Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22.
CONCORD, (N. H.) DEC. 11.
On Saturday evening last, his Excellency Governor GILMAN, and suite, arrived in town from Exeter.
LEGISLATURE.
On Monday, the committee from both branches, waited on his Excellency the Governor, informing that a quorum of each was present, and ready to receive his communications. He assigned Tuesday at 12 o'clock to meet the two Houses in the Representatives Chamber.
Agreeably to appointment, on Tuesday at 12 o'clock, his Excellency, attended by the Council, came in, and addressed the Senate and House of Representatives in the following SPEECH.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
SELECTED by the citizens of the State, and assembled at this time agreeably to your own determination, for the important purpose of promoting the general welfare; it must afford great satisfaction, that our systems both of State and National Government are so well adapted to this desirable end.
To redress public grievances, if any such there are, and to make laws calculated to secure the blessings of liberty and advance the happiness of the people, must be a pleasing employment.
The great degree of harmony and tranquility, so apparent as it respects the internal concerns of the State, must be highly gratifying; and if the welfare of the people requires an amendment to any of the laws now in force, or that new laws should be made, these circumstances must be known to their representatives.
United with other States by a Federal compact, for certain purposes, our interests are inseparably connected with that government, which is endeared to us by the highly beneficial effects it has produced.
When we see a foreign nation overturning ancient systems of government, without any regard to their form: extending robbery and devastation as far as their forces can reach; when we see them contemning all moral and religious obligations; despising national compacts; plundering our citizens while in pursuit of lawful commerce; insulting our government, and threatening us with the fate of nations it has degraded and destroyed! At such a time as this, we should highly prize the blessings of good government, and determine with one voice and mind, to support and defend our rights and privileges, against all hostile attempts whatever.
Much of the blood and treasure of the United States of America, has been expended to enable them to govern themselves in such manner as they should choose: this great object being gained, our system of general government has been formed in as free a manner, and under circumstances as favorable, perhaps more so, than that of any government which ever existed over such an extensive territory—It is such a system as the people have chosen—may be altered when it shall be found necessary—the persons appointed to administer it, return to the class of citizens at short intervals, and others are elected in their places. What more can be desired? If this is destroyed, where shall we look for a free government?
While the French nation was apparently pursuing measures for the promotion of liberty, they had the good wishes at least, of a large proportion of the citizens of the United States; but, unfortunately for our country, they have had much encouragement from the conduct of many citizens, when it seemed almost impossible that any one should entertain an idea that the freedom of man was their object—after they had prostrated governments, once free, and tyrannized over the citizens—and after it had become apparent, that universal domination was their object. The conduct of those who rule over the French nation, has for a long time been hostile to our own: By their arts and intrigues aided by the conduct of some of our own citizens, our Government has been traduced; attempts have been made, and in some instances succeeded, in exciting unreasonable jealousies among the people, persuading them that they have a separate interest from those whom they have elected to administer the Government—no services, however wise, faithful and disinterested, and however long continued, have been sufficient to secure some of our best citizens from calumny; and some of our own periodical publications seem to be prostituted to this purpose: I need only mention the attempts to abuse a WASHINGTON. and an ADAMS!
Peace, on honourable terms, is undoubtedly the desire of all good citizens the conduct of the President, in sending three Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary to the French Republic, is full evidence of his opinion on this subject. Before the instructions given these Envoys were made public, reports were circulated, that the President had not a desire for peace; and suspicions were excited, that his instructions were not calculated for that purpose: But when they became public, it was acknowledged by the enemies of his administration, that these reports and suspicions were without foundation. The instructions are in the hands of many citizens, and should be read by all; It is difficult to imagine how they could have gone further, without deeply wounding the interest and independence of our country.— These extraordinary exertions having failed of the desired effect, it is not easy to discern what more can be done in this way—Determined to preserve our rights as an independent nation, such measures will undoubtedly be taken by the General Government as shall appear best calculated for that purpose; and I rejoice that the citizens of this state are so well united, and have given so many proofs by the official acts of the Legislature, and otherwise, of their firm adherence to our national Government, confidence in its administration, and determination to support it.
so well united, and have given so many proofs by the official acts of the Legislature, and otherwise, of their firm adherence to our national Government, confidence in its administration, and determination to support it.
Presuming that a Law establishing a new proportion of Taxes, will be passed the present session; and as it usually requires a considerable time to determine the principles, and prepare the bill; permit me to recommend an early attention to this subject.
The present state of the Treasury will be laid before you, from which you will be enabled to determine what further measures may be necessary respecting the finances of the State.
A letter from his Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a resolution of the Legislature respecting an alteration in the Constitution of the General Government—also a letter from his Excellency the Governor of the State of Connecticut, and a resolution of the Legislature, of the same purport—will be laid before you; the subject is highly important, and I doubt not will be duly considered.
