pose of improving their discipline already respectable, and of enabling them to practice the higher duties of the field. This order is committed to Brigadier General Welles, whose knowledge in tactics, and animated zeal in the service of his country, must ensure to his exertions the highest effect. The order will be continued in operation until revoked. The flank companies of this brigade will be reserved for other service. and certain evils, on questionable points of maritime controversy; far less, without preparation, and under circumstances rendering failure and dishonour inevitable. In that period, the whole face of society exhibited one progressing, smiling prospect of general and individual happiness. Not only did riches, honestly acquired in the arts of peace and industry, flow in upon the citizen, whatever his calling or profession, but the public treasury was made to overflow. Never did any men in office, (notwithstanding the ca The troops called into actual service by this order, will serve three months after they ar-lumnies of the time) establish more truly and firm rive at their ultimate rendezvous, unless sooner discharged. By his excellency's command. J. BROOKS, Adjutant General. ¡y the foundations of public wealth, and provide the means of public justice. The credit and honour of the nation were untarnished and every where respected. The great departments of governments executive, legislative and judicial, Address of the convention, to the free elec- were filled and directel by native Americans, tors of New-Jersey. Let the reflecting and candid citizen compare that period with the present; the councils and policy which then prevailed; the men who then possessed the confidence and protected the interests of the people, and the measures and success of their administrations. Let the comparison be made, and who but must deeply deplore the arts, delusions and incapacity by which American citizens have been stripped of their prosperity, and reduced to all the extremities which now overwheim our country. possessing the knowledge of their stations. The men who presided in our councils, state FELLOW CITIZENS-The actual calamities and federal, pursued a safe, straight and brought on our country by evil councils and the honest policy. They sought not wars to dangers which surround it, seem to have arrived gratify their passions, or the purse and the at an extremity demanding the immediate inter-blood of their fellow citizens, as the means position of the people. The capacity, virtue for their continuance in power. Their measures and policy of the two parties, have had a fair trial; and their objects were purely American. They the people have only to compare the past with struck out no visionary theories; were influenced the present, in order to decide between them. by no rash and vindictive passions, but proceeded Professions and pretensions are easily set up, and on the sure grounds of practical wisdom and pruoften lead nations, as well as individuals, to dis-dent legislation. In a word, who does not rehonour and ruin. member with pride (and regret that it is past) The federal republicans of these states appeal the wide extended and substantial happiness ento facts: conscious of pure and ardent attachment joyed by the American people, flowing from the to the constitution and liberties of their country, policy of Washington, and those whom he loved established by their own hands and councils; pro-and honoured with his confidence; the federal fessions and boastings made no part of their claim republicans of the United States. to public confidence. We rest our abused principles and measures, fellow citizens, on your senses; by these let the Washington policy be decided. Under the federal administration of Washington and his successor, a period of but twelve years, the people of these states, from imbecility and impoverishment, rose to a height of prosperity, with a rapidity unexampled in the history of nations-a fact not controverted by any enlightened citizen. The American name and character were held in honour abroad: Strength and union protected and cemented the confederacy. No spirit of hostility or envious feeling was then fostered by the men in office, aiming destruction at the vital interests of the commercial and Allantic states; the prosperity of one was that of all. Justice prevailed, both public and private. The Had the last twelve years, like the first, been fountains of national prosperity were laid open. devoted to a peaceful policy, and to the attainNavigation, commerce, and the interests they ment of those immense benefits which our neutracomprehend those of the husbandman, the mer- lity afforded, while all the world besides were in chant, the ship owner and the public revenue; arms; if, knowing the dangers of war where all rose to a sudden and unrivalled perfection. power only decides, and especially the dangers of Peace maintained with all the world, though a maritime war, defenceless as we were, and exshaken by revolutions and the tempest of human posed at every point; if, whilst we protested crimes and passions. Washington and his coun- against aggressions and violations on supposed cil could not be seduced or driven from the safe rights, not endangering our country, nor essenhaven of neutral and impartial justice. We all tially checking the career of national greatness, remember the loud clamours raised in his time we had prepared to assert them, by steadily peragainst England by the French or war party in severing for a course of years in laying the founthe United States, but he resisted them and saved dations of their support, cultivating and increa his country. He would not risk the mighty bless-sing population, national wealth and national ings in possession on the chances of war, nor happiness and union; if our rulers had proceeded plunge his country into untried scenes of