Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

For the Gazette of the United States.
United States, Feb. 5th. 1795.
SIR,
I send you a copy of the proceedings of a Democratic Society lately established, which you are at liberty to publish if you think proper; the Society cannot claim the merit of any great originality of ideas, as many of their expressions, indeed whole sentences and resolutions, are borrowed from the proceedings of a Society of which I am a Member, and the behaviour of the President, Secretary and Guy Faux, is exactly similar to that of three members of our Society. Though it must be acknowledged that the members of the new Club are more candid than those of other Societies, in their exposition of the motives of their association, as they fairly give the real views and designs of the institution, instead of the ostensible ones.
Yours, &c.
A.Y.
Mr. John Fenno, Philadelphia.
At a Meeting of a number of the inhabitants of Anarchy town, on Saturday the 31st of January, 1795.
PRESENT,
WALTER TYLER,
JOHN STRAW, and
GUY FAUX.
The persons present took into consideration the many slights and mortifications they have severally met with, and the alarming appearance of the complete establishment of order and regularity, thereby threatening ruin and destruction to the future political and social prospects of themselves and friends; and considering that the impending danger may be most effectually averted by the formation of a society, in which the wishes wants and sufferings of the members may be stated, and measures of attainment and relief adopted and pursued in a collective capacity, it was unanimously
Resolved, That the persons present form themselves into a society to be called the Democratic Society of the town of Anarchy.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of a President and Secretary, when Citizen Walter Tyler was chosen President, and Citizen John Straw Secretary.
Resolved, That Citizens Tyler, Straw, and Faux, be a committee to draw up resolutions expressive of the sentiments of this society on certain public measures.
The committee having hastily committed their ideas to writing, the President resumed the chair, when after mature deliberation the following resolutions were passed unanimously.
That the present mode of filling legislative executive and judiciary offices, by the appointment of those persons who are best qualified, is aristocratical and improper, and clearly tends to the exclusion from office of every member of this society.
Resolved, That no person ought to be appointed to any office for a longer term than six months, and such person should afterwards be incapable of re-election, until every other citizen has had his turn.
Resolved, That until the above regulation, or something similar thereto, takes place, by which we may become the servants of the people, we will continue our meetings and exercise our sovereignty, by abusing our servants in office and their doings.
Resolved, That the excise on home-made spirits is odious, oppressive, arbitrary, tyrannical, unjust, unequal, iniquitous, illegal and unconstitutional, tending to stagnate the circulation of free thought and enquiry, to dry up the sources of our Patriotism, and to weaken the mainspring of our energy and aversion.
Resolved, As the opinion of this society, that the said excise ought to be repealed, and that in lieu thereof an additional duty ought to be laid on the manufacture of snuff and loaf-sugar, inasmuch as loaf-sugar is only used by the aristocratical part of the community, and the taking of snuff is a filthy practice, the vice of old women and petit maitres, and a discouragement of the more manly employments of smoking and chewing.
Resolved, That enforcing the performance of contracts is in the opinion of this society, a grievance of the greatest magnitude, and that the taking the body or goods of the debtor in default of payment is an absolute infringement of the rights of men and things.
Resolved, That the total want of credit of the members of this society in all late pecuniary transactions is an unsufferable hardship, and that laws ought to be passed compelling persons possessed of money to lend the same, or holding property to sell the same, on reasonable terms of credit, and without those odious enquiries into the situation and circumstances of the borrowers or purchasers.
The meeting then proceeded to adopt five resolutions, which being of a secret nature, it was agreed that they should not be entered on the journal, but that a fair copy should be drawn which should be signed by the members present, and deposited with the President of the society.
On motion,
Resolved, That the President, Secretary and Citizen Faux, be a committee to correspond with other societies, or with individuals on the most effectual mode of accomplishing the views of this society.
Resolved, That Citizens Faux, Tyler and Straw, be a committee to prepare an address to the several Democratic Societies of the United States.
Resolved, That Citizen Straw, Tyler and Faux, be a committee to draft an address to the people of the United States.
Resolved, That Citizen Charles E. G“t, be an honorary member of this Society.
