The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

NEW-HAVEN, Jan. 31.

The PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.

WE, the Bishop, Clergy and Lay Delegates of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the State of Connecticut, in convention assembled, embrace this opportunity of expressing our affectionate attachment to the laws and constituted authorities of the government under which we live.

Affairs of state, Sir, are never the subject of our discussion; yet at this important crisis, we do not consider it improper to certify the Chief Magistrate of the United States, that we entertain a grateful sense of the numerous blessings, both civil and religious, which we enjoy.

Whilst a desolating war rages among the nations of Europe, and daily threatens to involve us in all its calamities, we believe, Sir, that unity, under the gracious protection of Heaven, will prove our strongest shield of defence. Impressed with the importance of this sentiment, we assure the rulers of our country, that we will use our best endeavours to promote unity of opinion, respect for the laws, and reverence for all that are in authority over us. And to our best endeavours, we add our prayers to Almighty God, "Beseeching him to direct and dispose the hearts of Christian rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of true religion and virtue."

(Signed) ABRAHAM, Bp. Connecticut.
ANSWER.

Gentlemen,

I THANK you for this Address, agreed on in convention assembled, and presented by Mr. Hillhouse, one of your Senators in Congress.

Your affectionate attachment to the laws and constituted authorities of the government under which you live, is at once a demonstration of candour, moderation and liberality in yourselves, and in those laws and authorities. Although affairs of state, as such, are never the subjects of your discussion, yet it is impossible for you at some times to discuss the subject of your church, without discussing those of the state, or to explain the duties of men and Christians, without inculcating those of citizens. It is not in your power to bestow a higher eulogium on the government of your country, than by this explicit acknowledgement of the grateful sense you entertain of the numerous blessings of civil and religious liberty which you enjoy. May you and your posterity ever enjoy them, and freely as you have received, may you freely give.

Your endeavours to promote unity of opinion respecting the laws, reverence for all in authority, are in character, and your prayers to Almighty God, "Beseeching him so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of true religion and virtue," I sincerely hope and believe will avail much.

JOHN ADAMS.