Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ANSWER OF THE SENATE TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

May it please your Excellency,

The convention of the public functionaries of a free people, delegated by them to promote their common welfare, is a spectacle, which in proportion as it exhibits to the view of the patriot and the philanthropist the noblest display of our natures, will excite in the minds of those whose duty calls them to the discharge of the important trust, their best exertions to secure the peace, honor and happiness of their country.

With your Excellency, the Senate view with high satisfaction, the spirit of general harmony which at present prevails among the citizens of our Commonwealth: and they are happy in believing, that this pleasing event is the natural result of those wise institutions, which, from the education, habits and virtues they enjoin, secure to all the inestimable right of free enquiry, the power of forming a correct judgment of the means of promoting their social and political happiness, of advancing the national honor, and of making a just estimate of the happy effects, which invariably result from the exercise of moderation and benevolence.

Experience has taught the people and government of the United States, that no reliance is to be placed on the most solemn treaties with the European powers, while at war amongst themselves. The two great belligerents have for many years past, been alternately appealing to our hopes and fears in the wish to compel or allure the United States to become the allies of each against the other in their destructive conflicts. The impartial, just and humane policy which has uniformly influenced the Councils of the Cabinet of the United States, has hitherto defeated the united views of the belligerents. The American government incapable of intentional injury, always ready to apply immediate remedies to casual wrongs, careful, while contending with firmness and moderation for their own rights; not to derogate from the rights of others, wisely preferring patient and amicable negotiation to measures of violence, which compatible with their national dignity, will indeed be entitled to command the respect of all the honest part of the world of the present day, receive the approbation and applause of the future historian, and serve as a bright example of honor and morality to future ages. Should the apprehensions of your Excellency be realized, and the period be at length arrived, when the dignity and honor of the American government is loudly called upon to vindicate the rights of its citizens against the unparalleled aggressions and wanton depredations of the belligerents or either of them, of the last appeal of nations must be made, we cordially unite in sentiment with your Excellency, that the people of this nation are blessed with ample means to support it, and that under favor of Divine Providence, ultimate success will crown their just efforts.—

Our country, rich in resources, abounding with the necessaries and comforts, and even luxuries of life; and driven by the injustice of belligerent Europe, to manufacture to the extent of all their wants, will never again feel the privations and distresses which they experienced during her revolutionary war; and her twelve hundred thousand citizen soldiers, animated with the love of country, and determined to avenge her wrongs, armed and disciplined, may indeed bid defiance to the hostility of any nation or coalition of nations on earth.—

In a crisis like this we cannot doubt, but confidently trust, that our citizens will unitedly obey the loud call of their nation's interest and honor, that laying aside all party animosities, they will support every measure of our national government for terminating foreign plunder and aggression, and suppressing all predilections or prejudices, for or against any foreign nation, until exterminating every germ of foreign influence, and voluntarily enlist under the standard of uncontaminated patriotism.

We are happy to learn from your Excellency's communication, that the regulation of the Militia has again commanded the attention of the President of the United States, we doubt not from this circumstance, that it will soon claim the attention of Congress, to whom so essential a part of our national security cannot be a subject of indifference We assure
Your Excellency, that so far as the Constitution has entrusted this object to the regulation of the State Legislature, the Senate are ready to give their most prompt concurrence in any measures that the importance of the subject demands.

It was hoped and believed that the confusion which attended the affairs of the State Prison, at the organization of the present government, was in a great degree done away by the new arrangement made by the Executive in the regulation of that institution. Should however, the Executive deem further Legislative provisions necessary, the Senate will readily attend to any communication upon that subject.

The Senate sincerely participate in the regrets of your Excellency, in contemplating any unpleasant circumstances which have taken place in any section of the Commonwealth. They hope and believe that any opposition to the legal Orders of the Supreme Judicial Court in the County of Lincoln, if any has existed, has been the result of misapprehension and mistake, rather than of any desire to oppose the constituted authorities of the government under which they live, and which they are bound to support by every tie of allegiance, and on which alone they can depend, for the protection of their liberty, security and happiness. The Senate recognize with great satisfaction, the happy effects which have already been produced by the law entitled, "An Act for the limitation and equitable adjustment of real actions—"This law has already spread tranquility in every part of the District of Maine, excepting where the conflicting claims of different non-resident proprietors cover the same tract of territory. The attention of the Senate will be called at an early day of the present session to provide a remedy for the existing evil.

With respect to the information which your Excellency has received, touching the riotous violation of laws in the person of David Sewall, Esq in the County of Hancock, the Senate believe, that when the Supreme Judicial Court are by law appointed to convene in that County, the Grand Jury of that vicinity will strictly discharge their duty, by paying every attention to the investigation of that outrage, which its importance and the indispensable support of law and justice require.

The Senate are highly gratified to find that ready attention has been paid to the affairs of the former County Treasurers of Middlesex & Berkshire, who have absconded; they are pleased to find that no pecuniary loss will fall on the public in that of Berkshire, they sincerely hope that the public may be equally fortunate in that of Middlesex.

The Senate are sensible that complaints are multiplied against the existing laws for imprisonment for debt, they believe not without just cause; the remedies suggested by your Excellency shall be duly attended to on the part of the senate, in the course of the present session.

So far as union of sentiment between the different departments of the State governments, and between them and the government of the United States will ensure success in our political pursuits, and present to foreign nations, the hopeless expectation of conquering by dividing us; and so far as such union will perpetuate the happiness of our nation at home, and its respectability abroad, your Excellency may be assured of the readiness of the Senate to promote it by every constitutional means in their power to adopt.

Any further communications, which your Excellency may see fit to make to the Legislature, shall on the part of the senate be attended to without delay

Saturday, Feb.

A memorial of certain persons, styling themselves a Convention in the County of Hampshire, signed by J. Stebbins, Chairman, praying that the Legislature would be economical, and reduce the salaries—be liberal in religious matters—encourage manufactures, and exempt paper from taxation. was read and committed.

Monday, Feb. 4

The committee of finance reported that it is expedient to raise a tax of 150,000 dollars.

A bill to incorporate the Episcopal Society in Hanover, was read a first time, and tomorrow assigned for a second reading.

The Saco Academy Bill was passed to be engrossed.

A committee was appointed to consider the expediency of authorizing the Supreme Judicial Court & Court of Common Pleas, to grant relief to defendants in actions of scire facias pending in said Courts respectively, upon recognizances taken in criminal prosecutions.

A bill respecting Mad Dogs and Mad Foxes, was read a first time, and rejected.