horror to build up confidence at home by pursuing the Let the people of New-Jersey in particular, who have no interest in this war, estimate their losses by the interdiction of the coasting trade, by war prices, by increased taxes, and view the prospect before them. great national interest. Navigation, trade, revenue, increasing wealth, union, public character, constitutional principles, and all the solid acquisitions which lie at the foundations of per manent national strength and independence, have well nigh disappeared. To fill up the measure of our calamities, aa odious, hopeless and most devouring war, is entailed on the laud. The whole beat and employment of those in power for fourteen years, has been to engage men's minds in hopes and fears, from useless and pernicious pro steady paths of justice, and exhibiting themselves) ended as was foretold, in the violation of all in the light of practical statesmen and patriots, sound principles of American government and governing for the people and not for a party; if policy, and in the actual destruction of every they had aimed at giving permanency to constitutional principles, rad cultivated the interest and anion of the states, been the friends of commerce, of a gradual increase of naval strength and maritime defence; if they had with wise and paternal feelings, healed the wounds of party by noderation and equal justice, considering only the general good if they had been satisfied with the honour of securing and strengthening the nation. by pursuing a cautious and honest neutrality, giving no offence to contending powers by indirect aid, irritating partialities, and set-jects of legislation and politics. Instead of preting up pretensions in the hour of their distress; if, in short, they had pursued the policy which was bequeathed to them when they came into power, and augmented the mighty steck of national prosperity received at the hands of the federafts, whom they traduced; what might now have been the envied condition of America! The human mind (had such inen and councils There seem to have been no fundamental rights prevailed) could with difficulty estimate her proof the American peopie; no national interests, gress in wealth, in population, in the means and which in this short term have not been violated possession of revenue; in national strength, and or sacrificed ;' and this by the men who obtained in permasent and inmovable foundations of na-and have kept power by professing and promistional glory and individual happiness. serving what had been secured, and augmenting the national securities and means, in a plain, honest and undeviating course of public rectitude and wisdom, they have kept the country in one continued state of suffering and commotion, the more effectually to justify and screen their absurd. selfish and arabitious designs. ing to preserve and secure those interests and rights more effectually than their predecessors! In their hands, the CONSTITUTION of the United States, once so venerated and always so necessary to the liberties of the people, has been broken in almost every article. The facts are no These states, with such immense boundaries, so dispersed a population, so rich but exposed a territory and commerce, required many years of peace, before war could be safe or honourable: But to the shame and misery of our country, no auch views, feelings or wisdom actuated the coun-torious. cils which succeeded those of Washington. The very condition on which they claimed power and obtained it, was to overturn the policy which had prevailed; and this indeed is the only promise, which fatally for the country, they have kept. Military law has been established to enforce revene laws. Private property has been wrested from its peaceable possessor, without legal process, by the military under executive orders. Innocent citizens, seized by military force, have been torn from their homes, transported to the seat of government, and discharged without accusation, or redress for ruined character or fortunes. It were useless now to review the arts of caJumny and the delusive pretexts which placed those men in power, who for the last fourteen years have misruled these states; and it were endless to bring before the American people all those enormities of abused trust, of ignorance, Commissions lawfully issued and completed, rash councils, party violence and lust of office, have been illegally withheld from the citizens which have at length laid national and individual appointed, by the preceding president, only beprosperity in fearful ruins. The recollections of cause partisans were to be gratified. the people of this and of every state must supply The habeas corpus act, the only practical sethe particulars of that long, unbroken series of curity against tyrannical abuse of personal libermisrule and abuse of official authority, which hasty has been suspended in time of peace, and this reduced them to this deplorable condition. This is merely to overawe freedom of opinion. Convention can only present an outline, and Judicial questions, frequently on the revenue most willingly would they be spared from a re-laws, often most penal in their nature, have been trospect so painful and disgusting, were it not determined by edicts of the executive, contrary for the hope of some good from the recital. It to their legal purport and obligation on the citimay conduce to a change of the present authorszen. of so many evils, and serve in future to warn our The independence of the judges has been tacountry, if once again restored to its lost bless-ken away by the legislature, on the recommendaings, from yielding to specious innovations and tion of the executive. The office of judge i promises of visionary reform. made dependent on the will of presidents and The American people may hereafter set a great-party majorities, against the express terms of the er value