Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-29

berlaud, being solemnly impressed with |
these truths, have been penetrated with |
feelings of inexpressible indignation and |
horror, at the recent, wanton and atrociouS !
attack, by his Britannia Maiestv's ship /
Leopard, on the United States frigate |
Chesapeake, which terminated in the NOR |
tiiying spectacle Of her colors being struck,
and OF the men on board of an American
ship OF war, being made to pass under the
yoke before British officer.
Resolved that ever since the United
states became independent, their govern
ment has been influenced in its relations
with that OF Great Britain, by spirit of
feace, honor and justice; aad that the Gil
binet OF that country, instead of acting to-
wards us with q congenial policy has puv-
sued course uniformly marked with usur-
pations, till, at length, it has reached that
acme in crime, when forbearance on orr
part would Justly stamp us, as degenerate
and fallen people.
RESOLVED, tina, the spirited and patriotic
conduct of our fellow-citizens of Norfolk,
Hampton, and their vicinities, entities
them to our warmest thanks: they have
been animated with the holy enthusiasm of
libertv-a sentiment which we trust will
rapidly dlIuse itself over United America,
embracing, in its progress, every denomi-
nation OF citizens, as well those who have
become so by adoption, as those who are so
by birth.
Resolved, that we will support the ge-
| neral government, both with our treasure,
and our blood, in any measures they NAV
adopt for the preservation Of our rights, or
| the vindication of our national honor since
| II IS the una!terab'e purpose of our souls to
| Tue free, or be buried under the ruins of
the temple of liberty.
Resolued, that copy of these resoluti-
ons be forthwith transmitted, by the chair
man, to the secretary of state. 20 be, bv
him, laid before the President of the Uni
| ted States, with a copy of the following
! address; and that another copy of the
whole proceedings of this meeting, be for
warded to the editor OF the Enquirer, with
request thar they be published in his pa
| per.
RESOLVED, that the President of the u
nited States, ever mindful of our rights and
! dignity, and wishing TO avert the present
crisis, by his early and constant endeavor
to settle, by amicable adjustments, our diff
terences with the British government, de-
serves and receives Our highest approba-
tion and thanks.
Resolved, that the thanks of this meet
ing, be given 70 the chairman, for his inn
partial discharge of his duty.
The address ola Number of the Inhabitants
| Of me county of Northumberland, in tie
state Of pirgfniG, to the President of'the
| United States:
SIR,
A variety of inferior acts of injustice
and aggressions, have, for long time,
made us entertain the unpleasant ref1ecti-
/ ON, hot A
| tain, was very precarious We say IN
! pleasant not from our assurance of her
hostility, or our dread of her power-but
because we think that war with any nation,
whether prosperous or adverse in its con-
sequences, merely as war, Will greatly dis
turb the happy condition we have enjoyed
| for twenty-four years-and be hazardous
to the permanence and purity OF those re-
| publican institutions and habits, which in
comparison with all other things, we hold
to he ineStimabIe.
The late act of violence committed on
our frigate, the Chesapeake, under cir
cumstances the most exasperatinC TO the
! feelings of frecmen, places the right and
Justice ct extreme retaliation, completely
on our side, and leaves nothing to doubt bur
the expediency of war, which must be 90
verned by views and events that will be
best known to the constituted authorities of
our government. To them, we think il n Sit
occasion TO address ourselves, as well as
to express our confidence and attachment,
as our unalterable resolution, to go heart
and hand, with our county, to every extre-
nifty that may be deemed requisite, fov OBJ
tanning ample and honorable PREPARATION of
our wrongs.
Past experience of the character Of the
adversary we are likely to encounter, JUS
titles our belief, that one of the first nstr,l-
ments of mischief, of which he would avail
himself, is that, which is unhappiIy inter-
woven in the population of the more south
eTn states. The deep interest we have in
this event, is peculiarly affected by the We
ny deficient state of militia, in respect both
10 arms and discipline, and urges us to pre-
sent to the consideration of the govern
ment, the necessity of an early provision
OF the means, rather to prevent, than to
repress it. The evil is of such a nature.
| as to render its existence for one hour.
! shocking to the humanity Of all men, bvt
those whose unprincipled & merciless VEN
geance, can aggravate the horrors of war,
in its best form, sufficiently degrading to
| the human character, by resorting to the
aid OF so foul and execrable an auxiliary.
I With high consideration and respect,
! We are, Sir,
Your faithful fellow citizens,
WALTER JONES, Chairman, } On 6chaU
JeHN MILLER, Secretary, } meeting.
On the motion of Thomas d. Downing,
| RcSOfTcd. that q cCpv of Tho ,,rccecJ-