Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-28
A1GI1s7-A COUNTY, MEETING.
FROM THE STANTON CENSOR.

AT ) meeting of number OF the re-
s,setahle f,eehoIders of the county OF Au-
g,,sta on Saturday the 18th day OF oePtem-
Der 1908, for the purpose OF taxing ln.o
consideration the present crisis ct public al,
fo;rs-o,en. <. Portrfeld was appointed
c ,lt. and Samuel Clarke, sec'ry.
Tbe chairman having informed the meet
49, that the objects thereof were to take into
n .;la. at the present situation Of the
country as It respects the operation OF the
embargo law, to express their opinion on the
nol;cv which dictated it, and the expedlen-
~ Of its continuance also to adopt
such measures as might be deemed necessa-
~ to support the election Of federal presl-
dent and yice-president, and a federal repre-
sentative fol. Wis congressional district,
On motion, Alexander Nelson, carter
Beverly, James Bell, Andrew Anderson,
William Robertson, Alexander Robertson
and Alexander St. Clair, were appolnted,
committee to draft suitable resolutions to be
proposed to the meeting.
The committee then retired and prepared
the following:
TO THE
PRESIDENT or THE U. STATES.
WE. the aecholdars of Augusta coun-
ty. at the courthouse in the town OF otaun-
ton. duly assembled according to public no
tice given in the newspaper, hereby beg leave
to approach the executive branch OF govern
mcnt with such expressions CT the polltlcai
sentiments of the county aforesaid as seem
eth TO us meet and proper. The fundamen-
tai principle OF our constitution has always
been considered to mean, that the power OF
each branch OF the government being derry
ed from the people, they Of necessity have
The right 10 control the operations OF 1t, anu
Coz that purpose it has been generally &C
knowledgee, that the legitimacy OF the 60
verninent is alone the sovereignty CT the
people. Viewing it therefore right we
possess, (coequaI with the formation OF the
comnact) that whenever pubic exlSences
shall require the expression OF the ntilvldu-
al opinion, it should be freely and fully &C.
clared. we have thus assembled 10 take INTO
considerations the present unhappy s'taat.on
OF our country, and atvca' the most mature
| and delibera,e l,acct.on, we deem it our
duty to lay before you the following express
sions oi Cur feelings.
The prosperity Ct the u. States has inva-
riaby depended upon commerce, maintain
cd and supported BY a just regard 20 our
national honor, and We view it therefore OF
deep regret 10 the nation, that after nine
months experience OF the embargo law, we
are LEFT, ruinous and dreadful as the conse-.
quences are, to depiore continuation OF 1t
without any serious prospect whatever OF its
being repealed. AS long as It was thought
righr 10 indulge our rulers In trial OF the
experiment, We have III common with the
great mass or the good people of tf- y.
States, silently submitted to the authority OF
the government; but, as we can no longer
perceive The least probability OF the great
belligsrent nations sweIvlnl, from the polltl-
cal stand they have taken, and as the y.
States without commerce must mfalilbiybe-
come crippled ano finally a bankrupt peo-
pie, we deem it absolutely essential TO our
political existence, to declare a continuance
of the embargo law ruiEoils and lnpoiluc.
We yviltntly discover (tested as our ioeas
are by experience that unless the avenues OF
commerce are again opened, and the Gem
mercial people Of America suffered to ha-
zard themselves upon the ocean, IN the Plir-
suit of their lawful gain, free and uninolest-
ed BY any domestic shackies, we are serl-
ouslv apprehensive that there will soon per-
wade one general sentiment completely dlre-
l;,tive of LONGER acauiescence to the will Of
congress, unpleasant as tins declaration IS,
echoed and sent forth by tie Popllous and
patriotic county Of Augusta, we conslder.it
nevertheless as a truth that can nc longer be
disguised; and when we declare TO you that
we have long since considered Our govern