hi m
phrit.s, and John Brown, wa re appoint
d a committee to draught resolutions
wiled to th>' occasion and c xpressive
of the general sense; which were re
ported and unanimously adopted, (t x
oeptmg a few dissenting votes on the
tiurd resoU.tion) as follows :
J he citizens of Ohio and Brooke
counties, although thus late in the col
lective public expression of that patrio
tic /. al w hich unite . them in sentiment
oi d in practice with the great body of
their i* ilow citizens of the United
Suit'.have neverthcT ss not been deft
dent in lire more prompt raid early al
ter, lion to those energetic and efficient
means of defence, which were calculat
ed to enforce the rights and secure the
independence of our country. And
they take this opportunity of repeating
the tender of all their influence and ex
ertions ; and assurance of their most de
t Trained support ol such measures as
the wisdom of the constituted authori
ties shall deem proper to vindicate the
honour and assert the national sove
reignty of a free people : In short, to
procure ample remuneration for past in
juries, and adequate security against
any future insults and aggressions of an
unprincipled, barbarous foe.
It is true indeed, that “No nation on
earth has so many cogent reasons for
maintaining a friendly intercourse with
the rest of the world as the United
States. Far removed irom those bloo
ay scenes oi uimtion wnicn r.urope has
exhibited for centuries ; pursuing the
even tenour of industry ; regardless of
that illusive glory which is only to be
obtained at the expence of happiness \
and anxious only ior that solid renown
which spiings from an undeviating
- arse of justice and virtue ; they might
have flattered themselves with the h -pe,
that they should escape tire ravages of
those conflicts which are at present de
: solacing the eastern world.—However,
i it would seem, that their growing com
merce and rising prosperity, are obj cts
too tempting leu- the rapacious eye of a
power, who arrogates to hercelf the ex
clusive dominion of the seas.— From
the moment our independence was e
stahlished, Great-Britain regarded with
a maligant jealousy the progressive
prosperity of a nation whom sh.c had
once held in bondage. From that mo
| in nt until the present, she h is ur.ceas
• iug!y wag. d an open or concealed war
i ire ag ainst our indisputable right*'.”
But the unexampled injury and into
leral le insolence ol their late conduct in
attacking one oi our national vessels in
a time oi peace, exceeding in atrocity
all former aggressions, fully evinces a
nrech tcrinincd disposition of envious
hostility which can neither be defended
nor palliated. It therefore becomes us
to await the approaching alternative ol
peace or war ; of complete reparation,
or determined resentment of unparalh 1
ed injuries, with the decision becoming
fre emen. The reputation of our coun
try is at stake, and it must now be de
cided whether wc shall its*tin.: the dig
nificd attitude of au independent stair,
or meanly concede to the unfounded
pretensions and unlimited arrogance of
an insuhing foe : Wherefore,
Resolved. That although we cherish
peace with the greatest sincerity; yet we
believe that there are periods in the hi
story of every nation, when the love of
peace must yield to the imperious die
tates of national honour and justice, and
the unavoidable necessity of resenting
national wrongs, where ample satisfac
tion and remuneration is refused bv the
offending nation.
Resolved, 1 hat until the decision cf
government shall be made known, we
will regard as enemies to this countrv,
all persons who shall endeavour to coun
tenance or palliate the aforesaid unpro
v<ik unprecedented, and outrageous
conduct.
r evolved, i hat the conduct of our wor
thy Presid nt in promptly rejecting the
lai<: proposed treaty with Great-Britain,
meets our most cordial approbation;
because ‘hat we believe it did not con
tain explicit provisions against the nefa
rious practice of impressing and forci
bly detaining our citizens in their naval
armaments : A practice directly repug
nant to tiie established usage and known
lav. ot nations ; a palpable violation and
inlringpinent ol the essential rights and
sovereignty of ineependent states.
Resolved, 1 hat we repose the most
an pic confidence in the patriotism, wis
dom and firmness of the President of
the k Jnitc cl btat-'s, and the constituted
national autnoriti .s : and tiiat wc highly
approve and duly appreciate the pru
dence, justice and moderation, which
appear to influence the executive conn*
ciis in the present critical and important
conjuncture of public affairs.
J^esolved-, as the determined sense of
this met ting, that no pacific overtures
or measures of accommod .tion ought
hencefortn to be proposed or accepted
on our part, which shall in any wise
concede or relinquish the smallest por
tion ot our essential rights as an inde
pendent sovereign state. Fully -apprized
of the manifold evils which must result
from war, we arc prepared>to encounter
to n i 1 cur ov.n defence. And we
shall rejoice only in that peace which
shall b*. founded on the explicit acknow
h v.11 -i t and unequivocal security of
our jr.it rights.
t h; motion, Resolved, That William
M'Kinicy, D.tvi l Chambers, Nathaniel
Coleman, Gabriel Jacob;;, Isaac Kelly,