The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Hartford, October 16.

On Thursday last, the General Assembly of this State met at New-Haven. On Wednesday Lieut. Governor Treadwell was met at Hamden, by a number of the citizens of New Haven, who accompanied him to that city, &c. The House of Representatives made choice of Lyman Law, Speaker, and William T. Williams, and Noah B. Benedict, Esqs. Clerks.

LT. GOV. TREADWELL'S SPEECH.

Gentlemen of the Council,
Mr. Speaker, and
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

A PROVIDENTIAL event which we all deplore, has called me to preside, as God shall enable me, at the opening of this honorable assembly.

Our late worthy and beloved chief magistrate, Gov. Trumbull, is departed hence. His lips, which, at our last session, addressed us from the chair, and, at parting, bade us an affectionate and, as it has proved, a final farewell, are now sealed in perpetual silence—his face we shall see and his voice we shall hear no more. Beloved as a man, respected as a magistrate, and revered as a christian, he has finished a course honorable to himself, acceptable to his friends, and useful to his country and the church of God, and has, at the call of God, with a cheerful resignation to his will, resigned his life and his honors to him who gave them; and now sleeps in the dust with his fathers, and has entered we trust, into the joy of his Lord. The circumstances neither of time, place nor occasion, will permit a particular delineation of the character of the late governor Trumbull: (suffice it to say,

that he long served his country with dignity, prudence, fidelity and firmness, in elevated stations, in the army, in the national council, and, for the last twelve years of his life, in his native state, as her chief magistrate.

These traits of character were eminently displayed in some of the late acts of his administration, well known to the public, which elevated his character as a statesman, and contributed essentially to the welfare of the state and nation. Thus, at the point of his departure, Providence gave him an opportunity of an honorable display of talent and patriotism, as if to make his fellow citizens, who should survive him, the more sensible of their loss, the more to endear his memory, and to transmit his name with more distinguished honor to remote posterity. Such, in general, has been the progress of this luminary across the political hemisphere. It has, in its course, shone with a steady and temperate lustre, brightening as it approached the horizon, and, at the moment of setting, beaming in full splendor.

Having attempted to give vent to our feelings on the present occasion, and to offer the tribute of our condolence to the mourning consort and children of the deceased, for whom we wish the supports and consolations of the gospel, in their deep affliction, it is referred to the Legislature to consider in what manner it becomes them to notice the hand of God, in this solemn and affecting event, and in what manner to express their respect for the memory of the deceased, and their sense of the inestimable loss they have sustained in his death.

Permit me now to solicit your attention to such other objects as may merit legislative consideration.

To advance the interests of religion and learning, to provide for the prompt and impartial administration of distributive and penal justice, and to arm and train the citizens for defence, against insurrection, or external aggression, are essential to the well-being of nations.

The attention this state has ever paid to these great objects, has contributed much to her peace, safety and stability, and has given her an honorable distinction among her sister states; still, there are, it is believed, considerable defects in the provisions which have been made for the attainment of some of these essential objects.

The public maintenance of religion has ever been deemed by the most enlightened nations as intimately connected with the interests of the civil state. In our ancient institutions, on this momentous subject, there is much to commend; in our present system there are evident defects; these, however, seem to be the result of the state of society, and time and reflection, by harmonizing the public sentiment on this point alone can apply the remedy.

The education of youths to qualify them for that employment, which shall be indicated by their respective circumstances and talents, will always be esteemed by reflecting men, as an object of prime importance. The funds provided, in this state, for the support of common schools, are ample, it is believed, beyond any former example; but, in their application, it might be useful to make some further provisions by law, to secure the appointment of able and virtuous preceptors, and to require their faithful endeavors, to imbue the tender minds of the youths, committed to their care, with the principles of morality and religion, without which, not only the rudiments, but the highest attainments, in learning, would be worse than in vain.

With respect to the prompt and impartial administration of distributive justice, in the higher courts of law, there remains, at present, little further to be desired; time, however, will best discover any defects in the recent organization of those courts.

The execution of penal law, for felonious and other atrocious crimes, is sufficiently energetic. Confinement in Newgate prison is terrible, but not cruel; and it is probably more effectual to prevent such crimes, than capital punishment: there are however among the prisoners few or no penitents; and few means of making them such. Honorable mention ought here to be made, of the pious efforts of the neighboring clergy, who have lately, in succession, preached at the prison, to an audience in general decently attentive. Could the prisoners be brought to treat religion with respect, it would be an act of benevolence to supply them with bibles and religious tracts, and with preaching on the Sabbath, as opportunity should offer. But while this institution, as a place of punishment, attains in a good measure, its object, the execution of penal law for the minor offences against religion and morals has, too generally, been intermitted. The ancient system which was long effectual, has, to a great extent, become obsolete; and no measures have, as yet, been devised to restore its force, or to provide a substitute. This defect, which is daily increasing, must be an inlet to that licentiousness, which, in its progress, will endanger the subversion of our free government, founded, as it is, on the virtuous habits of the people.

Much has been done in this state to teach the militia the rudiments of tactics, but comparatively little has been done to arm them for actual service. It is admitted, that this falls within the province of the national government, but not exclusively: if they neglect to do it, our honor and safety require that we do it ourselves. Power and influence ever attend a state armed, and at all points, prepared, for actual defence; and, in the existing state of things in our world hitherto, if a state will be free and independent, it must, sooner or later, assert its freedom and independence, at the point of the sword: nor, can we claim exemption from the common lot of nations.

We have fought for and by the help of God achieved our independence; and it must ultimately be maintained if it is maintained at all, through the means by which it was achieved until the time come when men shall learn war no more. It is hoped, therefore, that the unsuccessful efforts which this honorable Assembly have recently made, to provide arms for such as may be called into actual service will not be considered as an abandonment of a measure, which the present state of the world evinces to be expedient, and highly important.

The usual business of the October session will, of course, be attended to and your wisdom will select such other subjects as may require legislative interposition.

A resolution of the general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the U. S. now to be communicated, will doubtless be thought to merit particular attention.

The astonishing revolutions which in rapid succession, have, of late years, convulsed Europe, have given another head to the ancient Western Roman Empire, which exercises a despotism more relentless and bloody, than either of the former: and while we contemplate, with awful reverence, the hand of God in these events, it becomes us to stand aloof from the nation which is the chief agent in producing them, and whose policy is to allure only to devour. Most of the embarrassments, which our republic has, of late years experienced, have, it is believed, originated in an undue bias in her favor. May the fate of other nations, which she has seduced and conquered, prove a warning to us to escape her snares, and to cultivate, by honorable means, the proffered friendship of that power which, more than any other, stands between her and universal empire.

What thanks do we owe to Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords, for permitting us, notwithstanding our numerous provocations, to assemble, under the forms of our happy constitution, on the ordinary councils of the state; while, in his anger, he is breaking to pieces, like a potter's vessel, the nations which have corrupted his gospel, and so far aroused his reign.

JOHN TREADWELL.