Star.
London, England, 1809-02-24 00:00:00

AMERICA.

It appears from the American News-papers to the
27th ult. that the utmost discontent prevails through-
out the United States. In New England some of the
ICollectors and Comptrollers of the customs have re-
signed their situations, declaring that at the com-
mencement of the Union, they had sworn to protect
the Constitution, the vital part of which being in-
fringed by the Embargo Laws, would, if sanctioned
by their continuance in office, " lay perjury to their
souls."

At meetings at Boston, Philadelphia, Augusta,
Ballaton, Warren, Portland, Newbury Port, and
other places, Resolutions have been adopted, which,
with respect to a Government vigorously adminis-
tered, would be deemed little short of downright re-
bellion. Those adopted by the inhabitants of New-
bury Port, and the adjacent towns, are peculiarly
striking :

Resolved—That we will not aid or assist in the execution ( f
the several Embargo Laws, especially the last, and that we con-
sider allthose who do as violators of the Constitution of the United
States, and of this Commonwealth ; and that they be considered
as unworthy of the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens.
Resolved—That we do not consider it the duty of any soldier to
aid and assist in carrying into execution the last Embargo Law.

For other particulars we mu— refer our Readers to
she following extracts from the American papers :

AMERICAN INDIPENDENCE.
Philadelphia, Jan. 2. 4 .
Pursuant to the following notice given in the De.
mocratic Press, viz.

HIGH-STREET WARD.
,e The Citizens of High.street Ward, Friends to
American Independence, are requested to meet, on
business of importance, this evening, at seven o'clock,
at the house of William Elliott, North Third-street.

January2l."
The Citizens of High-street Ward assembled at the
house. of William Elliott, for the purpose expressed
in said notice • and after some inquiry, finding that
the persons with whom the call originated had absen-
ted themselves from said house, it was unanimously
agreed to organize the meeting, when
JOSEPH COOPER was chosen Chairman, and
C. P. WAYNE, Secretary.
It being mentioned that the rooms of Mr. Elliott
were occupied, on motion, it was
cc Resolved, That a Committee of two be chosen'
to immediately enquire for a convenient place of
meeting, which Committee, after some time, return-
ed, and stated, that on enquiry at the George Inn, it
was mentioned, thalthe persons who called this meet-

ing were there assembled (about 10 or 12 in number);
that the Committee sent in the room for one of the
persons to come out, and that he stated that they
found matters were no: likely to go as they wished,
and in consequence they had left Mr. Elliott's, and
assembled there, to sit by themsehms ; that the Com-
mittee then engaged a room in the same house for the
use of this meeting."
Whereupon it was resolved, that the meeting do
adjourn to the George Inn.
GEORGE INN.
JOSEPII COOPER, in the Chair—r. P. WAYNE, Sec.
This ward meeting was the largest in the recollec-
tion of the oldest citizens prevent.
After some desultory debate upon the -mode of
procedure, the following Resolutions were submitted,
and unanimously adopted :
4. Resolved, That this meeting is impressed with a
deep sense of the dangers that menace the peace and
happiness, if not the political exiAence, of our once-
prosperous country.
" That they have marked with dismay the impe-
tuous torrent that has been sweeping round the tot-
tering pillars of our empire.
" That thelour is now come, when silence is a
crime ; unmurmuring acquiescence, political self-de-
struction. And although they most strongly depre.,
cate every attempt to incite opposition to constitu-
tional laws, yet, as the sanctity and violability of the
Constitution depend upon public opinion, and as in-
novation can only be effectually resisted thereby—.
this meeting, as a portion of independent freemen,
conscious of their rights, and fearless of the frowns ofi
despotism, are determined publicly to protest against
all assumptions of power, not warranted by this " su-
preme law of the land," and particularly against the
late bold and tyrannical edict which places our pro-
petty at the mercy of a single man, for whose mode-
ration and discretion there is no pledge, subjects it to
military seizure, and provides no redress for outrage
and oppression, tot often the companions of unlimit-
ted power.
44 Resolved, That we consider the Constitution as
the supreme law of the land ; that all attempts to
enact laws, not warranted thereby, are usurpations ;
and that all such edicts rest on no other basis than
power.
46 That in our opinion, the sixth additional article of
the Constitution, which declares, that The right of
the people to be secure in their persons, houses, pa-1
pers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated,' and that No war-
rants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported
by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons or things to be
seized,' is founded in justice and wisdom, and in the
true principles of freedom ; and that the violent in-
fraction of the same, attempted by the ninth section
of the. Act to make more effectual the several em-
bargo Acts, is highly alarming to every good citizen,
who loves his country, ar.d glories in the blessings of
rational liberty.
" Resolved, That it be recommended to the free-
men of the city- of Philadelphia, adverse to the late
arbitrary acts of the general government, to assemble
at some convenient time and place, in order to take
such constitutional measures as may be deemed pro-
per, to obtain redress for their grievances, and that a
committee of five he appointed to carry the above
recommendation into operation.'
" Whereupon John Drinker, Joseph B. Eves, S.
North, Jos. Cooper, and John Lorain, jun. were ap-
pointed a committee for that purpose.
46 On motion, Resolved, That the Proceedings of
this Meeting be published in all the papers friendly
to American independence.
(Signed) JOSEPH COOPER, Chairman.
44 C. I'. WAYNE, Secretary.

