National Gazette

Middlesex, (N. J.) Sept. 28.

Of those who shall have perused the resolves adopted by the delegates assembled on the 30th ult. from the counties of Somerset and Middlesex, to take into consideration the President's proclamation, respecting the neutrality to be observed;

Whereas the 6th, 7th, and 8th resolves are volunteers (i. e. entirely disconnected with the subject which occasioned their meeting) you are to consider the delegates in their individual capacities, as exclusively entitled to all the credit which these three merit—doubtless they will raise the thanks of the French nation for the 6th, where they have so plainly pointed out the manner in which their ambassador is to conduct himself, and so clearly defined their rights—or is it to be supposed, that the French will consider any insult or indignity offered to the organ through which they hold a communication with this country as an indignity offered to themselves—for the delegates seem to have forgotten, that agreeably to the laws of nations, an ambassador is entitled to peculiar privileges, and "Is by the universal practice of nations, to enjoy an entire independency from the jurisdiction and authority of the state where he resides." Vatt. p. 688.—As a citizen of this State I feel a degree of mortification that the resolves of the delegates, on a subject on which they are incompetent to decide, should be published through the United States. Will it not give room for forming a contemptible opinion of us as a state?—We have surely no reason to wish its dignity lessened, but on the contrary ought to exert ourselves to add to its respectability.

A. S.

September 7, 1793