Jenks's Portland Gazette

Legislature of Massachusetts.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 1801.

A QUORUM of both branches of the Legislature having convened, a joint committee, consisting of Messrs. Bridge and Jones, of the Senate and Messrs. Knox, Hill and Parkinson, of the house, was immediately raised to wait on his Excellency the Governor, and inform him, that the Legislature were ready to receive any communications he might be pleased to make.

The Committee reported, that his Excellency would meet the two branches, to morrow, at 12 o'clock.

FRIDAY. JAN. 23.

The Senators and Representatives assembled together in the Representatives Chambers when precisely at 12 o'clock his Excellency the Governor came in, and pronounced the following

Speech:

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

THE favorable situation of our fellow-Citizens and the appearance of general and progressive improvement which present themselves to our view in the various parts of the Commonwealth, afford us subjects of mutual congratulation.

In the course of the last year the seasons, through the greater part of our country, have been fruitful; our trade and fisheries were generally prosperous, and the people, of this State have not again been visited with that alarming disease which has fatally prevailed in some parts of the United States. These and many other providential blessings, will on this occasion occur to our remembrance, and demand the gratitude of our hearts.

But while we rejoice in the public prosperity, it will be our duty to reflect, that we owe to our fellow-citizens our vigilant and faithful endeavors to preserve their present advantages, and promote their lasting reputation and interest— to check the growth of vice and impiety, to cherish the institutions for moral instruction and the education of youth: and to maintain the principles of justice, and provide for its equal administration in every part of the Commonwealth.

At the same time our obligations to support the Federal Constitution will require us, to attend to the public national affairs, and endeavor to diffuse correct information concerning them among our fellow citizens—to remove groundless prejudices—to discountenance the spirit of party, and undue attachment, to any foreign nation: and to do all in our power to increase the respectability of the American character.

From the commencement of the war in Europe, it has been the policy of the General Government to cultivate Peace with all nations—to observe an exact neutrality between the powers at war, and by the fulfillment of treaties and respect for the Law of nations, to maintain itself in that impartial course, which its duty and interest prescribed. But notwithstanding these cautious measures, our intercourse with other nations has been obstructed, and to justify these obstructions, our respect for the duties owing from one nation to another, has at different times been drawn into question by one or other of the belligerent powers.

At length a regard to the public safety compelled the government to have recourse to defensive measures, and the success of our infant navy in preventing depredations upon our commerce, will serve to convince the people, that a system of maritime defence will be the most easy and efficacious, whenever their rights shall be in danger from external enemies.

The predicament of a neutral people is frequently delicate and hazardous; for when a war is prosecuted with great acrimony, the contending parties are extremely apt to consider those who are not for them, as against them.—But whatever apology may be formed for wrongs that proceed from the heat of passion, there can be none from deliberate and authorized injuries:—Still, however, an honorable accommodation is always to be preferred to a state of hostility; for a wise and humane government will never resort to the calamitous expedient of war, until every advance towards a reconciliation which the national dignity will permit, has proved ineffectual.

It must, I think, be allowed, that the government of the United States, in the cases I allude to, have conducted with moderation, and with a manifest preference of mild and pacific measures.—While preparations were made for the unhappy alternative of war, no method consistent with the public safety was left unattempted, to obtain justice by negotiation.

Before the Constitution of the United States was adopted, the union between them had become little more than nominal;—they had interfering interests, and in some cases were hardly restrained from expressions of mutual resentment,—The Congress at that time was only authorized to make requisitions upon the several States, and the latter exercised the privilege of refusing to comply with those requisitions.

If this state of things had continued during the disturbances in Europe, it is scarcely to be supposed that all the States would have remained neutral—it is not unlikely, that from accident or motives of partiality or mistaken interest, they would have arranged themselves under opposite standards.—The possibility of such a event must, in our estimation, evince the value of that form of Government which has connected us together.

