The Kentucke Gazette

To the Commonalty of the free Inhabitants of the Kentucke District
Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens.

There is nothing but the approaching danger that is hanging over our heads, could have induced me to address you in the following manner (as I am a man of about 45 years of age and never accepted of but one commission from the state; never sought popular applause and never received one shilling of public pay in my life; but hitherto have lived on my own industry: as my poor neighbours have done; which course of living I mean to pursue. I have lived almost nine years in the District and have borne my part of the burthen and heat of the day) but I am now sensibly struck with the impending danger the District is in, of violence, and oppression; and could wish if possible to avert the danger that threatens us, and knowing it is in your power to dispel the gathering storm I address you on this occasion and hope you will feel the same earnest with myself, now is the time or never.

Providence has put a favorable opportunity into our hands, if we do not let it slip. I have this 18th day of October 1788, (taken up my pen) with determination to vindicate the liberty and freedom of the District: and do not mean to lay it down until the prize is gained or lost: the ground on which I stand and mean to defend is, that a Separation of the District at present from the Eastern part of the State; is not for the good of the citizens at large this I lay down as a first principle and mean to hold it up as a prime object. In the first place I shall inquire after the necessity of separation at present. 2ndly The injuries thereof and who it is that will reap them.

And 3dly Compare the advantages and disadvantages together and see which will over balance.

First Then I am to enquire after the necessity of a separation at present and for my part I am at a loss to point out one reason of a public nature that would justify the measure. What is it that Government can do for us (that tends to make us happy) if the seat thereof was fixed at Danville; that we do not enjoy. I presume nothing that would justify a separation. I do not suppose that our lives-- property or liberty would be better secured than they are at present (if so well and if we receive no advantages in the security of these: there is no necessity we should separate: for these should be the great objects of all Government. As to the security of our lives, what better provision could we expect than we have? Is not the laws sufficient to punish any who shall make an attempt on them? Nay, would not a Separation endanger our lives? Can it be supposed that a new Government forced upon us by the illegal measures lately taken will not endanger the lives of thousands of our best friends: as for instance Fayette County contains about 3500 free inhabitants. and only about 500 Voted in the late illegal Election: Now doth reason dictate that 3000 freemen will or ought to look upon what the illegal Representatives of 500 shall do as obligatory on them. If they ought, where is liberty or equal representation fled? If the new Government is. brought on by force in consequence of the late Election, then there will be about 3000 free inhabitants in Fayette that on American principles cannot be bound to submit to it; because there has been no legal door opened for them to give their assent or dissent to such a measure.

Therefore any such Government brought on is tyrannical and oppressive: Nor can free Spirits submit to such arbitrary measures; now think a Separation at present- clearly points out that the great object, of securing the lives of the Citizens will be frustrated; which proves that we ought not to separate until a Majority of the free Inhabitants give their legal voice for it; as for protecting ourselves against the savages; no advantage can arise that will justify the measure; as the Militia law is sufficient to enable the Officers to repel any invasion the Indian Tribes is able to make upon the District and so pursue them if necessary : as to the security of our property will that be bettered by a Separation I presume not so under the present Government no man can deprive us of it but by the laws of the land in the making of which-we have a legal equal and free representation.

But if a new Government is set up in consequence of the same measures. our property will be thrust from us by violence and not by consent etc: by confiscation or exorbitant taxation for as there is so large a majority 3000 to 500, that his no give their assent to he late illegal step we have reason to believe they are against the separation at present; therefore they will not tamely submit to such an usurped Government and as such our property as well as lives will be in danger As to Our Liberty we see when e wholly destroyed in the very instance Was there ever seen a more arbitrary measure than those ambitious men have taken in Fayette. to about 500 illegal elect Representatives and they to accept said election and to meet in Convention and presume to have the voice and authority of the County in bringing on new government when so large a majority ha not gave their assent to it From which circumstance they are opposed to it; I say is not this an invasion the rights and liberties of free men? Any person with half an eye may see that liberty is gone, if we do not strike for it now or by the same rule that the majority on 500 may voice a revolution a let humored day the same principle will entitle one to do it; and so make him free King at once Now if the district can receive no advantage in the security of the lives, property or liberty, of its Citizens there can be no public necessity why we should separate ; especially , when we consider all those above blessings we enjoy from Virginia without any expense to the district; and we have reason to believe from past experience that if we conduct ourselves well, we may enjoy those blessings as we have done. so long as the Savages continue- their depredations on our frontiers; but if the new Government takes place we shall pay dearly for blessings (if we get them ;

2dly. What are the advantages of a separation and who it is that will reap them. I have already shewn that there is no public advantage that can possibly justify the measure; but there are a number of private advantages that is to be enjoyed by individuals. At the honours and dignities that is essentially necessary to a sovereign and independent Government, this is a very attracting object to individuals; they love to be called of man Raboi but this is not all thee is the Salaries annexed and proportioned to those dignified offices of state, this is also a desirable object and there is but few men who have them in view but is powerfully influenced by them; those are the only real advantages and those are they who will reap them;. I know of no other advantages that- is sufficient to excite a separation it may be said the Legislators meeting 500 miles from the district is a public grievance; I grant it but we see our best men willing to represent us and has hitherto obtained every thing that was reasonable for us to expect and that too whilst it has cost us nothing Whereas had we the honors and dignities of sovereignty fixed within the district; and a Governor a chief Magistrate and other necessary Offices of state and their salaries annexed the expense would be so intolerable tha all those advantages would be swallowed up and lost to the commonalty of the district add to this the, other necessary expense that must attend an Independent Government in order for its own safety and defence; together with the districts proportion of the foreign and domestic debt ; I say such an enormous expense will bring on- such heavy taxes that the commonalty will groan under the yoke: and lands being distrainable for taxes ; will put it in the power of those who hold the offices of Government to make themselves proprietors of the soil and grind the faces of the poor; now Gentlemen the disadvantages of such enormous and grievous expenses is in itself enough to over balance every thing that can be said in favor of a- separation at this time : especially when we consider how difficult it is to raise a little cash for our real necessities : it is not possible for the district in its present situation to pay the expenses of a separate Government without'the greatest distress and as for moderation it is not to be expected in usurpers. We have already seen what a principle of moderation prevails in this district with those that have the rule over us. What is the County levies? What are they in 'effe son? look at the Court-house- are they not extravagant for a new Country ? What will the state : and Governors houses be and what m it the public salaries be, if proportioned to County expense-; my dear friends and fellow citizens it is time for us to awake; here are disadvantages let us compare them with the advantages and see which will over balance; and in whose favor doth the scale turn the publics or individuals? Besides all this; the separation if brought about by the late illegal measures will be an usurped Government be- cause a majority of the free Inhabitants (which constitute the public voice: appears to be against it; therefore it will be at the expense of a free and equal representation wh ch is an inconsolable loss; the spirit of freedom and liberty is too deeply rooted in the American free born to sub- mit to such oppression and usurpation ; therefore intestine division and civil war m it be the natu- ral consequences and is much to be feared. AF tho' the oppressed may exercise a degree of pati- ence for a time, yet when their persons and pro- perty is attacked then. resentment will burst forth in a dreadful storm ; add this to the scale of die advantages and I think you must be roused. Gen- tlemen upon the whole doth any thing offer by a separation for public advantage: all matters du- ly considered; I am persuaded you will answer in the negative; then as all civil power originates from the people at large and power otherwise assumed is arbitrary and oppressive : step forward my Country-men and claim your rights as free men.

VALERIUS