Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-06
HUDSON, July ~.
Mating offde 57ss4ds Of Peace, cOmmerce,
and hie Coslstitution,

Melting OF the J34fRaS " 11fdce, SehSnfeTCc,
and tae Coslstitution,
IN our last, we promised more particular
.cco,nt of the meeting, which took place In
M. CITY on the 18Th inst. but the length of the
resolutions adopted on that occasion, obllge
~ sven now 10 be more brief than we could
vish-This meeting was held at most un-
neonitious season of the year, for the cellec-
lion of a large assembly; and from the excr-
dons of the advocates OF the war, IN this city,
70 repress the attendance OF the people, by
sending their agents into the country, menac-
IMP those who should dare to attend, with the
CHARGES of "treason" aud "rebeliion"
very reverse of what took place, might have
been expected. But the indignation OF the
people, at the conduct of our rulers, as we'll
as At the course pursued by those poisonous
leechers Of society, who advocate the war, was
moi to be repressed; neither the urgent season
Of the year upon their labors, nor the terror of
being denounced as traitors and insurgents,
could deter the people from attending this
loud and constitutional expression of the SEN
nments Of the county. The enemies of peace
CRASHED their teeth to behold the real strength,
the property, the freeholders of the county
pouring into our little city the roads and
streets in all directions, were thronged and
at l9o'ciock finding it impossible to perform
thebusiness of the meeting at the Court-house,
the citizens proceeded under tie direction OF
captain Halscy, and lieut.. r. II. Van Ransel-
laer, who acted as marshalls of the day, 70 the
public square, preceded by band of music.
There, Gen. HENRY LIVINGSTON, was
chosen chairman, and JASON WARREN
Esq. secretary.
Il was glorious SIGHT, to behold collected
TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED citizens OF
all POLITICAL parties: many whose heads were
hOar with age, and who had onSe fought for
their country under the very eye OF Washing
ton; MANY in the prime of life, prepared to Of
ter up their all to preserve their freedom, and
ready to tread beneath their feet the man who
should dare to violate our rights--It was in
deed a sublime spectacle, TO see the wings of
the revolution accompanied by their sons, sup
ported by the wealth, character and talent of
the county, rushing forward TO enter their pro-
test against the war, and to speak to the south
and to the west, Language loud distinct and
true.
Col Jacob B. Van Rensselaer, opened the
meeting with yerg brilliant yet chaste, sound
and patriotic address; in which he demon
Stated the right of the people at all times to
assemble and publish their opinions upon pub
nc men and measures; and that this right
could hot be abridged by any act of the 60
vernment. That the pretence set up, that it
unreasonable to disapprove of the war since
Ills declared, is fallacious in the extreme, in
asnuch as war is measure more important
70 the people than any other, it is measure,
which, more than any other, calls for the ex-
erclse of this right.
The resolutions were read by Thos P
Gresyenor, Esq. They were received by the
people with enthusiasm, and when the ques-
t3u on them was put by the chairman, they
passed unanimously.
The meeting was closed by E. Williams
tsq.m auaddress (Which we presume there was
not one present who will acknowledge his IN
competence TO describel he reviewed the
eaasss Of Inc war--.stripped the authors Of il
naSed before the people, and hung them UP
:, 20 paOhc derision and detestation. Mr.. Van
n0nsselaer and MIR. Williams both, coniured
ue assembly not to stain their cause by illegal
opposition to the laws--implored them to sub
u'1 at all times to the supremacy of the laws
out 10 sustain at every hazard their rights and
privileges, and to employ them for the over.
uifow OF those, who unwisely and nadly, il
not Ueacherously, have plunged the country
-"o It's present calamitous situation.