Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-08-17
Original seisffIlanv.

a. the first day ot AuauSt, Aol%B ioF Vhc
r,,rpose of choosing delegates 70 county
convention 70 take into consideration the
alarming STATE Of our public afAirs, to ascer-
tain the voice Of the people relative TO the
ear n which we are now involved, ana 70
,,sry,se and recommend the most speedy
--..,s &c relief from its awful cSlamitles--
s,1 a. the further purpose OF considering
and adopting such other measures as the
r,.,a ~ The fines render necessary and ex
-e5,ent delegates were chosen, and the
tollov,inr resolves were sdop;ed5y the town,
ana directed to be signed by the moderstos
and Clerk and 10 be published.
ResoEved-That in the present sea-
son of calamity and wal" 1t behooves
the people promptly to exercise their
natural, essential aud unalicnable right
of consulting and seeking their safety
and happiness that, at all times 1t IS
their duty to approve and support, with
zeal and alacrity, laws for the vindication
of their rights, and the advanceuhent OF
their welfare, and their right and privi-
lege to expose and control, by the pow
ers Of reason and argument. all public
measures endangering their security,
their prosperity and peace.
ReSotued-That we cannot cease to
cherish our fond attachment to the u
Mon of the States and the federal con-
xtitution, endeared 10 Us by the upright,
wise and liberal administration OF
Washington that we cannot cease 10
hope, that the innumerable evils alrea-
dy inflicted by the partial, degrading
and destructive exercise Of restrictive
energies commenced by the last adj
ministration and consummated by the
present, will awaken IN ourselves and
our fellow-citizens lively sense OF our
common dangers, and unite US, as the
surest means of relief, in firm resolu-
tion to intrust with power those only,
who are true to the example and faith
full to the precepts of the departed faith
er Of our Country.
ResOtUed-" That we cannot insult
the free and gallant citizens Of Ameri-
ca with the suspicion, that they are less
able to defend their rights, than the de-
based subjects Of arbitrary power to res.
cue theirs from the hands Of their op-
pressors; that we will not insult them
with the supposition, that they can ever
reduce themselves to the necessity Of
making the experiment, 10 regain
their lost libertIes," by a blind and
tame submission to long train Of in
sidious measures, which mus; Precede
and produce il -
ReSoiUed-'' That state of war does
not destroy or diminish the rights of
ciJizens, to examine the conduct Of pub
lie men, and tendency of public meas.
ures IT that all attempts to impair the
liberty of opinion and enquiry, tire free
dom OF speech and OF the press, are in
tringemGnts upon our most Invaluable
constitutional rights and privileges,
meri,ing the pointed disspprobation Of
all, except Napoleon and his humble
worshippers.
hesotved-That we deeply lament
the numerous facts, which loudly pro-
claim, that IN too many instances,
the spirit OF faction has misguided the
deliberations OF our State and national
legislatures. That by faction we un-
stand number % citizens, whether !.
mounting to a majority or minority Of
the whole, who are united and actuated
BY some common impulse Of passion
Or interest, adverse 10 the rights Of 9th.
er citizens, or 10 the permanent and
aggregate interests OF the whole"
ReScLUed-That 10 factious spirit
only can We attribute the colltrsvanee
ofour senatorial districts, BY which near
ly three fourths Of the present Senate
have been elected by minority of votes
of the whole State.
That % Incorporate party zeal in the
senate so chosen we must ascrIbe their
obstinate refusal 10 adopt any one ofthe
various propositions made 10 them by
the house Of representatives, at their
last session, Tor dividing the Common
wealth into electoral districts, and { s.
Peoialiy their refusing 10 concur in the
resolve providing for the choice OF elcc-
Tors by the people Al large.
nat we consider these proceedings
as dIsgTaceiul 10 the Commonwealth.
as grievances Of the most alarming
magnitude. demanding redress without
delay /; that we have fun confidence.
that our representaive in General
Court will not be wanting in his endsa-
vO's to correct procedures 50 reproach-
n