Jenks' Portland Gazette. Maine Advertiser

Legislature of Massachusetts.

Senate.—January 18.

The Hon. Messrs. Tudor, Hill and Adams, waited on his Excellency the Governor, with the following answer to his Speech delivered at the commencement of the session:

IT is with the most grateful sensations, that the Senate hasten to reciprocate your Excellency's sentiments on the peaceful and prosperous situation of this Commonwealth, and in finding themselves enabled to discharge their ordinary legislative duties, without any public embarrassment, fiscal necessities, or contingent interests, to divert their attention from the provisions necessarily promotive of the individual and general happiness of our constituents.

The late European war has brought into the most extensive operation the natural products of our country, and experimentally taught us the sound results of industry and good husbandry, in the advancement of commerce, the vast increase of productions, and with them those comforts that unite to render us a flourishing people.

It in a government, free as our own, the liberties of the Press, and our very frequent electioneering contests, tend to provoke party rancour and keep the public pulse in a febrile state, we can only regret them as the drawbacks of freedom, necessarily attendant on unconfined discussions, and of a nature which a more extended experience, and a more improved state of society we hope, will correct.

The paper referred to in your Excellency's communication shall meet all the attention which their circumstances require. And we trust, that a spirit of candor and concord will so pervade the different branches of the legislature, during the whole of the session, as to promote the real interests of that community who have confided to us the sacred trust of guarding their rights, and extending the general prosperity.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Thursday, January 13.

The House resolved to have but one Session a day, to commence at half past 9. A. M. and terminate at 2 P. M. and enjoined their committees to meet on the business assigned them when the House was not sitting.—[The Senate had previously passed a similar resolve.]

Friday January 14

The petition of the Attorney General, for further compensation, was committed.

Monday, January 17.

A petition of Robert Hewes to be employed to teach Cavalry, the true Austrian Sabre Exercise, Was committed.

A petition of Silas Lee and others, to be incorporated as a Marine Insurance Company, was committed.

Tuesday, January 18.

Messrs. Otis, Lowell Mitchell Stedman, and Kitteridge waited on his Excellency the Governor with the following address, in answer to his Excellency's communications at the opening of the session.

May it please your Excellency

The House of Representatives partake with great sincerity, in the satisfaction expressed by your Excellency, in contemplating the peaceful and prosperous condition of the State. We rejoice that the spirit of competition, in the late elections, has not transgressed the bounds of decency and moderation.

A regard to these principles in the exercise of the right of suffrage, will preserve us from the influence of passions, which in elective governments, so often injure the cause of freedom, by expelling from the service of their country, its best and most approved friends, and confiding power to the hands of unprincipled and capricious leaders, who disguise in the specious garb of reform, delusive innovations, which flatter, while they ruin a nation.

The intimate connection and mutual dependence of agriculture, commerce and manufactures, so justly delineated by your Excellency, cannot fail to attract the attention of every wise government. It is by affording an impartial patronage to all these interests, that each is rendered capable of extending itself to the full scope of its natural limits, and of producing a beneficial reaction upon the others, by which the joint efforts and industry of the community are rendered productive of the greatest possible results. In legislating upon these important subjects, we shall keep in view the principles advanced by your Excellency and endeavour to apply them with success. We perfectly assent to the position that no just cause of jealousy exists between them, and we disclaim all visionary systems, which would represent any one class of citizens, as the peculiar favorites of divine or human legislation.

The advantages of an extensive and prosperous commerce, have been eminently realized, during the late European war, by ready markets and high prices afforded to our produce; by improvements in the science and practice of agriculture, and by the great
Increase of commercial capital. From the sudden termination of hostilities, much embarrassment and inconvenience were naturally apprehended by the farmer and the merchant. But although the rapid accumulation of wealth has been checked, and new modes of employment must be devised for a portion of that already acquired; yet experience thus far has demonstrated that no inconvenience has resulted from the peace, sufficient to damp the consolations of humanity, or the pleasure arising from the consciousness of security. The people of this commonwealth have retained their moral habits, their religious institutions, and their political integrity. General plenty, competence, and unexampled prosperity, have also justified the wisdom of that policy, which preserved to us peace with all nations, filled the coffers of our national treasury, enabled this commonwealth to reduce its debt, and augmented our population and resources beyond the most sanguine calculations.

We sincerely unite with your Excellency in the benevolent hope, that the business of the session so auspiciously commenced may be conducted in a spirit of harmony, and that all our measures may indicate an anxious desire to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence of our fellow citizens, and to secure to them all the advantages which they are entitled to expect.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19.

Silas Lee and others had leave to bring in a bill.

The Secretary delivered the following Message from the Governor:

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

Agreeably to your resolve of the 22d of June, I have directed the Secretary to lay before you the statements which I have most recently received from the Massachusetts, Nantucket, Merrimack, Portland, and Essex Banks, of their respective capital stocks, of the debts due to them, of the monies deposited in them, their notes in circulation, and cash on hand. The Union Bank is not directed by law to make a return, unless specially required. No returns have been received from the Gloucester, Maine, Beverly, or Lincoln and Kennebec Banks.

The Secretary will also deliver you the annual returns of the Militia of this State, which I have received from the Adjutant General—also, the Quarter Master General's return of the Ordnance and Military Stores, the property of this Commonwealth.

I have received a letter from Mr. Romagne, who is employed to instruct the Indians of Penobscot and Passamaquoddy, requesting that the compensation allowed him by government may be increased. The Secretary will lay the letter before you, and I have no doubt but you will consider his application with as much favor as if he had known the proper mode of addressing it.

CALEB STRONG

Council Chamber, Jan. 19, 1803.