The New Hampshire Gazette

New Hampshire Legislature.

The legislature of this state convened at Concord, on Wednesday last. The Senate, consists of four republicans and eight federalists. Moses P. Payson, Esq. was elected President, and Samuel A. Kimball, Esq. Clerk. In the House of Representatives the votes for Speaker were as follows:

Thomas W. Thompson, Esq. 98
David L. Morrill, Esq. 83
Scattering 2
Federal majority 13.

Henry Hutchinson, Esq. was chosen clerk.

The committee appointed to sort and count the votes for Governor. reported on Thursday morning, that the whole number of votes were 38,542, of which his Excellency JOHN T. GILMAN had 19,575, the Hon. WILLIAM PLUMER, 18,794. Scattering 73. Gilman's majority 808.

The memorial and remonstrance on the illegality of the Portsmouth town meeting, did not arrive till after the votes for Governor were declared. On Thursday afternoon it was received and referred to the committee of elections, consisting of Messrs. Jackson and Sullivan of the Senate, and Parrott, D. L. Morrill and Cady of the House. On Friday at 12 o'clock His Excellency met the two branches in convention and delivered the following Speech, which was committed in the House to Messrs. Wilson, Bachelder, and Parrott.
SPEECH.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

Called by the suffrages of my fellow-citizens to the office of chief executive magistrate for the ensuing year, I return my sincere thanks for this repeated mark of their confidence, with an assurance that such powers as I possess shall be exerted in promoting the public welfare.

Almost two years have elapsed since war was declared by our national government, and the citizens of our country have been and are much divided in their opinions upon the subject. How can those who conscientiously believe that neither the preservation of honor or of our rights required it--who believe that the war is highly injurious to the true interests of our country, give voluntary aid to attempts at foreign conquest?

While it is our duty to support the constitution of the United States and the laws emanating therefrom, we surely retain the right of giving in a candid and decent manner, and with the view of promoting the public welfare, our opinions respecting rulers and their measures. If the time should come when we no longer enjoy this right, we shall cease to be a free people.

Here then let us distinguish, we are probably as well united in support of our national constitution and in obedience to the laws as could reasonably be expected, but let us never blend these with our right of opinion respecting men and measures.

The same rule may apply to our state government. In giving opinions whether with respect to the one or the other, a sacred regard to truth should be preserved: but is it not to be deeply lamented that in many parts of our country scarcely an individual can be found, in an important public office, or who is a candidate for such office, whatever may have been his character and conduct in life, who escapes the tongue and pen of slander.

If virtue is an indispensable requisite for the support of a free republican government, how long may be expected that our institutions will last, if countenance is given to the vilest abuse of characters, merely for party purposes? Well might it be if our divisions should so far cease that all would unite in discountenancing such conduct and every man speak the truth to his neighbor.

In consequence of repeated representations from the inhabitants of the town of Portsmouth of the exposed situation of the harbor, and their apprehensions of an attack from the enemy; and finding that forts occupied by the United States were very deficient in the requisite number of men: on the 15th of April I gave directions for raising one hundred men as a watch and guard; since that time, in consequence of repeated calls and very urgent applications, I consulted with the council and ordered out five hundred of the militia, for defence of the town and harbor. These orders were attended to with promptness, honorable to those who were immediately concerned; and evinces what I have always relied upon, a marked readiness in our militia for defending our own country.

I rejoice that the legislature are in session so soon after the transaction, and shall lay before you the papers relative thereto, that such provision may be made as you shall find necessary.

To resort to detachments was to me very unpleasant, but considering it as a duty it was unavoidable; and it is my ardent desire that arrangements may be made more congenial with the sentiments of our fellow-citizens.

Whether the great blessing of peace to our country is near at hand or far off, I have no particular means by which to form an opinion.--Should the war continue we may expect the enemy will endeavor to keep our seaboard in a state of alarm. It is highly reasonable to expect that our national government would provide sufficient force to protect our frontiers in all directions, rather than aim at foreign conquests; but if this is not done, the legislature, as particular guardians of the state, will judge what is necessary for them to do.

By a dispensation of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, particularly afflictive to me, in the death of a brother, there is a vacancy in the representation from this state, in the senate of the United States, which it will be necessary to supply at this time.

I have received a letter from the Hon. Samuel Smith, resigning his seat as a member of Congress.

The state of the treasury will be laid before you, and you will determine what further supplies are necessary.

The state of our militia, at all times important to a free people, but particularly so in time of war, will claim your attention.

Many are the duties of legislators and magistrates, pointed out in the constitution of the state, and it will afford me great pleasure to unite with you in such measures as you may think proper to take, calculated to promote the best interests of the community.

JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN.