Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-02-15

not only Of right. but even of preteTt.
Under this persuasion. we consider
il as a sacred duty TO ourselves and
our country to withhold, as far as
legally practicable. all supplies for
maintaining the war. AL that the
government can expect from men
who conscientiously believe the war
TO be as unjust as tits calamitous, IS
that we shall not resist its officers IN
taking from us our hard earned pro-
perry,
Reso!ued, That the principles a
dop,ed by the administration 10 re-
gard to the protection effore'gners'
who may enter into the American
service. and the reialiatory STEPS tax !,
en-. are alarming to all nations anu
revolving to humanity. Nhe'her
men have a natural right to exi'a-
triate themselves or not IS "A CUES
tien which we deem is not necessary
to have decided; but so long ~ 10
reign nations maintain the p'1"cilte
thai their native subjects cannot
discharge themselves OF their ait
glance, and that they are nc; absois-
c;! from their duties to their OWE so
sernmeut or prince hy naturalization
in foreign country, if is the sacred
duty OF our government to respect
the principle. Oar government bias
20 ti. h, ia interfere with this cstab-
l:shed principle offnreign na'ions,a a
ny more than with any other NUM-
";pai law or regulation. Toattcmpt
10 counterfeit il. and to compel 60
re;sn nations to yield the right of de-
manling the services oil their
native subjects, and Of punish
Ing the,a for fighting against their
native country, their father, and !heir
brethren, is an Observation-Disclosures
upon the Independence OF nations Il
The sacred right of sclc government,
inei;lrnt 10 every sovereignty.
Nor is .,he principle adopted by
our administration, less alarming. as
it regards our own country ana! its
independence; as would require. TO
be consistent. that our own govern.
meNt s,,OuId abandon iise righ, 10 The
services Of our own scamrn and ei'i-
zens, even in time of war & would
take from il the right TO punisl, our
own native citizens, Who might trai
toronsly enter into the armies aud
nav;es or our enemies ami fight "a
gainst the couatry tiiat gave, tsem
birth.
ResoEcsd, That the system ofmea-
sures adopted aa,! peiiinancieasly
pursued b, the general government
Cor namher OF years past. III oppo-
sition IL the best interests OF the com
meraial states, aa expensive and san
culinary war, 60 attain what is evil
,Ientls-nnt atfainaile--a war hegun
je rasi,nes,. foil, ~ wiekchness. con-
Quoted with weakness and with an
enormous expenditure Di maney ;aD
oppressive toad Of taxes laid az the
very moment, that the country IS
stripoetl Of the means OF paying them
these and other evils too uuiger-
ous To he ,reitcd. FAR Outweigh at:
the benefits derived to these states
from the union. Hitherto we. have
borne the 3Gh!ic evils witt. sonc de-
gree of patience. in expectation that
ma,iness and fnily would have ar
end. We would still bear these and
greater evils, cprld We believe that
our rights, liberties and indepen-
dence demanded tie sacrifice tnt
the more we observe The temper and
disposition Of the dominant party,
the more fully are We persuaded that
all our hopes are vain. Nor can we
persuade ourselves that, even irtais
war were terminated. The eontending
interests ard opinions of the different
seotjens Of the U. States, would not
deprive The commcrcial states Of
blessings which the nnion was intend
ed to secure. But whatever may
be The fate Of The union, to the laws
of which we have been and shati
eoutinne to be faithful. while it ex.
lists. We bold it Solemn duty we
owe to ourselves and TO our country,
10 circumference this iaiqnitous, un-
natural and destructive war.
Resolred, That the representa-
lives of this town in the general
court, are desired 70 use their infiu-
enee to induce that honorable body to
take the most vigorous and decisive
measures. compatible with the consti-
tutiou. to put an end to this hopeless