public advantage, it has been the business [ing at the true cause of our misfortunes. But he deserves the greatest praise, while exhorting THE PEOPLE to rely upon God and themselves for safety, for abstaining from encouraging the hope of assistance from the general government. It is indeed necessary, we put our own "shoul upon the little " Hercules," who has too long amused us by his vapouring at Washington. He who flies by the light of his own city, will afford no protection to ours. of almost my whole life to say no, no-it is not so, and to explain why it could not . be so. And now, when TIME, the great judge, who decides all questions, is proclaiming the truth, shall I fail to call the public ear to his decisions? Shall I be afraid, because it may anger and enflameders to the wheel," and no longer rely the opposite party? God forbid I should think so meanly of them. When they see THE TRUTH, they will cherish it. They are not more fond of ruin than we are, nor will they endure folly and imbecility longer than we shall, when they see it. Nor will they be so ungenerous, while they see us devoted to the country's cause, as to take our council in evil part. They will not curse the tongues that speak truth, of those men whose arms they behold raised in the common defence.duced to a condition so precarious, by a With these impressions concerning the convention nevertheless, confiding in the course of miracle not to be paralleled, this men of the democratic party, I wish that final discernment and virtue of the people, in the organization of our defence, it may do not despair of the republic. We will be merely asked, when a trust or appoint-not confound the people and the men in ofment is to be conferred, is "he honest, is he capable?" And God knows, if no questions but these had always been asked, we should have been much better off than we are. RESOLUTIONS, Deeply affected by the gloom which surrounds the destiny of these states, re fice. This convention is free to declare they believe the people, of whatever party, mean the good and the prosperity of their country. It is to a virtuous and independent body of citizens these proceedings are addressed. We are persuaded they will not uphold an administration or a set of men in office, if convinced of their unfitness and misgovernment. Errors and deceptions have been thickly sown, and produced the greatest calamities. Happy misfortunes, we shall all at length perif becoming wise by our experience and ceive the cause of them—the weak, vio Having made these remarks in relation to what may be considered the only objectionable, or, speaking more properly perhaps, the only obscure part of the mayor's address, it is but justice to say, that its general scope and tendency is calculated to extort universal approba-lent and fatal measures of the men in tion. A stranger would hardly believe, that the writer of this address was, at the last presidential election, the competitor of that miserable being, who over the ruins of the capitol, like the ———moping owl, does to the moon complain," of the consequences of his rash war, and the effects of the impotence with which it has been conducted. I approve greatly of the magnanimity which caused Mr. Clinton, peculiarly circumstanced as he is, to refrain from hint power, and turn for redress as is done in such extremities, to a new and better administration. Wherefore Resolved, That at the ensuing election for representatives in congress, it he recommended to the free electors of New Jersey, to support with their united exertions, the following ticket: James Giles, Samuel W. Harrison, James Parker, John Frelinghuysen, Jacob S. Thomson, John N. Cumming, and also William B. Ewing, as representative the place of Jacob Hufty, Esq. deceased. in the congress of the United States, in To these, the country may confidently look for the support of its true honour and them, in order to save the country from a prosperity. They will restore peace if it continuance in power of weak and wicked can now be obtained without national de-men-men who by breaches of the congradation, or if war must be continued, stitution, arhitrary power, useless taxes they will not disgrace Americans and and extravagance, unnecessary and imin respect to representatives for the state politic war, or any other mischievous polegislature, this convention do earnestly licy, threaten the ruin of the nation. If recommend it to the people in each coun- those who have got into office and govern ty, to hold meetings, make nominations, as they will, shall contend that exposure and use all diligence and prudence to pre- of them, and the abuses of their trust, whevent the re-election of the advocates of the ther from folly or wilful measures of viowar, and of such a ruinous course of poli-lence and wrong, is" opposition to the cy; and in their places to return men known to be attached to peace and to the Washington policy, Whereas, the right of the people to crpress their opinions upon the conduct of men in office, their ability and motives, is brought into question, the persons now in office and their adherents denominating it “moral treason" and "enmity to the country" for the people to speak and vote against them and their measures; as if in their ruinous and changing acts, opinions and policy, were to be found American liberty and independence. We the convention of friends of peace in New-Jersey, for ourselves and the great numbers of freemen whom we represent, o PROTEST against such slavish and anti-republican principles. country and the government," we repeat our protest against such manifest arrogance and insult to the common seuse of mankind. Silence and passive obedience to acts of folly, oppression and national ruin, never were and never ought to be imposed upon the good people of these states. On this point, those are the real enemies of their country who support and countenance the opinion, that the men in office are infallible, and gloss over their mal-conduct and destructive measures, by calling such measures the "government.” Those are the enemies of republican and good government, who by threats, mobs, massacres and abuse, endeavour to crush the freedom of speech and of the press, and prevent the people from removing from public trust those who abuse it. How are the dreadful evils of power abused, and of a whole people falling into the depths of public and private ruin, to be averted, if to complain of, expose and constitutionally resist such men and measures, is "enmity to the country?” If the constitution is violated by the persons in office, the better to execute their schemes of legislation, and perpetuate their party and power, shall these acts pass into precedent and remain unredressed, because to expose the fact and the delinquent is " opposition to government ?" We hold it the first and most precious of all rights, that the people enjoy perfect freedom of opinion, of specch, and of suffrage. No matter who the men are, or what their measures, nor with what pretences of purity, wisdom and patriotism, they claim power, or prosecute their schemes of policy and government: every citizen and every class of men in society may freely examine the conduct and ability of those intrusted with their dearest rights, and act according to their honest convictions. These rights are so necessary and undoubted, this convention will not impair their inestimable value so If the president makes or interprets much as to debate their existence or ex-laws, arming subaltern agents with illegal tent. instructions, giving them power over men's The people who elect men to office for persons, property and lives, without trial the good of the country, may, if their by judge or jury, and the forms of legal measures prove injurious to the common-procedure: wealth, or, if believed incapable or cor- If majoritics in congress, impelled by rupt, turn them out of office for the good motives of party and passion, or governof their country, and choose again. The means to effect this, necessarily make a part of their rights. These means are the liberties of opinion, of speech, of the press and of suffrage. They must all be used, and freemen have a right to use ed by implicit reliance on executive messages, or acting under honest but erroneous views of the public good, proceed to measures and persevere in systems striking at the prosperity, and endangering the existence of the union; K having power only to "regulate" unexampled posture of preparation, espetrade, congress should in a time of peace cially on the ocean-our own territories by a law destroy it: on all sides accessible to the approach of If they should give away millions out her fleets, giving our enemy at once the of the public treasury for “foreign" ter- mastery of the pretended objects of the ritories, or obtain them by " conquest, war, "free trade and sailors' rights," althrough the expense and horrors of war, most ruined long before war was declared when such accessions are disputed, worth-by our own acts of folly and passion : less or of an encumbrance: If before the horrid evils of the war had If then they should erect these territo-set in, and before its declaration was ever ries into new states opposed to commerce, known to England, that government regiving thereby a preponderance to a south-moved the principal pretended cause, and ern policy and domination, most destruc-afterwards proposed an armistice, offering tive to the constitutional weight of the immediately to negotiate a friendly setancient states, or any of them, and sub-tlement of remaining complaints; if yet versive of their essential interests and the men is power should reject the armisprosperity: tice and negotiation, preferring to risk their country and all its rights and blessings upon the issue of the sword: If when their country is at peace, and more prosperous than any other nation in its commerce, yielding a revenue of six- If, instead of fortifying their harbours, teen millions, exceeding in amount any and preparing for defence on the seaformer year, they in that very year, (on board, building ships of war and assailing a loose suggestion of the executive) with- the trade of the enemy, the men in power out suffering debate, should arrest and pro- should leave the commercial towns and hibit all trade, and that permanently, lay-populous districts on the seacost without ing up suddenly fourteen hundred thousand troops or defence, and meditate plans of tons of shipping, with all their immense conquest a thousand miles from the ocean; connexions and relations to industry and wealth, on pretence of the possibility of losing a small part. the conquest of a cold and worthless country beyond the frozen lakes of the north; expending in two years, one hundred millions, in vain and disgraceful attempts to conquer Canada : If after these, embargoes and non-intercourse with the world are continued five years, and nigh all our ships, sailors and If the men thus making this war and trade lost by such self-destructive mea- conducting it, should from the beginning sures and sacrifices made to provoke Eng- conduct it without intelligence, vigour or land, and aid the grand scheme of her system, baffled, defeated and, disgraced enemy; if then, after destroying the ob- by a few weak and almost defenceless cojects of war ourselves, a majority in congress should declare war for injuries done to ships, sailors and commerce, by England: lonists, unprepared (in the confidence of our friendship and justice) to resist the horrors of invasion, and bayonets prepared