Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-08


discourage and dete: others. But a.
they apprehend more danger from the
nrivate Vaccinations of their foes than
their open attacks, it was necessary to
restrain the liberty of those who were not
Immediately called into the field. Trust.
ing more to treachery than open hostili.
tv, our enemies have already spread their
emissarie. through the country to Sc.
duce eur feIlow-subjects from their al.
legiance, by promises as false as the
principles on which they are founded.
A law has therefore been enacted for the
speedy detection OF such emisarits and
for their condign punishment on conyic-
ton a law which it Will not be easy to
escape. In passing these different acts
for the defence and preservation of the
Province, your representatives proceed.
ed with all possible moderation. The
exigency of the times would have per-
haps justified them in adopting stronger
measures but they were not disposed
to abridge the rights and privileges of
tie people, any further than was abso-
!utcIy ne necessary. 1t did not escape them,
that placed as We are, so near our enc
mics, bordering upon them through such
an extensive line of country, conr ectcd
win them by so many ties, and 50 maay
persons lately from the American states
.ettlcd among us, whose inciinations,
thonah III the main good, would natural
iy lean against us, ordinary measures OF
cau,ion n ere rot sufficient. But trust
Ing on the other hand, to the well tried
loyalty of the great body of the people,
to assist in the execution of the laws and
in the dctect Of those doubtful cha
racters and secret traitors, they lave
been induced to adopt the most lenient,
which a due attention to the general
safety would admit Your representa-.
tives finished their labors with placing
in the hands of his honor the President,
all the public money that they could col
lect, in order to contribute as much az
possible to the extraordinary expense
which the war renders necessary, and
they have the fullest confidence that it
will be most faithfully applied. Having
thus endeavored to the best Of their abb.
litics, to provide for the welfare & safety
of the province, your representatives
take the liberty of reminding you, that
the best laws are useless without the
Jealous cooperation Of the people; I'M
less you are prepared 10 undergo tho
verest sacrifices, all that your represen.
tatves have done will be ONO avail. Be
ready th~p at all times to rally round the
royal standard, and let those who are not
called into service, assist the families of
those who are in the field. Be quick TO
discern, and prompt to seize upon all
those who either by word or deed seek
to stifle or discourage that ardent patri-
otism W hich at this moment animates all
the inhabitants oflhis Province; let your
whole attention be applied to the defence
of the country and the defeat Of our enc
my. Inspired with this disposition, your
representatives. are confident ofsuccess,
For although they admit that the contest
will be terrible, and the hardships which
you will have to suffer severe, yet the
justice of our cause, and your gratitude
and attachment to the illustrious nation
of which you form part, will enabla
you to surmount them. And let no one
deceive you with vain terrors concerning
the new powers with which we have
armed government. The good and loyal
will never perceive them, except in the
greater security which they will give
him, for they are placed in the hands Of
his excellcncy Gen Brock, command
err no less distinguished for his valor in
the field, than for his justice and huma-
nifty. In bis wisdom and experience in
wal, your representatives have the finn
est reliance and they rejoice that at
such crisis general of so great ab,li-
ties, and whose private merits gain the
hearts of all who know him, should,
through Divine Providence, be placed
a: the head of this government. Re-
member when you go forth to the COM
bat, that you fight not for yourselves
alone, but for the whole world. You
are defeating the most formidable COP.
spiracy against the civilization of man
that ever was contrived conspiracy
threatening greater bsrbarism ard mi
sery than followed the downfall of the
Roman empire-that now you have an
opportunity of proving your attachment
to our parent state which contends for
the relief Of oppressed nations, the last
pillar of true liberty, and the last refuge
of oppressed acknowledgements as
you have begun in your strict obedience
to the laws, and your attic ntion to mili-
tary discipline deem ne sacrifice too
costly which secures the enjoyment Of
our happy constitution follow with
your countrymeu in Britain, the paths
of virtue ard glory, and like them, you
shall trinmph over your uEprincipled