The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON!
A crisis has arisen that demands the most vigorous exercise of your patriotism; the language of friendship, and the sincerest conciliatory evidences have been found unavailing with the government of Britain. The time is now come when, by actions, we must testify our firm resolution to defend our independence. We must stand in the pass of Thermopylae, if we recede an inch, we are gone forever.

You have yielded to the executive magistracy but limited powers, consequently your own exertions individually are requisite to give national energy its proper tone.

We have within our own territories a world of our own, producing every thing necessary for our comfortable existence--the city of Washington above all others enjoys the advantage of being the seat of the federal government--let it be the first in wisdom, patriotism, & decision: let it exhibit traits of its metropolitan character, by holding out the helping hand of patronage to our languishing manufactures; let not kings enjoy exclusively the honor of fostering great and useful projects. The sovereign people of America know their local advantages, and how to appreciate and promote them; moderate encouragement will give us Shethelas, Manchesters and Yorkshires of our own--the nation has only to will it--

New England will become the rival of the old, and the vigor of youth will soon eclipse the decrepitude of age; we will transfer our business from our enemies to our brothers. Already there is established among us manufactures of broad and narrow cloths, cottons of the most useful kinds, and abundance of iron--but they droop for want of patronage--this is the moment for us to rally round them, and cherish their exertions. The government of Britain calculates on our dependence: let us shew them what we can do, when roused by feelings of a just indignation--We will convince them that our country is as fertile in genius, intelligence, and spirit, as it is in the necessaries of life. We have given them political lessons, that have excited equally the admiration & the dread of their tyrants; our prosperity has provoked their envy, and prompted them to deeds of violence,--

We have no choice left between resistance or abject submission--the cry of justice resounds throughout our limits, and the blood of the killed and wounded is now the melancholy signal of retaliation.

Let us join in raising the superstructure--the basis is already laid--our political institutions will be to us a cornucopia, dispensing plenty, as long as we have sense enough to estimate their value, and industry to follow up the benefits they proffer; but it is not mere words that will lead us to advantageous results; we must add practice to theory; we must encourage our manufactures--they are indispensable to an independent people; as an operative medium of the arts and sciences, they give comprehension and strength to mental capacity, and they furnish employment for the young and the old, whilst the vigor of middle age is reserved for the labors of the field. The length and severity of our winters indicates the necessity of domestic occupations and household industry.

The fair daughters of America are called upon to bestow their approbation on measures tending eminently to enhance the value and promote the happiness of themselves, and their descendants.

Let us then proceed, strong in the conviction, that the production of useful objects is the supreme happiness of truly rational men.

Washington, July 17, 1807.

Subscription to be renewed annually on the 1st July, for the encouragement of American manufactures.

We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do promise to pay five dollars on demand, on the conditions annexed, viz.

That a committee annually appointed by the subscribers, to serve gratis, shall procure from the manufactories, thro' such agents as it may be necessary to employ for that purpose, the value of the entire subscription in such goods of American manufacture, and on receipt of the same will deliver, in order of subscription, to every subscriber the value of his deposit, he paying the expenses of transportation, &c. that may have accrued thereon.

As soon as the list is filled up, the committee to be appointed, and the money to be paid in.