Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-03
TOWN MEETING.

OF the city and county Of PhiladeIphia.
Yesterday assembled in the State House
Yard, to express their opinions of the
late MEASURES of the General Govern.
ment,"
The weather having been extremely in.
clement, aud the ground covered with
snow, some doubts were entertained as Ia
the p opresy of holding the meeting but
as the hour approached, the evidences of
The public anxiety became SO strong, ,ha,
II was determined the meeting should take
place. stage was prepared in the State.
House Yard, between the State House and
the South wall, and before two o'clock. the
hour appointed, the thicng of citizens vas
immense AID unprecedented. The oldest
lnhab'tant ct Philadelphia never saw such
an assemblage. 1t had been believed that
the attack on the Chesapeake had aroused
public feeling in this city I'm such manner
as to have assembled "a gr cater number Of
Citizens than any subsequ, :nt event could
produce. The meeting of yesterday, how.
ever, Showed the fallacy of that opinion,
add demonstrated, that thei'e never was q
period when the citizens u { Philadelphia
were more deeply impressed with the me-.
cessity ofraliying round theft government
Than the present.
AZ few minutes after two a clock, Capt.
WILLIAM JONES was, By an unani..
mou, vote, called 10 the chs ,ir, and Col.
ROBERT M'MULLEN appu n,ed S. ere.
tary. The crouds which were, at this time,
at every avenue, pressing in. O the State.
Rouse Yard, induced the meei ting TO post
pcne further proceedings for h aIf an hour.
During that half our, at least 1, 70 thousand
citizens entered the yard. Til chairman
was about to address the me. ting, when
he sound of band of martial music ar.
rested attention, and in a few N inutes, the
band playing " Hail CoIu mbi,i, and an
immense number of citizens ci ltersd the
yard. Calculations varied with respect to
the number present the opinior IS averag-
ed somewhat between EIGHT: and TEN
THOUSAND.
The chairman opened the buisnesx ne
the meeting, with the following ad dr.s:--
Fellow Citizens,
We ate assembled ioy invi.; alton in
the puofc prints, 70 So The Friends of A..
m=rlcan Liberty and Independer zee" to
express OPP opinions ofthe late m easures
81 the Senerrl government, and st,iemnly
10 p,edgc all that is dear TO US as men and
c:'izehs 10 " support IL in every measure
necessary or calculated TO advance the
happiness, the dignity, and Independence
of hese u So
IL Is not now question of purty--oe
internal policy, or support of favorite
candidate; II involves the union, the in.
dependence, the commercial tights and
honor nj nt,. hal
vital principle of free government the
voice oil majority constitutions lily express.
sed.
Your government assailed ~ the pow.
er and subllety of foreign foes, and placed
in situa ion of unparalleled di ficulty and
embarrassment, wisely adopie d pacific,
honorable, and impartial pol ICY, calcu.
lated to avert the calaTnities CT War, and
preserve the persons and property of
Citizens from depreciation and bondage.
The consequent prvations of this sys.
tenn have stimulated The me ire iosdious
internal foe, and the clamors s,G avarice and
discomfort.
There have been meetiu gs liz other
parts oil the Union, the te nor Of yyhoSe
inperiously called on our CT.
tzens TO support the laws. and to aid in
bringing to punishment any miscreant,
who, for the sordid pu rpose of avarice,
should endeavor to evade or break through
them.
The laws which have been rendered
inevitable by foreign aggression and do.
mestic iniraclion, have been charged M.
on your government as acts of wanton
oppression, with the view of destroying
commerce by perpetuating the embar.
go.
The commerce ofthis &c eat country can.
not be abandoned--your national represep.
tatives have made this solemJ declaration.
and they are eminently entitled to your
confidence.
While the present system continues,
every good man is bound to support the
laws, and deteet, expose, and bring to JUS.
tce every violator. The system is eyi.
IDENTIFY temporary, X in lew short months
must be superseded, either by the peace.
tul enjoyment of our commercial rights
and Independence, or their maintenance
at the point Of The sword.
When | contemplate this vast assem-.