The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-16
.Ertraefs from the .dDDRESSef thc STATE
Committee Of Correspondence, to the CT
fizens Of Pennsylvania.

COMMITTEE or correspondence, 20 Me St-
tizens Of Pennsylvania.
We cannot but dcplorc the infatuation that
could at this period. merge all the moufen-
tous concerns of whole people. in the mise
rable motives of personal resentment or dis
appointed selhshncss.
:. Yet it is at this time, and in the state of
Pennsylvania, that the cruel attempt has been /!
made, first to dishonor the name OF the vene- |
rable William Montgomery OF Northumber |
land, by publishing under that respectable
name, assertions destitute of truth ndnext,
TO use that name to impose the same false
hoods upon the people of this commonwealth,
and of the United States at large.
a. In an address and resolutions of a meeting,
held at Sunbury, in Northumberland, on the
2Sth of June last, we find the following allie
cations.
Whereas it appears that our opponents,
in principle, are attempting to divide and
weaken our efforts by scattering the seeds
of jealousy and distrust, among the republic
can citizens of this state, and of the United
States, by reports that some of our republ-
can electors will not be governed, by what is
believed to be the general opinion of the par
ty, but will, when re-assembled in their
electoral college, vote for James Madison for
president, in opposition to the general I'M
derstanding of the convention, held at Lam
caster, who put them denomination
IS And since it appears to us that the con-
vcntion, in their nomination of the electors,
to elect president and vice president of the
United States; proceeded with the under
stanGing that the electors when elected,
should vote for George Clinton for president
and James Monroe for vice president,
neither of those gentlemen are inhabitants of
this state, permit us to observe, &c.
Upon the perusal of these unfoundcd allie
cations or assumptions, we were naturally led
to examine from what source such receptions
could have proceeded. On examining the
names of those delegates who were at the
Sunbury meeting, We can find only one name,
that of MIR. abraham li'Xinney, who was a
member of the legislature and of the Lancas-
ter convention; as he was not member of
the committee which brought forward, he
probably may not have seen, or read the above
allegations because if he had, he must have
known that the allegations and assumptions
were untrue, and contradicted them we then
look to the committee appointed to draft the
proceedings, and we find that the venerable
ttiiliani Montgomery, Samuel Afdcloy, and
a third person, composed the committee; and
in the detailed proceedings, we find the fol-
lowing declaration, made by a member of
that committee:
"We regret that cur inability to crafty
readers with a full report of the senti-
ments expressed by him, (Mr. Samuel Ma
Stay y but this regret is diminished by the
address to the citizens OF this, county, in the
forming of which, as he soas oftht com
sittee, IL may fairly be considered as lbs sen
Sin,snts, and which address embraces a COM
prehensive view of the subject before the
meeting,
1t is incumbent on this committee in dis
charge of the trust imposed on them, to do
this act of public Justice to the convention,
which honored them with their confidence,
and toafford the venerable Mr. Montgomery
atthe same time, this public testimony of our
respect by declaring that we believe him to
have been imposed upon, and incapable I'M
der any other circumstances, OF affixDg his
has to thing ~ 50 azsms 81
J-ne-ar rise, who have been insuI,.d III
posed on in the same way.
we think 1t Incumbent on tn.Sta up
on the personal knowledge OF SIX OF the mem
bers this committee, that the subject of a
candidate, or the name of 2 candidate for the
presidency or vicepresidency of the United
States, was never brought before the con-
ventiou at Lancaster, nor any question or to-
pic touched or discussed during the whole
period of its sittings, in which the name of
Mr.. Madison or Mr.. Clinton, nor of any other
person was used or glanced at.
And we think it fit to allege in like manner
ed it's proceedings, vast numbers of the prin-
ted copies of the protest of the seventeen was
received at Lancaster, and that, among those
who then remained, it excited the most open
indignation anddisgust. On this subject the
state committee have spoken more at large
than was desirable, yet more at large
than was necessary to fair and explicit dis
abuse OF the public
On the question of the Presidential cleo
ton, it is our duty to address you, us well as
on the important election of governor, which
the proceedings in northumberland appear
ed at first to endanger, and would endanger,
1T the people ofthat county were not true to
their old principles
1t is now for the people of Pennsylvania to
determine upon questions involving the dear
est and most sacred duties of men and citi-
zens. The good cffhe 7vhole is the first
consideration. The means of securing that
good most efectuaily, is the next.-How has
this been done hitherto.
Thus the last question becomes the first.
because ifthe means heretofore have been suf-
fcient.s and above all, if they are the ONLY
means by which you can now act, there is
no alternative, but in acting as Republicans
hitherto have done with effect, or abaaloning
the f'rfnctfIes and cause together: it is in
vain 70 make pretences or professions, when
they are contradicted by acts and deeds : to