Winchester Gazette

From the Trenton Federalist.

On Wednesday last the Legislature of New-Jersey, adjourned to the second Wednesday in January next. The sitting was short, but interesting. Much important business was transacted, and we trust to the benefit of the community.

The seditious and the advocates of war are striving to raise a prejudice in the minds of the people relative to the mode of appointing Electors--But the mode adopted was strictly constitutional. It was the same that had long prevailed from the adoption of the constitution during the whole of General Washington's Administration, when the country was most happy and prosperous.

Is it not better--is it not coming nearer to the people's will, for their lawful representatives chosen according to the constitution, thus to appoint the Electors, than that their appointment should be made by a set of men, without any delegated power from the people, who may assemble at Bloomsbury, or any other tavern, and there, in secret cabal, impose crazy men, &c. upon the people for their electors.

But the advocates of war are very willing that this power should be exercised by other state Legislatures--such as Vermont, South-Carolina, Georgia, &c. because they will appoint men who favor a ruinous war.

The present Legislature of New-Jersey was chosen by the people with the view and expectation, that they would adopt every constitutional measure, to restore peace to our beloved country.--The Electors appointed, are good and respectable men--the Friends of Peace--of the people and the best interests of the country.

The Essex and Morris men, who went to overwhelm the other counties of the state are disappointed, when their object is to bring upon the People of New-Jersey the calamities and horrors of war.

For the choice of the Members of Congress the state is divided into districts in the most natural, fair and reasonable manner. The four counties which lie together, on the east & north, form one district. The four middle counties, which lie together in the middle of the state are also joined in one district. And the western counties, which also lie adjoining each other form the 3d district. The advocates of war, can now choose representatives after their own hearts, and the Friends of Peace will also probably have a voice in the National Councils, which they have so long been deprived of.

Instead of that disgraceful persevering spirit displayed for so many years in Joint-Meeting with respect to county appointments, a liberal and honorable ground was taken by the Friends of Peace.--Where offices had been wrested from their friends through political intolerance they were, in some instances, restored. The nominations however made by the members of the different counties were passed without objection, except in one instance, where a very obnoxious character (of Cumberland) was bro't forward--No member of the Joint-Meeting appearing to recommend him, his name was given the go-by.

On Thursday afternoon the Declaration and resolutions of the Legislature were discussed in the House of Assembly. The advocates of war, were Mess. Dickerson, Beatty, Pennington and Sharp. The resolutions were supported by Mess. Parker and Hardinburg. The plan of the war men was undoubtedly to worry out some of the majority by a long sitting, and their dull irrelevant talk--but in this they failed, and the question was put and carried.