Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-04
ADDRESS
or the Convention IF Delegates Of the Feofle
of zv-Jersey-CoNcLUED.

they are to prevent the caamlties OF war, and
how they shall regain the blessings OF Peace !!
| We answer-tllat with yourselves rests the
/ choice of either The act declaring war Is
| but Iazu--with no force, or permanence be-
yond any other law carried through oy ma
| iority in Congress- 1t differs only In Its lni-
pertance and in the dreadful consequences to
society, if rashly declared by rulers and blind
! " continued by the people. Being tau,
however, it is our bounden duty to obey ito
weld our personal service under il when not
legally exempted, or pay the acquisitions
made on property, when righttully demanded
and all this awhile it continues in force. But
as on every other ACT of the public servants, 1t
is the right of those who appoint them to de-
termine on It's fitness to promote their good,
the people are not bound 10 ahfrope this or a.
ny other law nor is it their duty to enrage
thepubic misunderstanding them to violence
and denunciations eighing, with thought
less bitterness against those citizens who SIM
cerely and constitutionally exercise the rights
of freemen In endeavours to restore speedy
peace TO the country.
We have heard and examined all the rea-
soEs and pretexts, for this war. Our Judg-
ments--all the ties by which re teel bound TO
the land Of cur nativity, constrain US to De-
eide for PEACE. and 10 invite all our TEL
low citizens TO Join with US in It's speedy at
tainment. Doyou ask us again how. you are
no7v to obtain heace and its dressings, since war
is begun. We answer by FREEDOM of
SPEEC of the PRESS and
by your Rights ofSUFFRAGE.
1t is the high prerogative OF the people-it
is the Distinguishing excellence OF their hap
py constitutions, when, from error, or SIMS
ter councils, grievous and ill-judged lays are
passed by persons in Office under them, con-
trary to their interest and wishes 1t is, we
say. the right and great duty of the heohle, to
obtain REPEAL of such obnoxious laws
through the agency of other representatives.
How many of such laws passed by even large
maiorities, has the voice Of the feohie con-
demned and their negv representatives abolish
ed. Errors, grievous errors, are fallen into
by governments, as we'll as individuals
Our path then, fellow citizens, Is familiar
one it is plain, lawful and honorable. VIZ
must obtain reteai of this law, by choosing
public representatives, both in the federal and
state legislatures, who, instead of exciting zuar
will comply with the gvishes and fulfil the du
rettai of the act declaring war.
Our petitions for peace have been rejected
may, contemptueusly treated by many Of the
administrators of government. A majority
of our state representatives in congress, to
their great honor, but in vain, have recorded
their solemn Uofe against the 4var bill. They
knew upon whom the weight of it was to fall
Not upon the chief instigators oft, but upon
their ozvn and the eastern states ! 1t is not 10
be expected that the men who have made the
war will repeal the iaqv, and thus restore
peace. Nay, we are told, it shall continue
until England yields to conditions which we
may we'll believe she never will yield to, es-
peciaIIy when attempted to be extorted from
her by force Of arms.
Those who have commenced tie war say
they aim at heace also, and expect to arrive at
1t through long and precarlous struggle, by
forcing England TO submission The means
we propose for peace, is to end this lnpolitlc
and hazardous undertaking at once by a change
of rulers. A very tegv friends offeace added
to those numerous, able and patriotic opPosers
of war, now in our councils, will effect a re-
heaL Of the zvar Bill.
This will place us, by mere ordinary act
"a lCSlSadlluil1 Ou lilC SiOunu VIC WOIC~-AN "ili
then be for us to stand on the defensive, and
treat with Great Britain in the true spirit Of
peace and mutual concession. We need not
| fear that our new councils will dlshonour or
abandon their country--we believe new coun-
| ellis can make speedy aid honourable adju
ment, but not while the war bill is in the way.
1t is the evident interest of England to be on
! good terms with America /; this we repeat, will
| be easily effected, when the administration is
| changed, and persons not committed to this
course of things, are chosen; and when this
| rozo insuperabie bar of war is removed by re-
| pealing the law which declared it.
| In the mean time, and until this salutary
change can be effected by our VOTES, We
must indeed suffer much from hostility, and