The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-10-22
From TIMOTHY PICKERING, Sec
rotary of State,
Top. JOHNSTON, Efq. of Prince. Ed
ward County (Virginia.)


II HAVE received your letter of the zI1 oil
u Auguh, covering paper without figna
lurc, purporting 10 be an addrefs from the Free
holders OF Prince Edward country, in the ltat.
Of Virginia, to the PRECEDENT OF the United
States, to whom, you inform me, it was their
sequel that fhould prefent it.
L Addreaes to the Prefident being petfonal &c
him, and not connected with any Of the fubor
dinate departments Of the government, il is no
sreceifary that they fhould pats through my of
fee and perhaps not on. in twenty has come
10 my hands Hitherto, however, have for
Hvarded all (yours excepted) which have re
Eeeived .rr the addrefs from Prince Edward
county would not have formed an exception, il
the reiped for the Prefident fthe United States
HpEofehed in the beginning, had appeared in the
II progrels Of the addrels. But conserving il moi
70 be any part Of my otEcial duty to forward ad-
sdrefes, viii Rot D0lEafeer in tranfmitting one
which IS calculated to iajah the Chief Magihrate
of my country. Such addreiIers NUT choole
iome other medium Of conveyance.
N The fresholders Of Prince edward county
prOfefs, that il is not their defgn to approach
the Chief Msgiarate Of the United States with
out rsbs7 and YET they call his digniied re
iolve /" never to fend another Miniler to France
without aiurances thar h would BE received
.Erefpeaed. and honored, as the representative o
great, free, powerful and independent nation,
RASH relolution /" and they infinuate, thai
1.-THE majority of the members of each houfe o.
lCongreis, and the PrsGdent, for concurring Il
certain of their public acts, have dtfgs to o
,lverthrow the rights, and TO dearoy the Liberties
.lof The people of the United States As know
the integrity and genuine patriotifm of the grea
land leading characters by whom the formation
Il and adoption of thole aets were accomplished,
.1hsGtate not to call that ininuation a ealumsy
land in which | lhould think participated, If
.,Igave It paGAge to the Prefdent. Therefore
n Sir, return to you the addrels of the freehol
lders Of Pcince Edward county, that If they
.HAail finally determine to infuit the PreGden
Iaod C,ngrefs, by perfilting to Offer the address
fthsy may commit It TO fome perfon who i
IcaPable Of debating himf-lf by preienting it
II Here, Sir, might clote this letter but th,
liberty claimed AMI ufed by the freeholders o
i Prince Edward county, of examining the pro
1cselings Of the PreGdent and Congrefs Ia CLAIM
Which while exercifed with decency, withou
iinlllt to the contributed authorities, and with
out a deiign or tendency to excite ddcontent
and d1obedience TO the laws of our country
Il will never B. qaeaioned) trua may be uie
y By me in examining The public proceedings Q
u my fellow itizens.
Fl The !rseholders Of Prince Edward count
4 fay, q obedience to the laws, and attachmen
10 the government eitablilhed blythe choice @
"A our country, we eaeem as the primary dusie
II Of good citizens" But is the calumnious in
o..
Iclaration They alto fay, that certain acts O
II Congrefs are "FLAcRASr Oisiations oftbe Jabrrm
law Of or country ~ Is this decent? Is this
proper way to manifea their fenfe of the fir
duties" Of good citizens, obedience to tn
laws, and attachment to the government @
Il their country's choice % On the contrary, d.
not fuch declarations tend to excite dfobed enc
IN 20 The laws, hatred to the government, infu,
recion aud revolt
The frecholders Of Prince Edward countr
Il ak, " Can we, for an inaant, Aatter ourielve
that the hrength of America, de1itute as III
IS ofthe means of attacking datant eneny
IS competent to the great fcheme Of humbln
The haughginefs and the power of France? or c
compelling her to a compensation for iniurie
which has been fought in vain by negotiation I?
IN ALoW me 20 ak, ~ my turn, VINO III the vi
ted States has propcfsd this fcheme VIII
has declared or intimated that the objed Of on
government, in providing an AMY and fhr
OF war, was to "humble the haughtinefs and th
power Of France y Who has urged any othc
motives for thole meafures, than thele z
PrsVsaf that "boggbtia5f" andftat I" Po4vsr" fro
farf6er haubliSg us ]; tran f,amfEgg on cur ref&,
III Iy0m fstaly dJfyoying our ea1a, IRE from kTy5
n deretioaary contribution fran er4,b1g ~ sui
% 'gSaniHioRs fri5att, tri5ste 10 Be meslay1d o.