Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

PORTSMOUTH, June 17.

The following is His EXCELLENCY's ADDRESS to the GENERAL COURT.

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

BEING elected by your suffrages to the office of Supreme Executive Magistrate, of this State, I take this opportunity to express my acknowledgments for this token of your confidence. The approbation of a free, and virtuous people can never fail to yield me the highest satisfaction--this, is the nobiest reward for public Services--and this, Gentlemen, by a strict adherence to the principles of the Constitution, and continued endeavors to promote the public good, it shall be my study to merit. While pursuing this path, I cannot doubt of your assistance and aid.

As the prosperity of a state must ever greatly depend on a union among the people, I shall think it one of the most happy circumstances of my life, to be any ways instrumental in healing any political dissensions that may exist among the citizens of this State, and in promoting that general harmony and unanimity of sentiment, which is so essential to the support of government.

The public papers, as they come to my hands, shall from time to time be laid before you, and I shall ever be happy in making any communications the public good may require.

Permit me, Gentlemen, to recommend an early attention to the important business of the State, in preference to affairs that only respect individuals, that the end of the session, may not be in danger of suffering from want of due deliberation.

The encouragement of agriculture, and our own manufactures; the providing of funds for paying the interest of our foreign and domestic debts, and the support of public credit in general, are matters of the highest importance: Perhaps nothing will more directly contribute to promote these desirable ends, than a well regulated commerce.--This, Gentlemen, you will probably think has been too long neglected, as the consequences of an inattention to it, are already too glaring to pass unobserved.

As the increase of our specie, the value of our lands, and the employment and subsistence of a large part of the community is so immediately connected with a due regulation of trade, you will permit me to recommend this matter to your immediate attention.--Whether this shall be left generally with Congress, or whether the ruinous situation to which our trade is already reduced, by the restrictions of the British Legislature, demand, your direct and instant interference, your wisdom will determine.

The laying out and keeping in repair necessary public roads: the establishment of post-riders from the sea-coast, thro' different parts of the State, may be of great public utility, and serve to promote an intercourse between town and country, which may be greatly beneficial to both.

Gentlemen, my hearty concurrence shall not be wanting in every measure that may tend to promote the welfare of this State, and give dispatch to the business of the public.

JOHN LANGDON.

COUNCIL-CHAMBER, June 9, 1785

To which ADDRESS the following ANSWER was returned, by the honourable SENATE, viz.

May it Please your EXCELLENCY,

WITH the most sensible pleasure, we view the seat of the Supreme Executive Magistrate, now filled by a Gentleman of known abilities, candor, and patriotism--a Gentleman, who in the darkest moments, hath never deserted the cause of his native country, upon any pretext whatever.

Your Excellency's steady, firm, and uniform conduct through the late glorious revolution, cannot fail to ensure you the highest confidence of every good citizen, impress sentiments of solid satisfaction in the breast of every true patriot; and what adds lustre to the happy scene is, that, notwithstanding the efforts of tyranny, the free suffrages of a virtuous people hath placed your Excellency in the Chair of Government.

The several important matters contained in your Excellency's address, being of public concernment, claim our immediate attention; and we doubt not of your ready concurrence in every measure that may be of public utility

You may rest assured, Sir, that nothing on our own part shall be wanting, to render your administration easy, happy, and respectable, while the public interest shall be invariably pursued, and the constitutional rights and liberties of the citizen, inviolably protected and preserved.

ANSWER of the honourable HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES, to His EXCELLENCY's ADDRESS to both Houses, of the 9th instant.

May it Please your EXCELLENCY,

THE appointment of a Gentleman to the Chief Seat of this Government, who has ever distinguished himself as a Patriot, and a Statesman, cannot fail to afford the highest satisfaction to the Representatives of a free and virtuous People.--Your Excellency may therefore rely on that aid and assistance which your important station may demand, and our constitutional powers will enable us to afford.

We have considered with attention, the several matters pointed out in your Excellency's Address, and being deeply sensible that the great ends of government cannot be promoted without a general harmony and unanimity of sentiment among the citizens of a state. and especially among those who are entrusted by the people with the conduct of their public affairs, your Excellency may rest assured that no efforts on our part will be wanting to aid you in carrying your good intentions into execution.

Such communications as we may receive from, and such public papers as may be laid before us by your Excellency, will be duly attended to.