Sorry, Bloomberg....

(And I mean that with all sincerity, in more ways than just one....)

Meeting of Citizens in the Park

Wednesday, August 10, 1814.

Excerpts;

...Mr. Riker, (I assume for whom Riker's Island is named), from a committee appointed for the purpose, consisting of Drs. Mitchell, and McNeven, Messrs. Wolcott, Riker, Anthony Bleeker, and Sampson, reported the following Address and Resolutions, which were received with applause, and unanimously adopted:

"Fellow-Citizens.-Once more we are engaged in war with a powerful nation....

"We are called upon to save our possessions from spoil and destruction; to secure our persons from slavery and death; to protect our families against outrage and violence; to guard our institutions from assault and over-throw; to defend by freeborn valor our dear-bought indepependence.

"The lawful authorities, aware of this condition of things, have made provision to meet it. The national government has augmented our security by fortifications, troops and a floating force. The state has extended its care, and caused other works of defense to be erected. The common council of the city has labored to insure our safety. It only remains, that the sons of liberty come forth in their might, and demonstrate, that in a contest for all that is near and dear to them, they are invincible.

The regular regiments are already at their stations. The organized militia will join them on the shortest summons. The several corps of volunteers are inflamed with patriotic ardor. To these bands, other military associations will be added, composed of those who enjoy honorable exeptions from ordinary service, but who will come forward on this trying occasion.

"...This meeting is called for the purpose of enabling us to renew our pledge, to support the Constitution; to invigorate the laws; to aid, with our best efforts, the administration of our beloved country; to see that it not be approached by spies and enemies; to defend the great interests of the Union with our treasure and our blood.

"It is our glory and our boast, that we are FREEMEN. Our Constitution and government are acts of our free and unbiased choice. They are ours, and we will never abandon them.

"The citizens are the safeguards of a free state. Their right to keep and bear arms has never been infringed. We will use these weapons resolutely in support of our privileges; with these we will manfully oppose the enemy who shall presume to invade them...."

Let's see.....seems there was another prominent New Yorker that had some words to say about this as well;

"The right of self-defense in these cases is founded in the law of
nature, and is not, and cannot be superceded by the law of society.
In those instances, says Sir Michael Foster, the law, with great
propriety, and in strict justice, considers the individual to be
under the protection of the law of nature."