Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-05-18
COM1HUNICAT TONS.

Monday last The meeting was largely and
most enthusiastically attended by the largest
shareholders of the county. Upon motion
made and seconded, DR.. Richard McSherry
was appointed President, James Park, Vice
President, and 5. Garard, Secretary.
john W. Curtis, esq, read to the meeting
preamble and resolutions, which were Of
the most decided Union character.
David IL. Conrad, ESQ.,, afterwards offered
to the meeting the following preamble and
resolutions, as a substitute for those offered
by MIR. Curtis, which he agreed to accept in
lieu of those offered by him.
We. the people of the county of Berke-
ley, have met by spontaneous and un-
prompted impulse to consult calmly upon
the fearfal condition of our country. TO
express our honest opinions of this sad crisis
III our affairs. 10 inquire into our rights,
as those in whom the original and ultimate
sovereignty Of the land is placed by the frat
principles OF our free government. To
claim these rights resolutely but temperate
ly. To bring no railing accusations against
any. To indulge ia no ordinations. To
entertain no feelings of anger against any
one who may differ with US on; momentoas
questions now forced upon our decision
questions which must be decided now or
never. In the fear Of God to state hat we
believe to be the truth, and in the strength
OF God to stand up for it, and protect our.
selves against what appears to Us destruc-
tive of our social comforts, our property,
our Liberties and our political rights.
We do this in the spirit and tone and
| n hr,ct nd Ma
apart from all party predictions (for We
are OF all parties,) free from all motive OF
personal political advancement, for we are
not political aspirants, without the slightest
wish to excite, but with the most earnest
desire to avoid everything that may stir up
strife, tor we are here as peacemakers. With
a sincere sympathy and feeling of brother
" Kindness for those who may differ with
US as to the policy which seems to as to be
right, but at the same time with the firm
resolve, God helping US, to act out what we
believe to be the truth, unawed by clamor.
mistaken by opposition, unmoved by pas
sion, unnfuenced by selfish political aims,
so tar as ne are concerned, and invoking
the same feelings and motives in all, who
with Us, however we may differ, arc sincere
ly seeking the veal of our common country.
We are on the verge of an awful, ruinoas,
civil war-we protest before God that the
people, las far as we can see, have done
nothing to produce it--but we wish not to
cast blame anywhere, We prefer in charity
to forget the things that are past-and Look
to a better future
But we solemnly ask, can Mat be u Holy
War, when the very apprehension of it,
In H,,If IA ", - IN
gun.
Can this be religious warfare when the
Christian heart of the land, in it's every pull
sation, sounds protest against is2
Can we expect the blessing of Providence
upon it--North or South-wheR that same
overruling power has been warning as to
stay our bloody unnatural strife, by his al
most miraculous interposition to avert blood
shed in the mere prelusive muttering Ut the
storm, of a strife contrary to prudence and
humanity; and which he will avert, if "be-
tween the acting of the dreadful thing and
the FIRST motion" we pause and ask, "Csn
this be the will of Heaven?" If we can
obliterate the Imaginary line OF division
across our common country, why not do it
as brothers? If it must be made IN i'm
passabie gulf of separation, why not sepa-
rate as Abraham and Lot, in spirit Of
peaceful separation?
The reason why is because passion has
risen above reason, and impulsive feelings
have dethroned common prudence. And
against the plain proof of this, In those who
ride upon this storm, We here do solemnly
make our protest:
l. We protest against the late Ordinance
OF Secession, because when called upon,
though not previously consulted as to the
necessity of Convention, yet in voting for
the members of it we distinctly, as did the
people OF this State, instruct them to vote
against any such measure-the question
was then made and then acted upon by an
immense naiority expressive of the popular
will. Because to that Ordinance of Seces-
sion is annexed an ordinance turning over
the Government Of our Common wealth TO
the Confederate States Of the South, upon
which revolutionary act our votes are not
permitted to be cast. Because by this
course, changing all our governmental rels-
lions and transferring our allegiance with
ous our consent, war has been inaugurated,
AID we are placed under the leadership of
new and non-elected military rulers, and
the very principles asserted in the Virginia
Bill OF Rights are disregarded, these are:
THAT all power is vested in and derived
from the people. That magistrates are their
trustees ard servants, ut ali times amenable
TO them and that no Government separated
from or independent of the Government Of
Virginia ought to be erected or established
within the limits there f." and if to this il
be urged that in revolution all declarations
Of right and constitutional immunities are
oYerthrown, we respectfully answer that we
claim the right, as The sovereign power in
the land, to make our own esoutions.
=. We protest against the action of the re-
cent Convention, because it has passed some
forry-eighr acts Or ordinances of
them legislative, touching the finances,
taxes, Banks, and legal proceedings (even
to Stay Law OF their Commonwealth, in
the provisions OF which we have never been
permitted to sec or consider vote upon
the most of them passed in secret conclave,
contrary to long settled usage. 1t is asking
too much to ask US to ratify these important
changes unseen, unconsidered, unknown
g. We solelnniy protest against the war
like array of the State against the General
GOVERNMENT ordered by their Convention.
contrary to the vote of more than so, 600
majority Of the people of this State, which
provided expressly that 20 act changing our