Rhode Island Republican

of the Legislature of "State" General Assembly of the State of Vermont

Gentlemen,

I join you, my fellow citizens, in grateful acknowledgement to the Ruler of the Universe, for the protection of our common country. The increase in wealth and population, and the uninterrupted enjoyment of life, liberty and property. He conducted our forefathers to this chosen land, he has maintained us in it, in prosperity and safety, and has opened the hearts of the nations civilized and savage, to yield to us enlargement of territory, as we have increased in numbers, to fill it with the blessings of peace, freedom and self government. It must be a great solace to every virtuous mind, that the countries lately acquired, are for equivalents honestly paid, and come to us unstained with blood.

Sensible as we are of the superior advantages of civil life, of the nourishment which industry provides for the body, and science for the mind and morals, it is our duty to associate our Indian neighbors in these blessings, and to such them to become fit members of organized society.

The spirit which manifested itself on the suspension of our right of deposit at New Orleans, the cool and collected firmness with which our citizens awaited the operation of our government for its peaceable restoration, their present approbation of a conduct strictly neutral and just, between the powers of Europe now in contention, evince dispositions which ought to secure their peace, to protect their industry from new burthens, their citizens from violence, and their commerce from spoliation.

The falsehoods and indecencies you allude to in which certain presses indulge themselves habitually, defeat their own object before a just and enlightened public. This unenviable and only resource, be it our endeavor to leave them, by an honest and earnest pursuit of the public prosperity.

I thank you, fellow citizens, for the affectionate expressions of your concern for my happiness present and future: and I pray Heaven to have you yourselves, as well as our common country in its holy keeping

TH: JEFFERSON.

Washington, Dec. 18, 1803.