on tried friends, on practical wisdom, constitution, declaring "they shall hold their and on substantial liberty and prosperity. It is office during good behaviour." Thus, by a sinnow made evident to us all, and to the world, gle stroke of usurpation, making one independent that the reforms which were promised have con-department of the government subject to the sisted in dangerous and extravagant innovations, will of the other; and in effect, subjecting men's in pernicious experiments, and in multiplying lives, liberty and property, to judges dependent offices and grasping at the paltry objects of party on party, and not on their" good behaviour" or influence and official emolument. They have rectitude in office. A whole article of the constitntion, and one By all this the public mind was kept distractindependent branch of the government has béened, and the great purposes of steady, useful go annihilated, setting a precedent and productive of consequences, fatal to the rights and liberties of the people, as secured by themselves. vernment, overlooked or abandoned. The substantial interests and prosperity of the nation lis terally and shamefully sacrificed. NOVELTIES, most inconsistent with our an To perpetuate their political ascendance, and in violation of the principles and interests of the 'cient habits, and most injurious to American confederacy, a pernicious ARISTOCRACY of rights and interests, have been introduced and STATES and PERSONS has been created. This perservered in, to almost entire subversion of the has been effected, forms of American policy. By making new states in that quarter of their influence, favourable to a southern domination and Virginia dynasty: By employing immense sums taken from the Treasury, in the purchase of an useless foreign Country, and converting it into states for the same purpose of multiplying official departments, and giving preponderance to Virginia and southern states, in the national legislature and counoils: By changing the constitution in the mode of choosing the president and vice-president by which the larger states are enabled to control the smaller, and make traffic of these important offices: By the monstrons usurpation of nominating a president and vice-president at the seat of government, in the vortex of intrigue, and under the smiles and patronage of the candidate proposed, instead of leaving the nomination to a free and unbought people : By proscribing men for their opinions, and banishing from trust and employment, the friends of Washington and his policy, thereby depriving the nation of the counsels and support of its wisest and best citizens, and alienating men's minds from the love of each other and their common country. Such extraordinary acts of government too. have proceeded from the very men who affected to condemn them as anti-republican and despotic. These novelties consist, In secret legislation, hiding from the people the. opinions and conduct of their agents. Closed doors and concealment, have become habitual, and continued from day to day. The American people at this moment are kept in ignorance on points of vital importance to their interests and honour: In presidential recommendations, adopted by the legislature, in cases calling for the most ture reflection and inquiry, without either. Al investigation, even of facts, refused thereby putting the greatest national rights on the issue of executive veracity, or his infallible judgment, remarkable, perhaps, for neither. Most of the monstrous and pernicious plans which have sunk the country to its present condition, came to the representatives of the people, not for discussion but adoption: In preventing free debate, whereby the representativess of the people opposed to the measures of administration, under an arbitrary rule of the majority, have been deprived of their essential rights, and the rights of the people to the opi nions and services of their representatives violated: By multiplying offices and salaries, and ap- In repressing the right and freedom of petipointing officers, civil and military, without ex-tion against grievances. The people's remonperience or knowledge, remarkable chiefly for par-strances and requests being ordered to lie on the ty violence and incapacity, consequently more table, or contemptuously thrown aside to a distant dependent on the will and opinions of the presi day: dent, and his weak but rash advisers. In the invention of permanent systems of em By conferring high offices on strangers, pos-bargo, non-importation, and non-intercourse, by sessing no attachments but to the party which land or water, even along our own coasts. Perupholds them, and by these instruments strength- severingly followed up for near two presidencies. ening themselves in office at the risk of expos-Systems first introduced by the tyrant of France, ing the people to the intrigues, ignorance and passions of foreign agents; inen who it must be evident cannot love our country, nor care for or understand its interests: and to him useful in promoting his grand schemes of universal conquest, but to America, novel and destructive to the last degree. Systems calculated to bear down and impoverish the commercial And finally, by violating the freedom of speech states, to depress our own products and raise the and opinions, overawing elections, and introdu-price of foreign; to extinguish national revenue, cing terror and military despotism. Ships and sailors' rights, to encourage smuggling Taking a view of the LEGISLATIVE and EXE-and immoral evasion and breach of the laws. CUTIVE CONDUCT, a scene of weakness and de-Systems of legislation, in short, fatal to industry plorable misrule unfolds itself. The American and the productive arts of life, and beyond all freeman who reviews all this mass of political question more injurious to these states than war intrigue, imbecility and corruption, may