But it has been often said, that however well adopted the Constitution was to our circum-
Situations, the administration of government under it, has been injurious to the public welfare, and has abounded with errors either from ignorance or design. If the present improved condition of our country does not refute these suggestions, it might be unavailing to point out particular measures that would seem to entitle the Rulers of the Nation to our regard and confidence.

The people of this State however, will recollect that when the Constitution was formed, they were oppressed with an almost insupportable weight of taxes, and that with all their exertions it was difficult for them to pay the interest of the State Debt. By the settlement of the public accounts, and the assumption of the balance due to us by the national government, we are relieved from the burden, and you will find by a statement of the Treasurer, which will be laid before you, that our present debt may soon be cancelled, if measures for that purpose shall be preferred to the payment of the rate of interest which the public creditors are entitled to; and that no unusual taxes will be necessary.

A report of the Quartermaster General, which will also be laid before you will show that the State has a large supply of military stores, and warlike implements, which may be used, if there shall be occasion, by our well organized militia for the public defence. You will direct such measures to be taken for securing the exposed property mentioned in the report, as the interest of the Commonwealth may require.

That the laws may be duly executed, permit me to suggest the expediency of making additional provision for suppressing Lotteries, which are not established or allowed by the Legislature. The importance too of our inspection Laws will require the most effectual methods to prevent or punish a violation of them. Perhaps it will be found necessary in both cases to authorize prosecutions by the Grand Jury.

Our constituents now enjoy peace and tranquility, and are protected by standing laws, which are designed to secure them in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, against every species of injustice or oppression. Whatever more can be done to meliorate their condition, or increase their security, you Gentlemen, will now attempt to do.

The success of your labours will very much depend upon your influence and example, in promoting good order among the people, and producing a compliance with the regulations you may think proper to adopt. The most excellent laws will be of no use, if they are not observed, and they will not be observed by the people, unless they are respected by those who make and execute them.

I shall transmit to you, Gentlemen, by particular messages, any information of importance, which I may be able to communicate.

From the good agreement which appeared in the former sessions, I have no doubt that your deliberations at this time will be conducted with candor, and I trust they will produce important benefits to our fellow citizens. So far as my duty is concerned, you may be assured of all the cooperation that can result from zeal for the welfare of the Commonwealth, and a disposition to promote harmony in the several branches of the Government.

Caleb Strong.

Boston, January 23, 1801.

The Speech was committed in the House to Messrs. Knox, Ward, Pickman, Hill and Mitchell; and in the Senate to Messrs. Bridge, Davis, and Bigelow.

SATURDAY, JAN 24.

The appointment of Committees, reading of petitions, and discussing the preliminaries of the business that is to engage the attention of the Legislature, during its present session, comprised the principal business transacted this day.

MONDAY, JAN 26.

Messrs. Hunt, Russell of B. and Slocum were appointed a committee to revise the law for the due regulation of weights and measures.

TUESDAY, JAN. 27.

A petition from a committee of the town of Litchfield, for annexing that town to the county of Kennebeck, was committed.

Messrs. Russell of B. Pickman, Hill, M'Lellan, Whitman, Green, Tillinghast, Bragdon, Coffin, Paine, Storer, Knox, Williams, of S. Sargent, Bruce, Bullard and Chandler of M. were appointed a committee to consider the expediency of making provision, the present session, for a new valuation.

An order was received from the Senate appointing the Hon. Messrs. March, Bigelow and Dummer, with such as the House may join, a committee to make such arrangements respecting the times and places of holding the Supreme Judicial Court, Courts of Common Pleas, and Courts of General Sessions of the Peace in this Commonwealth, as they may judge necessary.

Messrs. Prescott, Tillinghast, Lowell, Morton of D. and Putnam, were appointed a committee to revise the laws for regulating elections.

An order was received from the Senate, appointing the Hon. Messrs. Williams and Starkweather, with such as the House may join, a committee to consider the expediency of repealing an act laying a duty on deeds. The House added Messrs. Hall of B. Storer and M'Lellan.

A resolve, vesting the commissioners appointed to ascertain the boundary line between this Commonwealth and Connecticut, with the necessary powers, was received from the Senate and concurred in.

