The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-06-05
THE CITIZENS
OF THE
First Congresmoaal District Of

EIrSt CongTfSIo7G! DfStf8cL 9
PENNSYLVANIA
10 their Fello7v- Ci.ens the Psobie Of The u. STATES.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
THE friends OF the United States and
Of their constituted authorities, residing within
the first Congressional District of Pennsylva-
MIA, deeply impressed with the solemnity of
the impending crisis, and trusting that their
voice will not be without some effect among
the American people, have met together for
the purpose Of comparing and collecting the
general sentiment in this quarter OF the Re-
public, and submit the following as the delib-
crate, unbiased and unanimous result
The story of American wrongs has been
so often told, that the patriotic heart sickens
at their disgusting recapituation Yet, as
prefacing this last appeal, and for this, as we
most anXiously hope, the las! time, 1t may
not be improper briefly TO sketch an outline
Of that unparalleled, unmitigated, intolera-
bic series Of national outrages, against which,
after too long an endurance, the only Rspub-
lie extant is now at length about to exhibit
the magnificent spectacle oil defensive war
war fortheir sovereignty, their rights, their
bIessings---war for the reclamation OF then
property, their persons--war for their homes
and their domestic aItars--a war stayed Oft
I'll! every possible effort at reconciliation has
been put TO beggary and shame---a war, to
which not one dstIlation from the subtle and
anti republican essences OF ambition and ag-
grandiscment has contributed, but which will
low pure from the rock Of selfdetcnce---a
war, without which, or the rights IL is 10 be
wagcd for, our sovereignty is scrviliy our
commerce colonial trade, our persons eX-
posed to pillage, our property to piracy, our
boascd institutions 10 piles OF theoretical ru-
ins, and peace ITSELF that most desirable Of
all political cDjoyments, contumey and. &
curse.
From the tremendous conclusions which
have agitated Europe, since the eruption OF
the French revolution, the United States of
America will wisely Keep aloof in an ayowcd,
impartial, unexceptionable neutrality Rot,as
those who envy us aIlegc, fattening our soil
with the disasters of the belligercnIs--for
European wars aud the British treaty restrict
ed instead of expanding the immcncc COM
mcvcid resources of the North American
continent--bu; with characteristic enterprise,
integrity and advantage, pursuing the broad
highways Of emolumcnt, and acquiring, In
tranquility and iorbearance, whatever was not
withheld or wrested from us, by the great
mariiiuic powers. While havoc, famine and
diapidation were desolating the Kingdoms OF
Europe, peace, plenty and prosperity, driven
from their abodes in that region, fed over
troubled Atlantic, and set up the ark of their
covenant in the delightful wilderness of this
modern land OF promise.
Win the exception OF some commercial
vexa,ious in 1894 and l797, the fortunes OF
! the only Republic seemed to be enhanced, as
it were by an especial Providence, TO give IT,
rcsis,ible splendor and attraction, 10 their con-
trast with the fallen fortunes of all these mo-
"a chies from which the original settlers OF
tins country sprang. An advancement in
population and ailucnce, an improvement in
the sciences and the arts, in agriculture and
commerce, an exuberance OF the products oil
the earth, and an accumulation OF the pro-
fits Of the sea, transcending all example, all
calculation, all hope, distinguished the des,i'
MES Of the American federation and with
certainly the ligh;est allotment Of the evils
nseparable from humanity that ever fell on
any people, without foreign or domestic wars
without taxation, without any more OF the
pressure Of government than was absolutely
necessary to keep the bands OF society togeth
cr, the perfection Of polity was accomplished
and the visions of phianthropists realised, il
the establishment, administrator and aston
ishing success Of our free Republican ins,itu
tions.
While thus situated, fcllow.citizensr thu
| prospering among ourselves, the conflict II
| Europe persisted 70 rage with unabated vio