Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

BOSTON, June 7.

The Committee on the Governor's Address, reported an answer, which being read was accepted, and the same committee directed to present it to his Excellency.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY.

YOUR address to the Legislature gives great satisfaction to the Representatives, and excites the most pleasing expectations from your administration. With pleasure do we offer you our congratulations on being elected the First Magistrate of this Commonwealth. An appointment equally honorable to you, and our constituents, as it has proceeded from a just estimation of your character.

It is the singular felicity and high privilege of the people of the UNITED STATES, to live under constitutions of government deliberately framed, and solemnly established by themselves; which are administered likewise by men of their own choice. The security, the freedom, and the happiness which these constitutions have afforded, cannot fail of having produced a universal and strong attachment to them. The unrivalled prosperity which our country has enjoyed, for several years past, is undoubtedly much to be ascribed to the establishment of the federal government, and to the wisdom, and purity of its administration: While we regret that the beloved and distinguished fellow citizen who presided over that administration has retired to private life, where we trust he will continue to enjoy the blessings of his countrymen: We are happy to recognize in his successor, a citizen of Massachusetts, so eminently conspicuous for his talents and his virtues. His long experience in political life; his approved integrity and patriotism; and his great abilities justly entitle him to the highest esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

Our relation to foreign nations appears critical and important. The unjustifiable depredations which have been committed on our commerce by the Belligerent Powers, and particularly those which have recently proceeded "from a great nation whose friendship we highly value, and whose happiness we have not ceased to wish for," cannot be considered without the most serious concern. On this interesting occasion, the President of the United States has summoned the National Council, and pointed out to them for their consideration the misunderstanding which unhappily exists between the Government of France and that of this country; and has signified his intention to institute further negociation, in order if possible to effect an accommodation upon honorable terms. To those of your excellency we unite our fervent wishes, and we cannot refrain from adding our confident expectation that these overtures may be crowned with success. That in the magnanimity of the French nation, and in return for a just and liberal policy on the part of our own government, we may find indemnity for the losses we have sustained, and a restoration of the harmony and good will which formerly subsisted between the two republics. To the wisdom of our national government the people have assigned the consideration and decision of this, with their other important national concerns, and we are confident we speak the language of our constituents, when we say, they consider, in any reverse of fortune, a firm support of their Federal Government as the sure, the only means of enjoying and securing their national happiness. In any event they will never be separated from the government of their choice. The rights and liberties, the freedom and independence of America, have been dearly purchased, and will never be surrendered to any power on earth.

A cheerful submission to the laws, and a readiness to support the civil magistrate in the constitutional and legal discharge of his duty, is indispensably incumbent on every citizen, and is the only method by which we can receive the full benefit of our free and happy political institutions. The establishment and encouragement of such institutions as tend to diffuse useful knowledge; to promote industry, religion and virtue is of the first importance and we doubt not of your ready co-operation in every measure that may subserve these valuable purposes. The enjoyment of a free government essentially depends on the enlightened morality of its citizens. While exercising our thoughts and exerting our best abilities to establish the peace and promote the prosperity of our country, we trust, we shall never be unmindful of our dependence on the Supreme Governor of the Universe, nor of his signal interpositions in behalf of the United States, but ever acknowledge them with heart-felt gratitude, and look up to him for wisdom to direct us in all our measures. Your Excellency will permit us to add, that entertaining a high sense of your fitness and impartiality, we repose such implicit confidence in your assurance, that in your civil and military appointments, so important to the prosperity of the Commonwealth, you will invariably consider virtue, attachment to the constitution of our country, and the love of order as among the first qualifications.