well itself, in as much as the suffering fell wholly on exclaim, "give us back peace and the honest po- ourselves; other nations looking on, unhurt by licy of Washington." Year after year, has pas- these infatuated acts of self-destruction,, rejoised away in busy and officious mischief. In cing to see this fine and prosperous country which holding out false hopes. In ambiguous presiden-aimed death at them, falling the victim of its tial messages. In feigned negotiations. In mai-own wrath and folly. tifarious projects, and in contradictory and futile With respect to the public resources and resolutions. In vain boasting, and inflammatory wealth that have been annihilated, speeches. In imbecile threatenings against one The men in power, who professed economy, foreign government and abject submissions and have far exceeded not only the preceding admievon aid to another, more insolentty a wrong deer,[nistrations in expenditure, but any which ever before squandered the substance of a patient and confiding people. Before this war, they had received not less than two hundred millions of dollars into the treasury; all this (except about thirty millions paid on the old debt) was spent or squandered without strengthening the nation or adding a single important item to the stock of American securities. Not even a frigate was added to the federal navy, but offices and salaries were continually multiplying. Fifteen millions paid for useless territory, and to fill the coffers of Bonaparte. Vast sums expended in fruitless or injurious embassies, and on diplomatic favourites. The navy, army and civil list expenses, were enormous, and yet inefficient. Untold thousands were drawn from the treasury in projects useless and disreputable to the na tion. years of prodigal wastefulness, wearing out the national spirit, creating disunion of the states, and general disaffection to their schemes of misrule, without preparation, and scarcely with a real pretext, they declared war against GreatBritain. Fellow citizens, we have no language to depict the sense we entertain of this death blow to the best hopes aud interests of our beloved country. How can those in the state or general government, who so rashly plunged their country into war, unprepared, and against an enemy so powerful, answer to God or to the people, for the dreadful consequences? Surely they should no longer be trusted by their fellow man. This war, as was most certain it must, in such circumstances, on such grounds, has progressed in shame, loss and disappointment. It has been conducted with a folly and profligate wasteful In building, equipping and maintaining gun-ness of the people's blood and money, in so short. boats: In secret service moneys: a time unexampled in the annals of the world. What do we we all bear witness to, but a fickle, In torpedo experiments, and in paying En-and dismayed cabinet. glish impostors for the purpose of calumniating American patriots : In short, the expenditures of peace were little Less than those that might have supported a successful war. In our foreign relations, the same infatuated policy prevailed. The usurper and tyrant was dountenanced, and all his projects admired. France, jacobin France, was courted and aided, whilst she insulted and plundered us, and her enormities as much as possible concealed. England was threatened and irritated, treaties with her rejected, her ambassadors deceived and sent away, and every means adopted to create and keep alive resentment, and prepare for her destruction by a long sought war, when the propitious moment should arrive. Spain fighting against the tyrant for her liberties, caused no sympathy. Spain that fought for American liberty, possessed not even their good wishes. On the contrary, they wished success to her destroyer. They denied her bread, refused her ambassador, and in her distress seized upon her territories, and countenanced the invasion of ker provinces, placed as they were under the safeguard of American faith and honour. With Tripoli, Algiers and the Indian tribes, there has scarcely been a cessation from wars, tribute and expense. The invasion of the Indian country and burning their towns in 1810, lighted up the vengeance, and brought upon our frontier all the horror of the united savage tribes. Thus did the administration conduct with foreign governments, getting deeper in the European quarrels. They exhausted and wasted the resources of our country, in contemptible schemes for starving colonists, or insurrections among European manufacturers. In passing laws conditioned to make them keep the peace, or go to war with us; entangling ourselves in nets of destruction made by our own hands. This race in the road to ruin seemed nearly run; but one enormity yet remained; and finally, after exhausting the national resources in 12 Useless armies employed on the lakes and devouring the land. Military commanders without skill, sacrificing brave men, captured, defeated or disgraced at every point, throwing the shame of the adminis tration on them! An exhausted if not a bankrupt treasury. Our coasting vessels and trade demolished on 2090 miles of seaboard Immense loans; government receiving 35 dollars and pledging the people to pay 100 to the lender! Multiplied and increasing taxation on all the necessaries of life; the excise system most ine qually bearing on the poor. Double duties, war prices, the exportation of specie, and no export of our own products, growing discontent, and we fear a dissolving con federacy. A desperate administration who refuse peace, and are shedding the blood and spending the substance of Americans, on questions about the rights of English sailors and emigrants. A people impoverished, distracted with apprehensions, exposed to fire and sword, tora from their homes, and bleeding at every point on a circumference of five thousand miles. A stupendous system