The statement of the Treasury, was received.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28.

A petition of Wm. Hammond and William Hammond, jun, for leave to build a bridge in the town of Bangor, was committed to Messrs. Baldwin, Storer and Bruce, with such as the Hon. Senate may join.

An order was received from the Senate appointing the Hon. Messrs. Davis and Taft, with such as the House may join, a committee to hear those sheriffs, towns and selectmen, who neglected to make returns of the votes for Governor, &c. for the present year. The House added, Messrs. Whitman, M'Lellan and Jackson.

A bill to extend the time for the treasurers of the several counties, towns and districts within this commonwealth, to procure a complete set of beams, weights and measures, agreeably to the act for the due regulation of weights and measures, was read a second time, and tomorrow, at 10 o'clock, assigned for the third reading.

A petition of Thomas Rice and others for an alteration in the times of holding Courts of Common Pleas, &c. in the county of Lincoln, was committed to Messrs. Little, Cobb and Hunt.

A petition of the selectmen of Boothbay for leave to establish an Academy, was committed to Messrs. Morton of D. Willis and Knox.

A bill was received from the Senate to incorporate plantation No. 3, or Reedtown, on the West side of Kennebec river, into a town by the name of Strong.

A petition of E. A. Holyoke and others, for leave to establish a turnpike road between Boston and Salem, was committed to Messrs. Hall of B. Bancroft and Jackson.

ANSWER OF THE SENATE.

TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

May it please your Excellency

THE Senate of Massachusetts receive with great satisfaction your Excellency's address to both Houses of the Legislature. We consider it as affording new proof, not only of the wisdom, but of the purity of intention by which you are governed.

We have abundant cause of gratitude for the general health and uncommon prosperity enjoyed by our fellow citizens throughout the Commonwealth. We shall cheerfully contribute our vigilant and faithful endeavours, to preserve their present advantages, and promote their lasting reputation and interest; to check the alarming growth of vice and impiety; to cherish the institutions for moral instruction, and the education of youth; and to maintain the principles of justice, and provide for its equal administration in every part of the Commonwealth.

As the happiness of the great body of the people of the United States, is inseparably connected with the welfare and prosperity of the community, it needs only that they be correctly informed, to remove groundless prejudices, and to extinguish the spirit of party and undue attachment to any foreign country; and to induce a consistency and uniformity of national character.

The conduct of the government of the United States towards the nations of Europe, has been uniformly marked with rectitude and moderation. And the wisdom of those measures of maritime defence, which the injustice and jealousy of the contending nations, have compelled us to resort to, is verified in their effects, which have not only justified the expectations of the most sanguine, but must also have created a general confidence in the system which has been so happily successful.

We have equal cause of mutual felicitation for the security which the Federal Government has hitherto afforded to our internal tranquility; a blessing which had the old confederation continued, we could hardly have hoped for at this eventful crisis.

And we have still a confidence in the holy oracles of our religion, and therefore believe that a tree may be known by its fruit, so we think that no honest man can pronounce that form of government to be bad, or that administration wicked or corrupt which, under heaven, has advanced our nation to a degree of prosperity, to which there is no parallel in the history of mankind.

We learn, with great satisfaction, the prosperous state of the finances of this Commonwealth, and that our public debt may be soon cancelled without imposing any unusual burdens on our constituents. This desirable state of things is undoubtedly to be considered as one of the happy consequences of adopting the federal constitution; without which our state government would have been unable to satisfy the just claims of their creditors, but by resorting to modes of taxation much more inconvenient than any which the general government have hitherto found necessary.

The several matters of local concern which your Excellency has suggested, shall receive our prompt and serious attention. Impressed, as we are with a full belief that the force of example, contributes in an eminent degree, to the efficacy of the wisest laws, we not only consider it our duty to attempt to provide such additional regulations as may be necessary to secure our constituents in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, against every species of injustice or oppression, but, by our personal obedience and respect for the laws of our country, to allure our fellow citizens to yield them a voluntary support.