Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

From the New-York Journal, &c.

FROM THE CORRESPONDING COMMITTEE
of the DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY of
the state of Pennsylvania, to the Committee
of Correspondence, of the Democratic
Society of the city of New-York.

Citizens,

THERE is a crisis in our affairs mingled
with circumstances flattering and inauspicious, that it demands all the atten-
tion, energy, and union of the Demo-
cratic interest. The attempt to prostrate the
freedom of speech at the feet of govern-
ment, has been happily frustrated; and
the abettors of a project so daring, and so
hostile to every principle of freedom, have
involved themselves in the contempt pre-
pared by them for democratic societies.
The public mind sympathizes more with
political associations at this moment, than
at any period since their formation; and
if this feeling is but properly improved,
much good may be the result. Already
have some of the high-toned deputies ex-
perienced the indignation of an insulted,
an injured people; and if the characters
of others were as fully dilated, the demo-
cratic triumph would be complete.
If the avenues of information were as o-
pen to us as to those in opposition to us, the
people would be made sensible of their
wrongs, and be speedy in their redress:
But the channels of intelligence are too
generally directed by the government; and
too many of the printers, instead of being
the mirrors of the public sentiment, are
the creatures and eulogists of administra-
tion. Were we for a moment to abstract
ourselves from our local situation, and read
some of the American prints, we should
fancy ourselves in the meridian of London,
so great is the analogy in the language,
adulation, and tone between them. Eve-
ry insignificant conception against demo-
cratic societies is echoed and re-echoed,
till it dies upon the ear; whilst any thing
in their defence can scarcely find a chan-
nel to the public eye. The half fledged
ideas of "Germanicus" are propagated
with as much zeal as if they were our
political decalogue; while the writers in
favour of the freedom of enquiry, cannot
trace the puny heretic through his various
mazes, for want of the same path. The
press ought to engage the attention of our
associations; and a remedy for the hard-
ships, with respect to it, under which we
labor, ought to be studiously sought for.
While we indulge in the pleasing anti-
cipation of a change in the next Congress
favorable to the genuine principles of free-
dom, our prospects suddenly darken by
the permanent systems establishing at pre-
sent. The excise, that horror of all free
governments, that nursery of ministerial
warriors, that tomb of liberty, is extend-
ing its roots in the vitals of our country;
and, from its permanency, augurs clouds
and darkness. Freedom never can be se-
cure while this baneful spectre is permit-
ted to haunt our land: To chase it away
should be among the first objects of demo-
cratic societies.
We wish not to pass a hasty judgment
upon public transactions, neither do we
mean to pass sentence upon governmental
measures which are not fully disclosed:
but the treaty, said to have been conclud-
ed between Great-Britain and the United
States, is of too high importance not to
call for our attention. Should our com-
merce, our western posts, and our nation-
al honor, be the price of a commercial
treaty, we should abandon the task we
have in the government to be silent.
Although every mind interested in the
welfare of our country feels a degree of
agitation on this important subject, and is
more or less disposed to decide from the
information we have received, we will
suspend any opinion until the treaty itself
is before us; and if it contains principles
in hostility with our interests and our
rights, we trust the democratic societies
will have but one sentiment on the sub-
ject.
We invite you, citizens, to counsel
freely with us; to unite in a common
cause; and to give the aid which that
common cause requires. We will receive
your counsel, as fellow-citizens having
but the general good in view; your union,
as friends having the public happiness as
our object; and your aid, as brethren
having the good of the great family of
our country as the end of our solicitude.