Resolutions & address of the
Cincinnati troop of horse
communicated by A St Clair
received Aug 29th
1798
Sir,
It is with peculiar satisfaction that
I present to you, at the request of the officers & privates
of the Troop of Horse organized and equipped at this place
their resolutions and address tendering their services
to the united States; and they are equipped, Sir, in a
manner that would ^do honor to any Troop of Horse in the
World
Their offer, Sir, is the effusion of pure
patriotism, and may be considered as the first fruits
of an infant people, offered to the Country which with
pride they call their mother Country—who are grateful
for the ample protection they have received, and who
look forward, as to a very distant Object, to the time
when they should be admitted to an equal participation
of all the privileges and advantages secured by its
Constitution; and who have seen with admiration
the
the unexampled instances of temper, of vertue, of
firmness and a sincere desire of peace which the Govern-
ment have exhibited:– In the support of that[Constitution]
and its administration they are ready shed the last drop
of their blood; for they are, Sir, a sober, an industrious
and a moral people, who knew the value of liberty –
In expressing these sentiments, Sir, I know that
I express their sentiments, at the same time that I
discharge a duty pleasing to myself, and, it is hoped
will be acceptable to You.
I have the honor to be with all Respect
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
A. St.Clair
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[Resolutions of the Cincinnati Troop of Horse communicated [undecipherable] received Aug 9.]
Cincinnati 30. July 1798
Sir,
It is with peculiar satisfaction that I present to you, at the request of the officers & privates of a Troop of Horse organized and equipped at this place, their Resolutions and address tendering their Services to the united States; and they are equipped, Sir, in a manner that would do honor to any Troop of Horse in the World.
Their offer, Sir, is the effusion of pure patriotism, and may be considered as the first fruits of an infant people, offered to the country which with pride they call their mother country — who are grateful for the ample protection they have received, and who look forward, as to no very distant Object, to the time when they shall be admitted to an equal participation of all the preveliges and advantages secured by the Constitution; and who have seen with admiration the unexampled instances of temper, of virtue, of firmness and a sincere desire of peace which the Government have exhibited: — In the support of that Constitution and its administration they are ready shed the last drop of Their bloods; for they are, Sir, a sober, an industrious and a moral people, who know the value of Liberty —
In expressing these Sentiments, Sir, I know that I express Their sentiments, at the same time that I discharge a duty pleasing to myself, and, it is hoped, will be acceptable to you.
I have the honor to be with all Respect
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
A. J. St. Clair
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[C. J. H. Cour / Cincinnati, July [undecipherable] / received Aug 24. / Answered]
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[Dr July 1798]
At a Meeting of the Officers and Privates of the Cincinnati Troop of horse held at Mr Austine Saverson's Saturday the twenty eighth day of July — the following Resolutions were moved and unanimously adopted.
Resolved That at a time like the Present, when the Government of our Country is insulted, the American Character calumniated, and our fellow Citizens plundered of the fruits of Their honest industry — When the mad ambition and boundless avarice of France, intoxicated with Victory, but distracted by the rapid approach of National Bankruptcy makes it necessary to prepare for defence; and when our Country by unprovoked aggressions, is apparently on the eve of a foreign War, it becomes the duty of every good Citizen, not only to declare his attachment to the Constitution, and his confidence in those who administer it; but also to make a tender of his property and personal services for Their protection and support.
Therefore it is further resolved That we will hold ourselves in Readiness to obey the Commands of the President of The United States whenever he may deem it necessary to call us into service.
Resolved That a respectful address signed by the Captain of the troop and the Secretary of this meeting be presented to the President expressive of the foregoing Sentiments and offering the Services of the troop for the Common Defence.
A true Copy from the Minutes.
Jacobs Burnet Secy.
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The Address of the Volunteer Troop of Cincinnati to the President of the United States.
Sir While our fellow Citizens in every part of the Union are tendering their services to support the Government of their choice, permit the Volunteer Troop of Cincinnati to claim the same Priveledge.
Divesting ourselves as far as possible of that Prejudice which as Americans we feel for our own Government and its administration, we have endeavoured to View your conduct with impartiality, and the more we reflect on it, the stronger is our conviction That the honor and independence of the Nation has been the great Object of your Labors.
When we saw you anxiously endeavouring to restore harmony between the United States and France, it was our fond hope that the attempt would be crowned with success, but we were not then aware; That the despots of France had totally abandoned the principles of Justice — hence our expectations were disappointed and with indignation we behold them adding insult to injury. —
The upright and impartial conduct of the United States towards the Belligerent powers entitled them to the advantages of a neutral State; but unfortunately, The rich Commerce of America presented a temptation too strong for the morality of modern France — That corrupt Nation denying the existence of God and defying the power of man, has thrown off the restraints of Religion and the dread of Reproach, and commenced Pirates against the Commercial World; and in their Career of Iniquity leave the Barbary States far behind. —
Had it been possible for human exertions to bring them back to a sense of Justice, so that peace might have been preserved; your attempt would have been crowned with Success, as we are convinced that it was not only made with sincerity and conducted with prudence; but that it was not relinquished till a fair experiment proved that the object could not be obtained; but at the expence of Independence. War is a Calamity which every Friend to Morality and Virtue must deprecate; but which every Lover of his Country must cordially embrace, in preference to National degradation, — attended with its worst consequences it is far preferable to peace with dishonor. —
If we are to elect between death and Slavery, we hesitate not a moment in the choice; for we hold nothing so dear as our Independence; it was purchased with much of the richest Blood of the Nation, and we will never consent to resign it without a struggle —
The Insults offered our Government, we feel as pointed at ourselves; for we know no distinction between the American People and Their Constitution, Laws and Constituted Authorities. —
Let France indulge the hope of finding in the bosoms of our Country the means of accomplishing her iniquitous purposes; let her continue to View us as a divided degraded People, till the event shall convince her and the World That such an Opinion is founded on the grossest ignorance of the American Character. —
Reposing the most perfect confidence in your Wisdom, Firmness and Patriotism, of which we have had many illustrious proofs, we will meet the approaching contest with firmness, confident that America United in a virtuous Cause may bid defiance to the World.
Please to accept Sir of our Services — they shall be cheerfully given, when the Voice of our Country calls. —
By Order of the Troop. James Findley Capt
Jacobs Burnet Secy
