Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-31

50 =. they to attempt TO obstruct or defeat this
law bv any irregular oppositlon-by violence,
Nv menace, or illegal combinations IL must
10 for those who want good cause, and dis
,,,st the force of reason to support 1t, to a.
49,, ,,eans so unworthy of frecmen and good
s;,izens. Some of us have contributed carly
and ardently, in contending Tor and laying the
foundations of civil liberty, and al! OF us are too
|de,plyimpressed with the duties OF submission
to constitutional laws (while they are IN torce)
20 be capable of conduct OF advice tending 10
nrev vent t!ieir execution by the agency OF po-
nn,ar passions-howeyer such laws may, dur
mo their continuance, distress the people or
counteract their best and most important m
,erests. But while we feel the obligation OF
orr duties under law which is deemed most
impoli,ic and oppressive, we also know the
lextent of our rights and those OF the people,
enabling us and them to bring about lis repeal
Iby our elections.
We address you then, fellow citizens, at
/ This awful crisis, produced by the war law, IN
the laarnaee of freemen and free agcnts---ln
| the consciousness of pure motives, and pene-
trated by the profoundest feelings OF patriotic;
regard for our dear country: Our hearts and
minds are filled with this one SUBJECT and the
prospect it opens Gf the voice OF the people
does not save u.s. of heightened, puonc mise
lries. We will not minglc III Its consideration
otber grievances, or any matter calculated to
embitter or revive party differences, on other
| ouest;ops--all are lost, consummated, united
| in thelast great grievance Of war.
| Little did we, Individually, or those who
have corhded this high trust us in our cha
sracter of delegates of the people, imagine that
a majority, however small, OF the persons III
Office, could be brought 10 plunge this couii
try into war, and to unite, as probably 1t
must, our destinies, and certainly our efforts,
| in common. Cause with the tyrant of France.
| B, some fatality, lncomFrehenslble to US,
on any principles oEprudence, and much less
oil necessity, has this happened. A law, debal-
ed and PASSED IN secret, has placed this ex
tensive country and all It's great Interests oil
| peace-com.nt Observation-Disclosures
future prosperity, on the fate OF war
|. Defence, within our own borders and even
aroing our own vessels for defence, ON the
seas, against both Frencn and English aggres-
| sion, was d practicable and not hazardous
| 5xDedicnt But without preparations, and
| eiti,out trial OF the means o! defence, dissen-
ton in our country, aud general opposluon to
| war, TO become the attacking power, and to
declare open general aud offensive war, a
| lyaiist one Of the great conendIng states OF
Europe-we repeat it, fellow citizens, is an G.
vent in the history, even OF these times, which
| fills us, and VIC believe the great body OF the
people, with grief and amazement.
| W. were not invaded-no power threaten
ed it we still enjoyed tenfold greater portion
Of Internal and even external haPPihe ss-aha
| prosperity than any nation in the world Our
| agriculture, commerce and manufactures, the
great products of oar fields, forests and tshe-
ries, growing out Of the industry and enter
2rz- of seven millions of free and yirtuous
stizens, were yet bat little impaired, except
~ our own internal restrictions, which could
at any time be suspended or removed.
| (1o be Confinued