Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

UNITED STATES.

ELIZABETH-TOWN Feb. 4.

At a stated meeting of the "Constitutional Association of Inhabitants of the Borough of Elizabeth," held at Elizabeth Town, on the first Monday in February, 1795—present one hundred members: after free discussion, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted excepting one dissentient to part of the third—the fourth—and eighth resolutions:

Resolved I. That the present constitution of the United States, the foundation of our federal union, is entitled to the patronage of every real friend to the peace and prosperity of our country as well as to the good wishes of every friend to the liberties and rights of mankind.

II. That the rank which the United States hold among the nations, their well established credit, their growing commerce, the full demand for all agricultural property, their present state of amity and peace with all European nations, and in a word, the general aspect of the riches and rising glory of our country, form a sufficient testimony in favor of the present administration of public affairs, and afford a full answer to all the calumnies of its enemies.

III. That George Washington, our illustrious President, hath continued to deserve well of his country, and especially by his late exertions in issuing, and supporting a proclamation of neutrality by developing and frustrating the designs of a foreign incendiary; by his exertions to prevent a war with Great Britain, and by crushing the late insurgency without the shedding of human blood.

IV. That the late attempts to lessen the esteem of the President in the opinion of the good people of these United States, have been marked with design, and betray both, a disregard to truth and to the public weal, and ought to be guarded against, as attempts in the person of the President, to sap the foundation of our present political fabric.

V. That if the citizens of New-Jersey have ever acquired any fame, by a ready expression of their zeal for the public good, so far as the influence of this association extends, care should be taken that this good opinion be not forfeited by any forgetfulness of duty in time to come.

VI. That the peaceful enjoyment of our religious rights will, under God, be best maintained by a steady adherence to the principles of the confederation in which the rights of conscience and religious opinion are equally secured to all.

VII. That the right hand of citizenship be extended to all citizens of these United States, disposed to meet us on the principles of our association and of these resolutions—assuring all such that we will ever be happy to maintain a friendly correspondence with any bodies of citizens, who may judge it expedient to form themselves into associations upon similar principles. or to maintain epistolary correspondence with any reputable individuals, as corresponding members of this association, with whom it may not be convenient to be united in any associated body at home: and it is humbly recommended to any other associations formed or to be formed in connection, to adopt the same principles of correspondence.

VIII. That this association highly approve of the patriotic testimony of the Tammany Society of New-York, in their declaration of the 29th ult. and hope as their constitution bespeaks them friends to liberty and their country, they will never want courage publicly to avow and boldly to defend their constitutional character.

IX. That the idea this association entertains respecting the existence of their own or other similar associations, is pertinently expressed in the following declaration of Germanicus, No. 3. "The propriety or impropriety of self-created societies depend upon the propriety or impropriety of their principles, and especially as that principle is developed by their actions."

X. That the committee of correspondence take such measures for the promulgation of the principles and proceedings of this association as they may think proper, and that the public be informed that this association contemplates an associate existence no longer than while associations of a contrary spirit and practice shall appear; and, finally, our doors are to be considered as ever open, not only to the attendance but to the arguments of any citizens of the United States, demeaning themselves according to the rules of the institution.

MAT. WILLIAMSON Pres.

Aaron Ogden, Secretary.

The dissentient member, alluded to above, embraces the present opportunity to declare, that no man entertains more exalted ideas of Washington than himself; that in the third resolution the expression "developing and frustrating the designs of a foreign incendiary,"—(on which was founded his objection) is in itself true: but as it was intended to pierce the Democratic Societies—as the framer of the resolution chose in this manner to stab in secret—to endeavor by ambiguity of expression to acquire an unanimous vote, rather than honorably, candidly, and clearly bring forward the matter, that it might be fairly met—for these reasons he voted against it.

For the fourth resolution he saw no necessity to say that the President was fallible—that he might be deceived—that, in their opinion, he was unconsciously laying a foundation for future despotism?—Was it abusive in them to point to the ruins of cities once free and flourishing, and warn Americans to beware of the causes of this calamity? Did these things display malice? Malice works in secret—these things were done openly; malice resides only in unworthy bosoms—to these institutions many of the most respectable inhabitants of the country belong. Would you wish to know their names? Ask the ensanguined heights of Bunker's Hill, and the gore-stained plains of Monmouth, and let these answer. It is not reasonable to suppose that such men as these would fawn upon the hand, which forges shackles for them.