" Philadelphia, Jan. =l, 1809."

CONSTITUTIONAL MEETING.

Boston, Jan. 41.
Yesterday the inhabitants of this town asSl hied
in Fannueil-hall, agreeably to legal notification issued
on Friday last—
_ _ _

46 To tike into consideration the alarming situation
of our public affairs, to express their solemn opinion
thereon, to address the legislature of this state (if
they should see cause) to interpose for their constitu-
tional relief against the late arbitrary, unnecessary
and unjust violations of the rights of the people ; and
to take such other peaceable and orderly measures, as
to the said inhabitants might seem proper and expe-
dient."
The enlarged hall, supposed to be able to contain
upwards of 4000 persons, was' thronged at an early
' hour; Stephen Codman, Esq. was chosen Moderator.
After the Meeting was thus organized, Colonel T.H.
Perkins delivered his sentiments in a very impressive
manner, on the present situation of our public affairs;
and concluded by offering the following Resolutions :
Whereas it is provided in the Dec: iration of the
Rights of this Commonwealth, that the people have
a right in an orderly manner to assemble to consult
upon their common good, give instructions to their
representatives, and to request of the leg;slative body,
by the way of addresses, petitions, or remonstrances,
redress of the wrongs done them, and of the griev-
ances they suffer—
Therefore, Resolved, As the sense of this town,
that we view with the deepest concern and astonish.
ment the determination of the General Government
to persevere in a system of Commercial Restriction,
which is equally repugnant to the true intent and de-
sign of the Constitution, and to the best interests of the
Union ; or to relax it, with a view only to a state of
hostility, which must probably terminate in an unne-
cessary and ruinous war with Great Britain, and a
fatal alliance with France : that having theretofore
expressed our disapprobation of the laws imposing an
embargo on commerce, and signified to the constitut-
ed authorities of the Union, our earnest wish for their
repeal, we perceive, with indignation and regret, that
unprecedented, arbitrary, and unconstitutional means
have been provided for enforcing them, and that no
resource remains to us but in the protection of our
State Legislature.
" Resolved, That a respectful petition be present-
ed to the Legislature of this Commonwealth, expres-
sive of these sentiments, and praying for their inter-
position, to save the people of this Commonwealth
from the destructive consequences which they appre-
hend to their liberties and property from the conti-
nuance of the present system, and pledging the inha-
bitants of this metropolis to support them with their
lives and fortunes, in such measures as they may
adopt for that purpose."
Dr. Eustis then moved a postponement to Monday
next, which was negatived.
The Resolutions were supported by Mr. S. Perkins,
Captain D. Sargeant, and the Hon. Mr. Dexter.
In tke opposition were, the Hon. W. Eustis, Mr.
W. Jarvis, Mr. Austin, and G. Blake, Esq. The two
last-mentioned Gentlemen hold offices under the pre-
sent national administration.
On taking the question there was a very large ma-
jority in favour of the Resolutions ; and the following
Gentlemen were appointed to draft and report a Peti-
tion to the Legislature of this State, Col. T. H. Perkins
Hon. J. C. Jones, Hun. S. Dexter, Dr. J. Warren,
W. Sullivan, Esq. Hon. J. Mason, and T. Lyman,
Esq.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

FALMOUTH, FEBRUARY 21.

Sailed his Majesty's ships VIRGINIE, of S 8 guns,
I'EcLAiR, of 18, and CA pmt.'s, of 16, with a fleet of
victuallers under convoy for the squadron off Roche-
fort ; and Mary, RENIBLE, for Philadelphia ; Prin-
cess Elizabeth, KIDD, and Duke of Kent, COAT*
WORTH, with Mails of January and. February, for the
Mediterranean ; Express, BULLOCK, and Prince
Adolphus, BOULDERSON, with ditto for New York ;
Princess Augusta, ST. A ÜBIN, with ditto for Jamaica;
Francis Freeling, But., for the Leeward Islands ;
Marborough, BALL, and Princess Elizabeth, FORRE*
DAME, for Lisbon ; also the Arundel, TATS, • for
Jamaica; Ann, DUBBLE, for Senegal ; Eagle, WAL-
KER, for Malta ; Hannah, RICKETT, and Canada,
STERLING, for Surinam ; Hawker, M'ARTHUR, for
Teneriffe ; Woodman, BROWN, for Cadiz ; and Je-
mima, GIBBON, for Lisbon.—Arrived the ALFRED
cutter, from a cruize : the Chesterfield packet, with
Mails for the Brazils, sails out to-morrow.
PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 22.

Came in the CORMORANT cutter, from a cruize.—.
Sailed the LAVINIA, of 38 guns, with about 20 sail
of vessels under convoy for Gibraltar • Fox HOUND,
of 18 guns, to the westward. Came in ;he MARTIAL
and another gun-brig, with nine sail of transports and
victuallers, under convoy,lfrom Torbay. The NAR•
CISSL S frigate was paid wages this morning.