for their bosoms : If this war is declared, without notice If military commands are given by the to hundreds of our ships in foreign ports; president and his councils to men who, with revenue gone, our harbours and towns one after the other, without exception, unguarded, without ships of war, men, mo-prove laughing stocks for the world, saney, magazines or preparation crificing the lives of thousands of brave If with state dissensions and clashing Americans, by rashness, ignorance or cowinterests, divided councils, and against the ardice, and bringing disgrace on the Amewishes, opinions and remonstrances of mil-rican name : lions of the people, a majority in congress If a scene of profligate and boundless should be found so rash and lost to conse-waste of the public treasure ensues, unpaquences as to risk, under such circum-ralleled in any country, and pervading stances, the union and great interests of every department and quarter : these states, to the chance of WAR, when If we and our posterity, at the end of to defer the time and prepare the means only two years, are involved in one hunwas in its choice: dred millions of new debts, by a disgraceful war: If that war is declared against the most powerful nation in the world, in a most] If all this has been incurred by the men in office, besides the loss of as much more feel nothing but the pressure of taxes, of to private citizens, by the destruction of high prices, and distresses produced by property and business, and yet not a sin- the destruction of life, property and busigle object attained by them for the coun-ness: try, unless the objects of the war were to If these are to them the only fruit of a aid the tyrant, feed and enrich the ma-war which they were told should redress kers of it, and their official partisans, and their wrongs and encircle us with conto create new props to their power, by quest and glory: multiplying innumerable and insatiable bands of army agents, contractors and dependents on the war: If the Canadas remain unconquered, and even our own territory and fortresses are possessed by our enemy: If our whole seaboard, and every river and inlet is blockaded, and our towns become the scenes of bloodshed, fire and rapine: If, looking back, nothing is reviewed but empty promises, vain boastings, errors, slaughter, defeats and wastefulness; and surveying the prospect before us, wė find our country without a friend among the powers of the earth, all nations viewing us as the confederates of the tyrant against their liberties: If we perceive an enemy, triumphant over the mightiest dangers, surrounded If our frontier settlements have under- with glory and power, pouring her liberagone, and are exposed to the most dread-ted ships and armies upon our defenceless ful effects of savage warfare and retalia-waters and population, in an overwhelmtion for American invasion and cruelties: ing torrent of war, to meet our challenge If our armies, notwithstanding the im- and revenge injuries and aggression in mense levies authorized by acts of con-time of her distress: gress, and the millions of money appropriated for their enlistment and support, are diminished and diminishing, whilst the war and the enemy are becoming more terrible: If our ships of war are blocked up and If instead of pretended rights secured, and territories conquered by war, (with as yet scarce an effort of the enemy) our cabinet must supplicate and receive peace from the clemency of England, or fight on through a hopeless and fatal war, risking our very exist ence as a nation : dismantled: If our GUN-BOATS, merchant ships, let-delusions, wrested the administration of pubIf, the men, who by calumnies and popular ters of marque and privateers, are laid up, lic affairs from the friends of Washington and captured or destroyed, with but few ex- his policy; who promised more of republican ceptions: purity and moderation, more economy and equality, more ability to govern, more prosperity at home and abroad, and less of salaries, offices, taxes, armies, navies and foreign entanglements; have, on the contrary, pursu ed the very opposite course : If our coasting vessels, packets and small crafts, with their cargoes, are by hundreds made prize of or burnt: If the militia of the several states, after all the treasure, taxes and loans spent for regular armies, are drafted, marched to the frontiers, made to perform garrison duty and kept posting from place to place for the safety of defenceless villages, at an expense of time, loss of public money, not to be estimated, and if this must be continued: If national bankruptcy is at hand, public accounts in arrear, to the amount of millions, concealed and even unlooked at, as the secretary at war declares; the armies unrecruited, and military stores and magazines unprovided: If all the hopes and schemes of a shortsighted cabinet, from the success of a wicked tyrant over the liberties of Europe, are terminated by his downfall: If the abused and deceived people of these United States, in every quarter, If these pretended patriots, intent chiefly power, have failed to perform a single promise, on office, emolument, party ascendancy and or reform a single grievance complained of; but by a baneful, visionary and headlong course of passion, folly and extravagance, have overturned the sure foundations of national prosperity laid by Washington and the federal republicans of America, squandering away the blood, treasure and securities of one public advantage, to compensate for such the nation, without object or attainment of a series and mass of evil: If ALL THESE ACTS and CONSEQUENCES have, in fourteen years, flowed from the men who changed the policy of Washington, and have pursued, and are now pursuing, and will persevere in these courses of