STATE PAPERS. 



439 



the British Orders in Council, as 

 affording conclusive evidence, that 

 the war has been undertaken from 

 motives entirely distinct from those 

 which have been hitherto avowed, 

 and for the promotion of objects 

 wholly unconnected with the in- 

 terest and honour of the American 

 nation. 



Resolved, That we contemplate 

 with abhorrence, even the possi- 

 bility of an alliance with the pre- 

 sent Emperor of France, e\er\' 

 action of whose life has demon- 

 strated, that the attainment, by 

 any means, of universal empire, 

 and the consequent extinction of 

 every vestige of freedom, are the 

 sole objects of his incessant, un- 

 bounded, and remorseless ambition. 

 His arms, with the spirit of free- 

 men, we might openly and fear- 

 lessly encounter ; but, of his secret 

 arts, his corrupting influence, we 

 entertain a dread we can neither 

 conquer nor conceal. It is there- 

 fore with the utmost distrust and 

 alarm, that we regard his late pro- 

 fessions of attachment and love to 

 the American people, fully recol- 

 lecting, that his invariable course 

 has been, by perfidious offers of 

 protection, by deceitful professions 

 of friendship, to lull his intended 

 victims into the fatal sleep of con- 

 fidence and security, during which, 

 the chains of despotism are silently 

 wound round and rivetted on them. 



Resolved, That we are firmly 

 attached lo the union of the States, 

 most conscientiously believing, that 

 on its preservation, the future peace, 

 security, and indepcHdence, as well 

 as power and grandeur of the 

 American nation, must mainly 

 depend ; and we are therefore 

 strengthened in our reprobation of 

 the measures of our preneat rulers. 



from a consideration of their evi- 

 dent tendency to produce a dis- 

 solution of that union which we 

 so warmly cherish. 



Whereas in the opinion of this 

 convention the dangers which seem 

 to threaten the existence of the 

 union have chiefly arisen from the 

 prevalence of a course of policy, 

 by which the interests of the com- 

 n^ercial state, have been wantonly 

 sacrificed to local prejudices and 

 state jealousies : and whereas our 

 minds are irresistibly impressed 

 with the conviction that a change 

 of system is now demanded by the 

 imperious law of self preservation : 

 therefore resolved, that to efi'ect a 

 purpose so desirable, but so neces- 

 sary, as a change of our present 

 rulers, the barriers of party, which 

 separate men, differing, not in 

 principle, but in the name merely, 

 ought to be thrown down, and 

 every obstacle removed whicli can 

 prevent and iuipede the full and 

 cordial co-operation of those who 

 are actuated by the same feelings, 

 and entertain the same sentiments. 

 Resolved, That it be recommend- 

 ed to the friends of peace, liberty, 

 and commerce, who are opposed to 

 the present war, without distinction 

 of parties, to assemble in their re- 

 spective counties, wherein such 

 meetings have not been already 

 held, and appoint committees of 

 correspondence and conference, 

 who, if deemed necessary here- 

 after, may meet in a convention, 

 for the purpose of explaining and 

 comparing their sentiments, and 

 concertinga common planof opera- 

 tion, having for its object the re- 

 storation of peace to our degraded 

 and afflicted country, 



Jacob Morris, President. 

 William Henderson. Sec. 

 Corre- 



