The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-09-27
A D d r E $ S
TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW YoRh

TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW YoRh
Feiio7o- Citise ems,
The Republican General Committee
of the City of New York. taking into consi-
Iteration, the late causes of public alarm, deem
it highly proper to Address you on this sub
iect "a
The situation of our country with respect to
the belligerent powers Of Europe is singular
unparalleled and perplexing. While Europe
has for years been deluged in blood, and the vi.
olence of war nd despotism still continues to
rule the destinies of the greater part of the
christian world, the people of. the u. S. have a.
lone enjoyed the blessings of peace. Happily 81
tuated vt distance from these scenes of MUIR
der, carnage, and rapne unconnected with
the contendng powers of Europe, our country has
preserved dgniied and impartial neutrality
TIL administration of our government, though
beset by the two great belligerents, and pressed
on all sides ts participate in their quarrels, has
not consented tO be partizan in their schemes
of sggrsadisement, which result in the ruin OF
millions whe have no interest in bloodshed A
steady and FIRM intention in the administration
to continue and pursue to the utmost extent, a
pacific policy has thus far preserved US in peace
Blu whether the European potentates will suffer
US much longer to enjoy ourselves in the quiet
possessions ofhappiness, time will soon deter.
mine They have already by acts of violence
.rade, ,nsulted our neutrality, abused the con.
fdence our government reposed in them, and
scuffed at our laws. These injuries have not
been received from one, but both belligerents.
and with view to force the administration to
join with one Or other of the contending parties
But the government, true to the interest of its
supporters, has remained aloof from content.
on, and bore with solicitude, the repeated and
aggravated injuries thus heaped upon us, both
by France and Great Britain. Were the GO
vernment willing to sacrifice the lives of our
fellow-citizens, war would have been determin-
ed on, as the proyocation .or such measure
has been great indeed. But the people of This
country have much to lose and nothing 20 gain
by war. Hence tue councils of our country
p rsevering ina peaceful course, were reduced
to the sad dilemma of war with both the bel.
Igerents, or union with one against the O.
Their
To preserve ourselves without preponderance
OF partiality towards either power, the impor-
t2tlon law was passed by Congress, with pro.
vision in favor OF that power who should 6rst
retract its offensive edicts orders This law
placed our government on high ground, and re.
duced those powers to the necessity of proving
the sincerity of their declarations and wishes.
repeatedly expressed to our minister's of being
upon amicable terms with our government AZ
ter the passage of this law, our expectations
felow-citIzeris, as we'll as those of the country
at large, were raised to the highest pitch We
all looked, and ardently hoped that G.. Britain
would be the first to accept of tie proffered ac-
commodstion, as she had been the first & most
emphatic IN her expressions of good will 10
wards us. But we were mistaken in the ex.
pected result. France took the earliest oupor
tunity of complying with the conditions of our
L. W, and satisfied our government with the sim
cerity OF her performance. And now C.. Britain
having refused to act as became her, and as
she had promised when placed in the same
impartial situation with France, again refused
to as that magnanimity of conduct becoming q
great nation, and instead of relaxing her ag.
gressions as France has done, continues her
measures of hostility, which demand our great.
est attention.
tits our wish, fellow-citiZens, and we believe
II to be yours, that our country should not be
entsngled in any manner with France, or the
other belligerent by which we may be involved
in their disasters, and although we wish to see
established That good understanding between
the u ). and France, which is progressing to a
close, it is far from eur thought to see anv
other than q commercial accommodation with
that power, aud under the sanction of our neu
trality.
The conduct of G. Britain then excites your
present alarm The gigantic power of hernavy.
threatens an attack upon your city. The works
OF defence are IN a state of forwardness, but I'M
finished. Her navy scours our coast. yradusIlv
increasing IN number determining their place of
rendezvous, aud making other preparatory ar
rangemements for seprecipitate attack before
you are ready to meet them. They look into our
harbors and have their spies among us. Thee
sail along our coast and continue their depreds
tons ON our commerce as they have for vrsrs
They insult our flag, Impress our seamen.
seize and condemn our property embarked in
lawful trade And all this with repeated ex.
pressions OF friendship and regard for our coun-
ny and her rights But With them power is
right, and the abuse of justice in the exercise
OF that power, has no control, until opposed bY
equal force.
Our country, fellow-citizens, need not fear
the final result of hostities commenced upon
us bY g. Britain or any other power but in
case OF surprise, NJ. York and some other eK
posed points may suffer. To these things.
then, and the means of avoiding them, let US
call your attention.
Our government, supported by the SURFACES
OF Tree people, is condemned by European
desPots, and those who would rule over u.s.
Hence determined hostility to our laws and in d.
stituuons will ever prevail among the monarchs
OF the globe. Our policy then invites us to a
good understanding without " cntanrHnP ALI
aSces." Should war commence upon US by act
or declaration, we must meet the contest Our
resources are great and within ourselves
Although our revenue has diminished from tie
check to commerce, we are not destitute OF
means to defend ourselves, or to annoy an e
nemy Our country is extensive, too we'll peo-
pied and united 10 admit an enemy within US
boundaries. lis true, our wide extended
frontiers arc already annoyed By the savsges,