Whatever bills you may think proper to pass will be attended to with candor; and it will be highly pleasing to me, to unite with you in measures calculated to advance the welfare of our common Country.
JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN.
State of New Hampshire,
November 27th 1798.
ANSWER
Of the House of Representatives—presented to the Governor yesterday.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
IT is with great satisfaction, that the House of Representatives contemplate the pleasing employment assigned them by their constituents, of correcting the errors (if any) in the existing laws, passing new acts, redressing public grievances, and adopting such other measures as are calculated to perpetuate the blessings of a free Government. And it is with additional pleasure, that we rely on your abilities, integrity and promptness, to aid and assist us in effecting these important objects.
Coming, as we do, from all parts of the State, and having the means of knowing the sentiments, it is with confidence we assure you, that but one opinion pervades the State respecting the measures of our Federal Government—that we are thoroughly persuaded the general Government has adopted, and steadily pursued, every pacific measure, consistent with the honor, dignity and security of an independent nation, to compromise existing differences with the French Republic; and it is matter of regret and indignation, that that Republic is yet opposed to the most equitable terms of reconciliation—that it still continues to insult our Government— to trample on our rights—to invade and destroy our commerce—and insidiously propagate the false and dangerous idea, that the Government and people of United America are divided.—But be assured, Sir, that the people of this state and their Representatives, confiding in the wisdom, integrity, vigilance and firmness of our National Government, to adopt every necessary measure to maintain and defend our dear-bought rights and privileges: And that we and our Constituents are ready to rally round the standard of our Government, and defend it at the expense of our blood and treasure, against the machinations and violence of a foreign power aspiring to universal domination.
We lament, that so many instances have occurred in this country, in which periodical publications have been the vehicles of slander and calumny against the guardians of its rights; and that any American should be so degenerate as to abuse and vilify an "Adams, or a Washington."
A law for establishing a new proportion of public taxes and the existing state of the Treasury—are objects worthy of our consideration.
The resolutions of the Legislature of Massachusetts and Connecticut, are of such an important nature, and come from sources so respectable, as to merit, and shall receive, our candid attention.
ANSWER,
Of the Senate of New-Hampshire, to the Governor's Speech.
Presented on Friday last.]
May it please your Excellency,
THE Senate of the state of New-Hampshire, with particular pleasure meet your Address at the opening of the present session of the Legislature.
Assembled for the purpose of consulting the common good of our constituents, we contemplate with satisfaction the advantages we enjoy under a free government, to render a people happy; the effects of which are so apparent in our present internal tranquility and union.
While we view the nation of France, under the false pretext of establishing liberty amongst themselves and other nations of the earth, tyrannizing over the victims of their ambition; unprovokedly and indiscriminately desolating cities, and overturning governments—we cannot but prize the blessings of our own, and resolve, at every hazard, to defend it.
The Constitution of our general government secures to us every privilege which a rational mind can desire, and is the admiration of the wisest politicians
Y.
The intercourse of kind offices between the French nation and America, and the mutual services rendered each other, for many years, had united them to us in bonds of amity which no inconsiderable cause has broken, and while the liberty and happiness of man appeared to us their only object, our good wishes attended them in every pursuit: But avarice and power, gaining ascendency over honesty and reason, hurried them on to such wild extravagancies, as astonished the most friendly nations, and incurred our just resentment.
When we turn our attention to the long
continued depredations on our commerce, the repeated insults to our general government in the rejection of our envoys, and the insidious measures pursued to divide and distract our councils, every tender feeling is extinguished—But what better can we expect from a nation divested of piety and every moral sense, and whose Creed is Atheism!—With such, friendship cannot be maintained, and solemn treaties are as idle tales.

It is to be lamented, that any American citizen would take a part on the side of our enemies, to calumniate our favorite Rulers and weaken the arm of government. We lament also, the abuse of that fundamental privilege in our constitution, the liberty of the Press: But calumny, when issuing from some particular periodical fountains, and aimed at "a WASHINGTON, or an ADAMS," is parricide: For such illustrious characters need only be named, to be admired; whose wise and patriotic exertions, from the commencement of our revolution, to the present day, have uniformly tended to obtain and preserve our Liberty and Independence.

The measures pursued by the Executive of our General Government, in appointing and instructing Envoys with a view to operate a reconciliation between these United States and the French Republic, are evidences to us of superior wisdom, and an ardent desire for peace; and the effect of their negociation convincing, that further attempts would prove fruitless. Nothing therefore remains, but to place ourselves in a proper situation of defence, having no alternative but the ultimate argument of injured republics: but in any event, relying on the wisdom of our constituted authorities to dictate, we shall ever stand ready to co-operate with them for the general safety.

The important and interesting subjects contained in the communications from our neighboring states, together with those which more immediately concern this, will meet our early and due attention; confident of your Excellency's readiness to unite with us, in every measure conducive to the welfare of our common country.