Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-18
JOHN BEATTY, President.
PETER GORDON, Sec'ry.
l certify the foregoing to be true copy
JOHN BEATTY.


ACCORDING to public notice, a meeting
OF the citizens of Westmoreland county,
was held n the court house of said county, ,
On Wednesday the 9Th day of July, for the
purp7se of taking under their considerati-
on, the late outrage committed on she fri
gate Chesapeake, by n British squadron.
John Campbell, Esq. suggested the neces-
slty OF appointing chairman and nom-
mated the Hon Richard Parker Doct John
Peake seconded the motion, and Mr.. Par
ker was unanimously elected
Baldwin Nj. Lee, was then nominated as
Secretary by Richard Z. Parker, Esq Sc
conded by Samuel Lewis, Esq. and was u
unanimously elected.
Richard 4. Parker, Esq. then presented
A narrative OF the outrages committed up
on the Chesapeake, and the resolutions a.
dopted by the citizens of Norfolk.
Mr.. K. +. Parker moved that the narra-
tive should be read, which was unanimous
iy consented to-Thc narrative being read,
motion was made for the appointments of
committee to take into consideration the
outrages committed on the Chesapeake,
and TO report Immediately to the meeting,
their sentiments on the subject. The meet
ing came 20 a resolution for the appointment
ola committee Of five. The chairman Sc
L.
el Templeman, Richard Stuart, John Camp
bell, Richard E. Parker, and Thomas
Rowand. The committee retired, and af.
ter delberatrig for some time, reported
the following resolutions, which were read
and Unanimously agreed TO.
We the citizens o. Westmoreland conn
ty, now convened 10 express our feelings
and opinions on the late daring violation of
our national flag by British squadron,
have read tile narrative ofthat transaction
with the deepest concern and the most
glowing indignation.
Like our fellow -citzens in every part of
the union, we consider it as the deliberate
act of an aspiring and vicious government,
whose ruling passion is interest, and whose
only law is force.
Proud Of her naval superiority, fnsolent
IN the consciousness of her strength, this
modern carthage tramples upon ali neutral
| rights, and grasps at the actual deSpotisrn
OF the ocean. She has p.uRdered our com.
| merce. impressed and enslaved cur seamen.
insnlted our laws and our government, and
murdered cur citizens. She has let loose
! the humble seville instruments of her am
bltion and injustice, such abiect tools of her
power as Witty and Love, as Humphreys,
Douglas, and Berkely, to goad, to abuse
and to destroy Us. When we complain of
her minions, she mocks us with a sham tri-
| al, and places them in a situation TO com
mt crimes OF deeper dye and greater mag
nltude When we offer to negotiate, she
! amuSes Us with promises Of redress, and at
the same moment continues and extends her
depredations. We have no hope that this
neiarious system will be abandoned. A
nationjealous OF our rivalship in commerce,
governed by corrupt and narrow minded
ministers, will hardly do us Justice until
she is taught thatjustiCe s. interest are inse-
! parable. Our rational disre to avoid the
evils OF war, she will continue to mistake
ior pusIlanimityS and the last act of vio-
ience VIII be but prelude to further age
gression' Nothing therefore remains for
US but unconditional obedience or manly re-
slstance, a submission TO national degrada-
tion, or frm determination tossupport ma
! uohal honor. We cannot, will not, hest
tate in the choice. Although young and
| supple people, unacquainted with the arts
OF war and the clang of arms, vet at such
a time, the man who dares not risque his
lite III defence ofhis country, and her laws,
has lost IN society the dearest energies of
nature. We acknowledge none such among
us we will all come forward cheerfully
at the call OF our country, and act our parts,
whether 1t shall be with the heart to con-
ceiVc, the understanding TO direct, the purse
to support, or the hand to execute Tie in
cstimable prize of American independence
IS not ''like an empty pageant, to be taken
up and laid down at pleasure 1t is sa-
cred trust, conhded to us by our ancestors,
obtalned by them through storms of oppo-
sltI9n, by torrents of blood, apd we are
amenable to posterity for the manner in
winch we shall preserve il. The bright
example ofour beloved fellow countryman,
the illustrious Washington, is still before
us Inc great American spirit guided by
MN IN former times, may have siumbered,
but has not expired. The holy Flame vet
lives and will yet burn with undiminshed
lustre.
Nations we are convinced must cease to
expect safety from the councils Of seryile
policy. War ought tn be regarded by them
as an evil ofthe first magnitude, but there
IS time whena appeal to the god Of bat
ties is not only expedient, but necessary.
The law OF self-pTeservation written upon
the hearts Of even savages and brutes, is
paramount TO every other, and we believe
that this law will now justify us in making
the awful appeal Il is better then since
the pride Of national resentment is reused,
and but one sentiment is felt throughout
the union, at once 70 repel force by force,
than to wait the Issue ofprotracted negoci-
alton. With nation whose tyranny knows
no other limits than her power, open war
is to'be preferred 10 an insecure and peril
~.