The Enquirer

Boston, November 11.

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

Yesterday the Legislature of this Commonwealth assembled at the state-House in this town.

In the afternoon, the Secretary delivered the following Message from His excellency the Governor:

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

The Secretary of the Commonwealth has, by your direction, informed me that a quorum of the Senate and House of Representatives have assembled, and are ready to proceed to the public business of the Commonwealth, pursuant to the design of their adjournment. I congratulate the people of the state upon the assembling, in health and safety, of so many of their Representatives.

It would have given me inexpressible pleasure, if, when I had met you, I could have offered you my congratulations on a happy situation of our foreign relations; but as they cannot be in our present state, it is therefore not my duty to concern with them, and I shall therefore leave the subject to the Representatives of the People in the National Government.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

The adjournment which took place on the 11th of June last, was made from that day to this, at your request, for the special purpose of choosing Electors of President and Vice-President, as well as for transacting any other business which might become necessary at this time. From this mode of expression, it has been conceived by many, that the Senate and House intend to proceed in convention to the choice of Electors themselves in their legislative capacity; as appears by the Resolutions of the inhabitants of many towns in the Commonwealth, with all or the greatest part of which you are no doubt already acquainted. -- I think it my duty to suggest to you, that a choice by the people at large, or in districts, might have a tendency to obviate those objections, which otherwise may leave the States involved in uneasiness and contest on ; and from my acquaintance with the local situation of the Commonwealth, I think the time now remaining, if candidly and properly improved, will be sufficient for that purpose. I therefore request your attention to a question of so much importance to the harmony of the government ; and I shall make every exertion within my power to effect an object so desirable.

Gentlemen,

The state of the Treasury, with some unfortunate circumstances, which have lately appeared to attach themselves to it, shall be communicated to you by special message, and explained by special documents. Other documents concerning the government, shall be laid before you, as occasion shall offer ; and my attention shall be devoted to render the session agreeable to your constituents, -- and pleasant to yourselves.

JAMES SULLIVAN.

November 10th, 1808.

In another Message, the Governor expresses his belief, that the public Treasury will probably sustain no loss by the great mismanagement of its funds.

The hon. Elijah Brigham, Samuel Dana & El P. A. hanun on the part of the Senate, and Messrs. Jackson, Morton and Edwards on the part of the house, were appointed a Committee to take into consideration the most eligible mode of appointing Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, and report.