Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-05
THE CONVENTION

THE CONVENTION
ofthe Delegates Of Eigdtee" Cosnf'e'
Of Yrgisid, held at Sfaa"fon' on the
sls Of September, for the fartose q
forming General Ticket q Electors
Of President aud Pice. President, to
the Freebslders Of Virginia.
FELLow-CIrIzESs,
You are already apprised of the
views which have determined the
time, the place. and the occasion OF
this Convention. We have to regret
that the notice which gave rise toit'
so recently appeared. as TO furnish 20
the counties NEST remote from that
in which il originated. no certain
opportunity of electing Delegates in
Que time to aid our deiiberations.-
Had thi, notice been cartier publish
ed and more generally diifused, we
are confident, that our number woula
have been commensurate with the
extent OF the Commonwealth. Re
dueed to the necessity of abandoning
the object of our assemblage. an OBJ
ieet intimately connected, as We De-
lieve, Wit, the salvation Of Our conn
try. o. OF proceeding to its execution
with the lights aEorded is by the
delegation Of eighteen countess we
have nal hes:,atcd as TO the course
which We should pursue.
Awfully impressed with the dan
gers which threaten our country
from the success OF the only eiecto-
ral ticket vet rendered to our adop-
ton; conscious Of the purity OF our
own motives, and confidently relying
on YOUR candor and patriotism. we
earnestly recommend to the Jealous
support Of the Friends OF Peace, u
MON and Commerce, throughout Viz
ginia. the subjoined nomination Of
Electors Of President and Vice-Pre-
sideut OF the United States.
"a friends of Commerce, we ask
your cooperation in removing from
Office n. administration which has
nearl, &C yomplished its total annihi-
lstionIf As Friends OF Peace, we
inyite' your solemn protest against
the authors Of animpoiitic and unne-
cessary War. AS friends OF Union,
we invoke YOU 10 arrest the progress
of system tending to its speedy and
awful dissolution.
Tellow-Cit;zens. You have been
grossly deceived and betrayed by
those in whom YOU have confidently
repcscd tie most sacred trust. Tn
less yeu mean t. measure your eredu-
lily by their presumption, we bes
you 10 enquire INTO tue caiuses of the
present war: 10 unravel the sophis-
Try by which they have been perplex-
ed. and TO renJ the veil by which they
have been oDscurcd and discoloured.
Re-; we entreat you, the force
of mere authority. and assert the no
bic privilege Of freemen. Think.
reason, and judge for yourselves.
We're authority. indeed. to be ex-
c!usi'e!y regarded in deciding upon
the policy OF the preseat war. what
authority is entitled to so much re-
speet, as that OF the very people.
for whose peculiar benefit, it is pre-
tended to be waged? 1t is a war to
protect our navigation, in defiance OF
the earnest petitions, and remon-
strances Of those who own four fifihs
Of our ships; who are the fathers,
brothers and sons. OF nine tenths of
our seameH. H0stilities have been
common, ed in behalf oftle freedom
OF foreign commerce, at the mement
when the hand of the merchant is
shut against the loan required tocon-
duet them.
IL authority be rejected. what
should be our opinion of the choice
"hici: Nv. Madison has made of our
foe. lou; years have now nearly
elapsed. s.n,r The proposition was
uni,ersal!, asserted. by the friends
OF administrative. that Great Eri-
tain ana France had alike injured, us
that war VITA bOth would be imra-
lille anu that VAL with one OF those
OeiiIserents wou.G De affect suba.ii-
SION 10 tie vii, OF theotllcr: ia the for
cibie language Of Congress. tI,at"a
selection could NO, be made between
them, on any principle of propriety
or justice" Coneede, then. TO the
administration, al that it coatended
Tor. and test, We pray yGu, By this
concession, toe moral fitness and DO
Utica! expedieney Of that selection Of
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