Resolved, That [of the kingdom of ... be admitted a secret member of this Society, and that he be requested to aid and assist in promoting a spirit of disorganization and anarchy, so favorable to the wishes of the government of the country to which he belongs.
Resolved, That it is justifiable in this society to avail itself of the assistance of those persons whose wishes are similar to those of this Body, though originating from different views and designs, and that the Secretary be authorized to invite all foreigners to attend, who from motives of attachment to their own country, are displeased with the strength and power of this.
Resolved, That it is incumbent on the members of this Society to oppose every measure that may have a tendency to promote the continuation of peace and tranquillity, that therefore every nerve be strained to render Mr. Jay's mission fruitless and abortive, and that the members be prepared to oppose every article and clause of any treaty or convention which may be signed with Great-Britain: and that all persons be invited to assist who were originally opposed to his mission, or who are in dread of his future promotion, either in the United States, or in the State to which he belongs.
The following motion was laid on the table for consideration.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider and report whether a new order of things could not be introduced, more productive of true happiness to the members of this Society, than the present state of civilized life.
On motion,
Resolved, That this Society will consider at their next sitting, the propriety of meeting in future on Sundays, in order to enable a number of persons to attend and become members, who are obliged to keep close on those days when the unmuzzled myrmidons of justice roam at large.
Citizen Faux presented the following motion:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to wait on the Printers of the several newspapers in this town, and inform them that this Society being the Bulwark of Freedom, and the Terror of Aristocracy, and being composed of the Champions of Liberty and the Friends of Equality, it will not suffer the effulgence of its Patriotism, to be obscured by the licentious abuse of their hireling prints, but that the society representing a part of the people of the United States, will resent every attack on its Majesty and Sovereignty in a manner becoming Freemen and Patriots.
An amendment was proposed by citizen Straw, but citizen Faux declaring that he would permit no amendment to a resolution flowing from his pen, citizen Straw consented to withdraw the same, and a resolution was adopted as proposed.
Citizen Straw moved that this society adjourn to meet on Saturday next, when citizen Faux moved an amendment, by striking out 'Saturday,' and inserting 'Monday.' And also to amend the style and inflame the passions by inserting at convenient distances in large letters 'Hewers of Wood' 'Drawers of water' and 'Wooden Shoes.'
The members being equally divided the President was called upon to decide, when he voted against the amendment, whereupon it was Resolved,
That the next meeting of the Society be held on Saturday next.
Citizen Faux delivered a protest against the foregoing resolution in the words following:
Liberty or Death i.e. My own way or Insurrection.
At a time like this big with the fate of millions yet unborn, when we may momentarily expect our liberties to be laid prostrate by the noble hand of violence and arbitrary power our sittings should be permanent or at least on every alternate day. The blaze of revolutionary principles should burn with unabating lustre, the coals of party should never cease to glow until our glorious purposes are fully accomplished, but in weekly sittings the flame of the last meeting is extinguished before the arrival of the next, partial zeal, patriotic enthusiasm subsides, hobbling reason overtakes the weak members of the Society, and destroys all projects of future glory. Every member has a right to propose an amendment, and to protest if it is not carried. I do therefore protest, solemnly protest against the adjournment of this society until this day week, and against the non adoption of my revolutionary language. Further, in the determination of the President in favor of the Secretary's motion and against my amendment, I see that fellow feeling, that dangerous fellow feeling which men in office naturally have for each other: and I do declare that the affairs of this society will never be rightly administered unless the President or Secretary is changed...
GUY FAUX.
On motion Resolved,
That copies of the proceedings of this Society, be transmitted to the several Democratic Societies within the United States, the Jacobin club at Paris, and distinguished individuals possessing revolutionary sentiments.
On motion, by Citizen Straw; that the thanks of the Society be given to the President, for his able and upright behaviour in the discharge of the duties of his office.
The question being put, the members were equally divided, when the President determined in favour of the motion...
The President left the chair, and moved that the thanks of the Society be given to Secretary Straw, for the able discharge of his duty, which was carried in the affirmative, Citizen Faux being the only dissenting voice.
By order of the Democratic Society of the town of Anarchy,
WALTER TYLER, President.
Attest,
John Straw, Secretary.