public ruin, (and all these grievances do manifestly exist,) then let it be asked, who is the "ENEMY to his country and her rights?" He who countenan ces and supports such men and measures, or he who would save it from entire destruction, by removing from trust such unworthy violators of the people's best interests and the nation's good? This convention assert the necessity and the right of making such a change; they resolve, therefore, that all attempts to stigmatize the friends of peace and reform, with disaffection to their country, are violations of the rights of freemen: That all means used by the men in power or advocates of such destructive measures, to intimidate the people, by representing their just complaints, under oppression and impending ruin, as factious and treasonable, are violations of public liberty, and if submitted to, public evils will be incurable, and the domination of weak or unprincipled men be perpetual. It being evident that to oppose had men or measures, and to change them, is not opposition, but support of good government. This convention, therefore, do recommend to all their fellow citizens to assert their rights of opinion and suffrage, and if they believe such men and measures will ruin the country, whatever former questions divided them, to join in one common effort to change the administrations of the general and state governments, as their only chance of relief from so many grievances. their feelings and judgment-Therefore they deem it fit to declare, that they disregard the reproach of not volunteering their lives and fortunes in favour of this war: they have no lot in the councils of the war-in army com→ missions and military commands; they uns doubtedly believe that under such men as rule in the cabinet and camp, no people, whatever their rights, their numbers or means, can prosper in either peace or war. Those who made and advocate the war and the conductors of it, have not wanted numbers or means though the instigators of it keep at a distance from danger, yet they have had the resources of a great and flourishing country-millions on millions have been at their disposal --in two years they have dissipated the whole on an inglorious and disastrous war, and now call upon the opposers of such policy and conduct to join their desperate standard-to rush headlong into their ranks, and be led under their generals and commanders to disgrace and certain destruction. the public councils, under such commanders, and for objects of conquest and injustice, this convention cannot but warn their fellow citi zens, that if they are much longer permitted to misrule-if peace and rights are not soon secured by a change of administration, it may be too late for either peace or war to save our country. This convention, and the friends of peace, will obey the laws, will defend their country, if invaded, at every point, and neither in peace nor war yield any clear and essential right. It is a high consolation to the friends of Washington and his policy, that whatever of naval or military honour could spring from Whereas, the war, hitherto so disgraceful such a contest, it has been the result of fedeand desolating, was declared against the re-ral valour. But under such men as now direct monstrances and opinions of a large proportion of the people of these states, and in all probability by a majority; and whereas, in conducting it, the government has excluded the friends of federal policy, and of peace, who have no power or influence, and ought not therefore to be responsible for the calamitous events which such a war must produce this convention, for itself and its constituents, do avow their most devoted love and attachment to their country, its constitutions and prosperity: they are oppressed with grief and alarm at the dangers and distresses which encompass it: they yield to no clamorous partisan of the men in power, or senseless pretender to extraordinary patriotism, in real attachment to the honour and just triumphs of the American character; and they are incapable of any sentiment or wish derogatory to the essential rights of the nation: but inasmuch as the acts of the men in power have been so destructive of both character and rights as the friends of peace and the Washington policy are excluded from the cabinet councils, and possess no control over the administration of public affairs; as in regard to this war, they deemed it the most nnnecessary, impolitic, wicked and destructive measure ever ventured upon by a deluded and desperate party as this convention and their constituents have no hope in the removal of public grievances while such men retain power and confidence, and as they cannot in duty to God and their conscience outwardly approve what is most abhorrent to in This convention do therefore resolve, that in their opinion the way to a treaty of honour and speedy return of peace to our abused and endangered country, is not to join in the clamours for war and blood, but to show our real desire for peace with England by removing from our councils the agents and instruments of war. This convention is firmly convinced that England would have rejoiced in peace, and even yet, though aggravated to the last degree, might embrace it on honourable terins to our country, if she could proceed with confidence in the sincerity and honour which characterised the cabinet of Washington. Until that happy period arrives, this convention recommend patience under suffering, a courageous spirit in defence of our country and homes, when invaded; but remembering that all the precious blood and treasure which this war must cost, and all its awful consequences, are chargeable on the heads of those who encouraged and made it. PREPARATION FOR DEFENCE. On Saturday last, a town meeting was held |