Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-07-17


ON THE SUBJECT OF THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Tie undersigned Members oSthe House Of RsprsssntG-
-. tiUss, TO their respective CIastitusass
Raoubc has for its basis capacity and right of the
people govern themselves lin principle OF repre-
sentative republic responsibility OF the representatives.
to their constituents freedom AMI Publicity of debate
essential the of forms OF government
Ege.y arbitrary of the right of speech repre-
snatyc5 direct infringement Of the liberty ofthe poo
pie fyery unnecessary ccnceauaent Of their
approximation towards tyranny Wlen by systematic rules
majority takes Itself tho right, at its pleasure OF lint
ing speech denying aogeher Wien secret sessions
multiply and in proportion to the 2'rtane OF quesoh
is the stadous conceament of debate people be
urcj that such practices continuing their freedom is but
short-lived.
Reflections such as those have forced upon the
enton of the undersigned Members Of the House of Re-
personalities United States by the events the pre-
session OF Congress They have witnessed principle
adopted the law Of the House. by which, un Ter novel
p;aion of the previous question: power assume by the
m,ty deny the privilege of speech at any stage and
I'm Ter circumstances of debate And recently by an
unprecedented on the right give reasons for an
original notion has been made to depend upon the will
of the majority.
preventative liberty easily be conceived 1t
however on these accounts weghy they that the
undersigned have undertaken this address subject of
higher and immediate Importance mpes them to the
present duty
The n,onentous question of war; with GreatBrta is
decided On this topic vital to your interests the right
Of pubs debate in face of the world and especially of
their constituents been denied to your representatives
They called into secret session. on this most in
terestng Of all your public relations although the circum
stances the time and of the nation afforded
Tor secrecy unssss found in the apprehension Of the
of public debate public opinion of public opn
ion the result of the vote.
Except ssa5e OF the President or the United states,
which before public, nothing confidential
communicated That message contained fact not previ
ously known No one reason for minated, but
such as ola public and notorious. Tne inen
ton wage and invade Canada, had been long since
openly avowed The object of hostile menace had been os
tentscusy announced The nadequscy OF both our army
and navy, fer successful INVASION and the inuif'ency OF
forfcaon for the security seabood were every
where known Yet the doors of Congress shut upon
the people They have been carefully ke9 in ignorance OF
the progress OF measures until the purposes OF admnistra
ton consumated and the fate of the country sealed
In situation extraordinary, the undersigned have deem
ed their duty theirs to sanction proceeding
novel and arbitrary On the contrary they made every
attempt in their power, attain publicity for their pro
ceedngs All such attempts were vain When this mo-
subject stated as for debate they demanded
that the doors should be opened
This being refused they declined discussion being per-
fccty convinced, from indications, too plain to be msun
dersood that in the house. all argument with closed
DOORS hopeless and that any act giving implied va
hdtv fragrant abuse of power, would be little less
than reachery to the essential rights OF free peoPe In
the situation which undersigned have thus been
uced they compelled reluctantly to resort to this pub
IL declaration Of such views of the state and relations OF
the country determined their Judgment and vote upon
the question Of of this kind has appeared
the undersigned to be mperiously demanded, by
the of message and manifesto being prepar
and circulated puohc III
for war were and the motives for tconcenrated
manaer suited to agate and influence the public mind
In executing this task it will be the study of the undersgn
TO reconcile the great duty they owe to the people, with
that constitutional respect which due the admnstra
tors of public
In commencing view Of affairs, the undersigned
would fail in duty themselves did they refrain from
curing to the course relation public measures, which
they adopted and undevatng pursued from the
rencement of this long and evenful session IN which they
deliberately sacrificed every minor consideration to- what
they deemed, the best interests OF the country.
For succession OF years the undersigned nave from
principle disapproved series orescons upon commerce.
according to their estimation, inefficient as respected for
cn nations and injurious, chiefly to ourselves Success
in the system had become identified with the Prde the
character and the hope of cabinet As Is natural with
men, who have great stake depending on the success OF
favore theory pernacy seemed to increase as ITS hope
1essness became apparent As the neiciency OF this sys
tenn could be admitted, by its advocates without en-