Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-26
NEW YORK, August 10.

ed bv public notice at Washington Hall on
Tuesday, the 18th August, 1917, coionel
Nicholas Fish, chairman, and Samuel BOYD
ESQ. secretary, the following resolutions
fdrawn up by committee, consisting o.
Hobn law. Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris
Richard Harrison, Egbert Benson, Matthew
Ciarkson, and Richard Varlek1 were read
and received with acclamations -
Resolved, That the legitimate object Of
government is the public good, to promote
which its powers ought to be exercised.
That free people have right to form
an opinion of the conduct OF those entrusted
with authority, and to express that opinion.
That our national constitution is an associa-
ton Of the states for their joint and several
advantage.
That exercising the powers of that associa-
ton to the great and manifest injury OF ITS
members, is a breach Of trust.
That to adopt rules OF proceeding by which
the people are deprived of the power OF e9-
pressing their sentiments through their re-
representatives., is violation of the first prln-
ciples of representative government.
Resolved, That the prosperity OF this state,
which, under the protection of Divine ProYi-
dence, has advanced with uncommon rapldlty,
is principally derived from agriculture and
commerce.
That the interest Of these two great sources
of national wealth and power is inseparable
Wherefore the war lately declared being de-
structiye to the one, cannot bur impair the o.
ther
That the condition of New York exposes
her citizens more than those of other states
to the injuries resulting from war.
Resolved, That war, one of the greatest ca
,amities that afflict mankind, is, when wsged
without Just cause, an Insult to the DIVINE ma
iesty. That if undertaken, however Just the
cause, without probability OF success, 1t IS an
act Of extreme imprudence.
That where the injury that must result IS
great and manifest, while the object to be Sc
cured is lof trivial comparative importance,
the interest of nation ought cot to be ha-
zarded: still less for the qualification OF per-
sonal partlalities or resentnents.
That the war lately declared by slender
majority Of congress, is unwise.
That the circumstances under which 1t was
declared were unfavorable.
That the conscquences.to which it leads are
alarming.
That it is unwise, because if unsuccessful
the objects for which it was waged, whatever
they may be. may probably be abandoned.
That the more important those objects are,
the more unwise must be war which rasbly
puts them to the hazard.
That if it be contemplated to establish ma
| tonal rights, it ought to have been considered
that those rights, though violated, could not
while constantly claimed, be considered as
abandoned: whereas if at the end Of an IN
successful war, the nation should relinquish
them, for the sake OF peace, they will be an
| initiated; or at least depend Oh the issue Of
| another bloody contest.
That due attention to this important con-
sideration would have led wise statesmen to
! weigh with anxious solicitude, every existing
circumstance.
That it would have been difficult to select a
moment more unfavorab!e for a measure so
portentuous: these United States unprepared
the treasury empty; many articles OF primary
| importance omitted to be procured In season
and not now to be purchased; much of the
| funds of our mercantile citizens in the hands
OF those converted by the congress into enc
mics property to vast amount aHoat on every
| sea; the revenue impaired by imprudent com.
merciaI restrictions, and now by the war de-
| stroved the nation against whom the war is
declared completely armed, and possessed o.
ample means to protect herself, and annoy us:
her feet mistress of the ocean, and in capa-
city to lay waste many of our maritime cities
| That comparison Of the condition in which
the two nations stood at the moment of that
declaration, and in which they now stand, is
alone sufficient TO prove that, in making it our
rulers were not possessed Of, or did not exer-
else, sound political discretion.
| Resolved, That defensive war is to be
sustained by every effort, and under the pres
sure of every calamity, but previous to the
commencement of an offensive war, common
sense would have dictated to men of an ordi-