Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-24
WINCHESTER, August Is.
PATRIOTIC MEETING.

On Saturday tue otll iHStaa OillncF was CIV"
en- at the Spring of Alfred IL Powell, esqr.
by the citizens Of Frederick county, friends Of
peace, expressive of their appreciation of the
| firm, manly, and patriotic course pursued by
the minority in the late session of Congress,
lin opposition to WAR--at which, two of that
Ibody. John Baker and Joseph Lezis, eSquires,
|attended by invitation.
There were present at this Dinner, between
one hundred and seventy, and two hundred
persons, most of whom were freebolders, of
the county, and ten of whom were respectable
Revolutionary heroes.
Before dinner was placed on the table, the
gentlemen present were informed, that it was
intended to submit to their consideration, Sc
yeral important resolutions respecting the pre-
sent state of our country: whereupon, the
Hon Robert White was called to the chair,
and Thomas A. Tidball, Esq. appointed secre-
tary.
The meeting being thus constituted, Mr..
Powell, after short, but eloquent and appro-
pirate speech, offered the following resolu-
rloDs go
The preservation of our inestimable con-
stitution, in It's original purity, and excellence;
as nation, We have SO bnuptlfully enjoyed
under its Influence, demands the most vigor-
Gus attention and anxious solicitude OF every
American, TO the present awful and alarming
situation OF our country. From a state of &C.
curity and profound peace, far removed from
the vortex of Europesn war; fortified By the
God of Nature, against its desolating effects
advancing with unparalleled rapldity to nation
tloDal power and greatness, and rich in tie en-
loyment OF every blessing that results from in
diyidual freedom, happiness, and wealth; in a
iuCkless moment we have, without suitable
preparation, been plunged into war, with the
most powerful nation on earth--a war, uneX-
pected at It's commencement, incalcuIable in
It's consequences, & in its duration, beyond the
reach OF human foresight. Under such Cir
cumstances, II would be treason to our coun
try, and treachery to our children, to sur
render our constitutional right of investigating
the conduct of those, who have brought upon
US this dreadful calamity of dispassionately
weighing the causes, and deliberately calcu-
lahDg the consequences. liz the exercise OF
this great constitutional right, is to be found
at any time, the only constitutional remedy for
the want of confidence in rulers, who would
sacrifice their country, upon the altar Of am
bltlon, or, Tor that ignorance which would be-
tray US to misery and ruin. The present cri-
sis demands, in our opinion, caIm and dis
passionate examination of our national slua-
ton, and free, manly, and candid expression
OF public opinion.
RESOLVED therefore, That, although we dis
approved of the late Declaration of War, be-
cause it appeared to US unwise, premature,
and partial, as it respects the two great offend
ing belligerents yet, as the constituted au-
thoritles have declared it, we will defend,
with our lives and fortunes, our beloved coun-
try, from every peril, and from every enemy,
foreign and domestic.
2ndy. Resoived, That in the present state
of things, nothing can save the nation, but
vigorous prosecution Of that war which has
been declared, accompanied with sincere
disposition to accept of an honorable peace,
SO soon as itcan be obtained.
Sdly. Without meaning to violate our pr-
waite friendships and attachments without
meaning to impeach the private virtues, or pa
triotlc motives, of those who now administer
our government--but meaning only to dis
charge public duty, which we owe to our
country: ResolUed, as the opinion of this
meeting, That the administrators of the GO
vernment of the United States, have, for Sc
rles OF years past, by a misconception of the
policy, views, powers, and resources of foreign
nations, and of their relative connections and
relations with each other and with us; by
want of foresight as to the effects, which their
own measures were calculated to produce
by an incessant vibration from one point TO a.
mother; by their weakness, imbecility, and
want of political wisdom, and ofnerye, demon
strated to our understandings, that they are in
capable, In times like these, to hold with firm
and even hand, the reins of government, or to
direct the mighty storm Of war: RESOLVED
moreover, That we fear that those preiudices,
which seem to have seized upon their minds,
and to have filled their whole souls, will dis
I'M linz no To E e.