Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-19
BY HIS ExcELLPNcY
BIZ HIS ExcELLPNcY
ROGER GRISWOLD, ESQ.
Gopernor and Commander IN Chief in and over
the State Of Connecticut, in Amerca.

Gope4nor and Commander IN Chief in and over
the STATE Of Connecticut, in Aorerca.
A PROCLAMATION.
This state with the other states in the union
having, since tho East session Of the general
assembly, been involved in war, and no op.
portunity yet afforded to make communica.
ton to the immediate representatives Of the
people feeling that an event so unexpected
and calamitous may produce great anxiety,
and that the proceedings Of the governor
and council on certain subjects arising out Of
this war should be known TO their fellow CHI.
zens, | have thought proper, by and with the
advice Of council, to issue this proclamation
III pursuance OF the usage of my predeces.
sorS in Office in times of difficulty. | have
caused the council to be twice convened since
the declaration Of war, in both instances to
advise with them respecting the course to be
pursued on certain acquisitions of the national
government through general Dearborn, for
certain portions Of the militia to be placed in
the forts at New London and New Haven
The advice given in both cases met my entire
appreciation, and accordingly compliance
with the requisition has been by me refused.
It's the high and solemn duty of the chief
magistrate, according to his oath Of Office, to
/" maintain the lawful rights and privileges of
this state, as sovereign, free and independent
state"
This duty forbade compliance witha request
that any of the citizens of this state should be
placed under existing circumstances, IN gar.
risons to perform the ordinary duty ofsolders
1t is also the prerogativs Of the state to hold
its militia for the maintenance of its lawful
privileges, and never to permit them TO be
Withdrawn from its authority, except IN cases
expressly mentioned in the constitution. NO
such case existing, the officers and soldiers
have not been ordered from their farms ana
other occupations, and from their homes, INTO
the service required. While 1t is to be re-
GREETED that any differences Of opinion existed
as TO the cases in which the militia might DC
demanded, it became my duty to obey the coz
stitutlon Of my country
In state of things so novel as that when
now exists--in the interesting crisis OF "a'
with foreign nation, wherein the properly
the security, the liberty and lives of the peopAe
are ;eopardized, war which was opposed ny
SO much talent, worth, and resPectablhy |"
both houses of congress, 1t might have oe''s =
anticipated that the justice and expedlehc! u
the measure would have been questioned anu
denied by many /: still no such state OF 'hH'as
exists as to Justify the idea of seeking Feale''
except in constitutional manner
do therefore call upon the good people u u
this state to demean themselves, IN this Gay "
unprecedented difficulty, as become the mem
| bers of free and independent natlon--'o P'O,
mote concord among themsclTes-to ylc' ~
prompt obedience to the constitution ol Wv
| United States and the laws made in pursuS'ivs
| thereof-to cherish the union OF these s'a'''
| Ito discourage every species. CT outrage ",
wards the rights Of person or properly: -.
discountenance every appearance OF rneA'I"5
! the lawful authority Of the state and ha'U"'
and to promote a spirit of submission 10 INV
| laws of the land. -.
| While this spirit is thus reconrnehaeu ~
J people are to be protected IN freedom oa,
speech, freedom of the press, ana IN lte''o, 80,
of elections These important rights ai' nt'
to be surrendered, nor impaired Ia any eSo" ~.
To examine fairly, and truly to exhibit INC ~
ture and tendency of the measures OF gosS'"
ment-to Lift up voice Of warning aganS, a 40.
system of policy which seeks personal 0, ,,sd
ton or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or which IS calc'i'"tS
to promote the projects of foreign or CON-
tic tyrants, or to aid combinations OF eh Ihnrtv
at home or abroad, against the peace ii' era.
and prosperity of the nation, and thus - ,oes.
bic the people Justly to appreciate ' ,:crset.
sures Of government, and to exercise Cow