Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-27
LoUDouN RESOLUTIONS.

l.eeSburg, on N1onudy thc lolh vi 4AuS"SN'
1912, to take into consideration the late IL
OTIS in the city of Baltimore, Maj. BurrPow-
,ell was called to the chair, and Richard II.
Henderson, Esq. appointed secretary OF the
meeting, the following preamble and reso-
s iutiens were submitted to the meeting, and
unanimously adopted, and ordered to be
published in the Washingtonian, the Alex
andria papers, the National Intelligencer,
the Federal Republican, and Spirit of Sc
venty-Six.
Connected with the State of Maryland by
geographical situation, and by social as well as
political ties, and with the city Of Baltimore
by commercial intercourse, the people OF Lou
doun cannot continue silent spectators OF E.
normitics, hitherto unknown In the United
States of America, but through the narratives
Of foreign trasels, or the history OF distant ma
tions-Enormities which have put to flight or
driven into exile many of the worthlest cltl-
zens of Baltimore, and spread among their re-
manning friends such panic and dAsmay, that
no satisfactory investigation has yet disclosed
their extent, character and circumstances !;
but which obviously springing from the most
detestable passions, and perpetrated by the
most hardened instruments of guilt, unblush
ingly seeks their own justification, in impious
appeals, through incendiary presses, to Public
Opinion.
For us, it suffices to know, that vessel re-
gularly cleared from the eustom-hcuse of
Baltimore, under the laws Of the UnitedStates,
freighted with toe produce of our lands and
labour, and sailing for foreign market, was
forcibly turned from her course, brought back
l>cI If bx,
snph. which some presses have openly JustIf-
ed, and Wmcn nd autuorlry mas, vet awhile.
been. exerted to punish.
That the Press and Printing Office Of tbe
Federal Republican have been violently put
down and levelled with the ground by an In
considerable number of persons, not only with
out restraint, but apparently, with the appro-
baton of the civil authority, created for the
preservation of order among forty thousand
people.
That FIVE weeks after this attack upon the
press, the dwelling-house OF one of its editors,
while occupied by himself and many of his
friends, assembled for its defence from SINH
lar outrage, was, by the same mob, assaulted,
broke open and plundered, and the lives of its
gallant, but forbearing defenders, eminently
endangered, without an interposition by the
civil authority of sufficient force to protect
them. That, that authority, instead of dispers-
ing the rioters, began negotiation with them,
which finally ended la conducting to Jail the
defenders of whatever is most sacred among
men, home, liberty and life, and in leaving
their ruffian assailants at large, to re-assembe,
and plan anew, the means OF destruction Tor
their imprisoned victims. That those gene
rous captives, who were led to dungeon a
midst the exulting and insolent shouts OF
triumphant mob, were induced TO quit their
habitation, to abandon their lawful purpose,
It's defence, and to surrender those arms ON
which. they had successfully relied for their
security, under solemn pledge from the civil
and military authority, that they should find, In
their temporary prison, that safety from vio-
lence, which they had sought, in vain, from
the laws. That in ful6lment, of this pledge,
troops were ordered out to protect the Jail,
with an express Injunction to take with them
only blank cartridges, Tor cartridges without
ball J an order, which many, on account of Its
obvious absurdity, and many more, from dis
inclination to the service, refused or failed to
obey. That the few brave and faithful men
who did assemble, for the protection of the
Jail, wered ismissed on the approach ofnight, by
thatyery authority which had solemnly pledged
itself for the security of the unfortunate pri-
soners, and this, notwithstanding the frequent
and earnest intreaties of themselves and their
friends, for additional forces to protect them
and Notwithstanding the general CONSERVATION
of the past day, in which criminal court and
grand jury then sitting in Baltimore, had
through mutual alarm suspended their impor-
tant functions, and groups of agitated citizens
were deploring the unhappy condition of their
degraded city, and experimenting some fearful
calamity
That night had no sooner descended on the
devoted captives than they were aroused to
their approaching sacrifice, by piercing and
horrible shout from the blood thirsty p4rsu-
ers The miserable emblem OF authority who
stood before the door, rather as pioneer of
he ,,c,A tl..., e IL.