of public frauds and delinquency among the contractors, army agents, and the host of retainers upon government. Yet, not a single national object secured! Is not all this the fruit of two years of war, and present to our senses? And is Great-Britain humbled? Is Canada taken, after the loss of ten thousand men and one hundred millions of dollars, with all the other more dreadful mischiefs of this war; or are we not baffied and dishonoured by the misconduct of the men whe govern and command? By those men who are calling on us even yet to support them and their measures! Have we established sailors' rights, or any right, or has it ever been made known what we are not pow merely scrambling for our lives and our firesides, and in the wonderful' providence of not be laid to the account of the people; we God, left alone on the theatre of the world, abandoned of every nation, and contending with or rather trusting to the mercy and magnanimity of the nation we attacked, invaded, and meant, with the aid of the tyrant, to destroy. Fellow citizens, we cease this catalogue of public woes; of so many dreadful evils brought on us by men who were to amend and improve our condition; men who scorned the safe and prosperous policy of Washington and his friends; and promised to the people that they should be without wars, taxes, navies, armies, public debts, Joans and numerous offices of government. In stead of which, they have done nothing else but create and increase all these evils. We cease to speak of this long course of downward and destructive misgovernment. But shall we interpose no remedy? Are such men and measures longer to be upheld? Surely it is time to think of a remedy; and what other presents itself, what other ought to take, but to make a general and thorough change. All governments at times, are forced to change the men in administration, or perish by their faults and continuance. What cause or complaints to be compared with those we have enumerated, induced us to raise these men into power who complained and promised so much? and to put those out of power who under Washington had made us great and prosperous? know on the contrary that they are dissatisfied. injured, and desire to be relieved from so many present sufferings and expected dangers. These measures, and this war, and all these miseries, flow from a weak, infatuated administration; from men in office, upheld by delusions and promises, and whose interests and obstinacy combine to encourage and maintain plans and principles which have proved, as was foretold the bane of public prosperity. It is our duty to be plain. We repeat our unfeigned belief that there must be an entire remo val of visionary men, and the friends of this war in every state and department of legislation, before the blessings of peace and good government can be restored. The remedy is in our own handsLet us all firmly resolve (however we must endure the existing evils with fortitude and patience) that the freedom of suffrage shall finally re-establish the friends of peace and the policy of Washington. Signed by order of the convention. THE TREASURY REPORT. SIR-I have the honour to transmit a report "act supple It is full time for a people who have so patient-prepared in obedience to the ly endured such evils, and desire at length to esmentary to the act, entitled an act to esta cape from them, to put their own affairs in other blish the treasury department." hands. Let us, fellow citizens, endeavour to get I have the honour to be, with the highest back to peace and the Washington policy. respect, sir, your most obedient. Even should a forced peace on paper he announced, let us take care to maintain and improve it, by placing in every department of the general and state governments the friends of peace. The men in power have forfeited all confidence. They found us in peace and prosperity; their course was foretold; they have involved us in disunion, lost rights and poverty. The Honourable G. W. CAMPBELL, The President of the Senate, &c. The secretary of the treasury, in obedience to the act "supplementary to the act, entitled an act to establish the treasury department," has the honour respectfully to submit to congress the following report and esti Should this direful contest unhappily be conti-mates. nued, can this nation longer trust her honour, safety and existence in such feeble hands? Our The sums authorized by congress to be exgreatest enemies could not have devised plans pended during the year 1814, and for which more injurious to American interests. appropriations have been made, are as follow: 1. For civil, diplomatic and miscellaneous expenses 2,245,355 59 Whether we have war or peace, let us restore to our councils the experience, the wisdom, and the policy, which raised our nation to such exalted greatness. We beseech you, fellow citizens, to lay aside mere party attachments, and look at the state of the country. Reflect, that such continued and great evils could not have come on us but by the most egregious folly and misrule. Indeed the path of wisdom and security seemed plain. Let a thorough change be made; fear not that it can be worse for us. The friends of Washington and peace will not betray or desert their country. Give them the means of directing and aiding it, by your suffrages, and they will not disappoint your hopes. To this suma is to be added the amount which may be payable on the following accounts, viz. 1. The amount of fines, penalties and forfeitures actually received into the treasury, which is appropriated for defraying the expenses of courts of the United States. 2. The sums received by the collectors of the customs for the marine hospi tal fund, and privateer pension fund, which are paid into the treasury with the other moneys This convention addresses itself to the people of New-Jersey. These ruincus measures, can-derived from the customs, but |