The New Hampshire Gazette

FEDERAL
Legislative Sketches.

In the SENATE of the UNITED STATES, Feb. 15, 1797.

On request of the Vice-President of the United States, being excused from further attendance in Senate during the session, he addressed them as follows:

GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE,

If, in the general apprehension of an intention to retire in that most eminent citizen, to whom all eyes had been directed and all hearts attracted, as the centre of our union for so long a period; the public opinion had exhibited any clear indications of another, in whom our fellow citizens could have generally united; as soon as I read that excellent address which announced the necessity of deliberation in the choice of a President. I should have imitated the example of a character, with which I had co-operated, tho' in less conspicuous and important stations, and maintained an uninterrupted friendship for two and twenty years; but as a number of characters appeared to stand in the general estimation so nearly on a level, as to render it difficult to conjecture on which the majority would fall; considering the relation in which I stood to the people of America, I thought it most respectful to them, and most conducive to the tranquility of the public mind to resign myself with others, a silent spectator of the general deliberation, and a passive subject of public discussion.

Deeply penetrated with gratitude to my countrymen in general, for their long continued kindness to me, and for that steady and affecting confidence, with which those who have most intimately known me from early life, have on so many great occasions, entrusted to me the care of their dearer interests; since a majority of their electors, though a very small one, have declared in my favor, and since, in a republican government, the majority though ever so small must of necessity decide, I have determined at every hazard of a high but just responsibility, though with much anxiety and diffidence, once more to engage in their service.

Their confidence which has been the chief consolation of my life. is too precious and sacred a deposit ever to be considered lightly. As it has been founded only on the qualities of the heart, it never has been, it never can be, deceived, betrayed, or disunited by me.

It is with reluctance, and with all those emotions of gratitude and affection, which a long experience of your goodness ought to inspire that I now retire from my seat in this house, and take my leave of the members of the Senate.

I ought not to declare, for the last time, your adjournment, before I have presented to every senator present, and to every senator of the United States, my thanks, for the candor and favor invariably received from them all. It is a recollection, of which nothing can ever deprive me, and it will be a source of comfort to me, through the remainder of my life, that, as on the one hand, in a government constituted like ours, I have for eight years held the second situation under the constitution of the United States in perfect and uninterrupted harmony with the first. without envy in one, or jealousy in the other, so on the other hand I have never had the smallest misunderstanding with any member of the Senate. In all the abstruse questions, difficult conjunctures, dangerous emergencies, and animated debates upon the great interests of our country, which have so often, so deeply impressed all our minds, I have experienced a uniform politeness and respect from every quarter of the house. When questions of no less importance than difficulty, have produced a difference of sentiment (and differences of opinion will always be found in free assemblies of men, and probably the greatest diversities upon the greatest questions) when the Senators have been equally divided. and my opinion has been demanded according to the constitution, I have constantly found, in that moiety of the Senators, from whose judgment I have been obliged to dissent a disposition to allow me the same freedom of deliberation and independence of judgment which they asserted for themselves.

Within these walls. for a course of years I have been an admiring witness of a succession of information, eloquence, patriotism and independence which, as they would have done honor to any Senate in any age afford a consolatory hope (if the legislatures of the States are equally careful in their future elections, which there is no reason to distrust) that no council more permanent than this as a branch of the legislature will be necessary, to defend the rights, liberties and properties of the people and to protect the constitution of the United States as well as the constitutions and rights of the individual states, against errors of judgment, irregularities of the passions, or other encroachments of human infirmity or more reprehensible enterprize, in the executive on one hand or the more immediate representatives of the people on the other.

These considerations will all conspire to animate me in my future course,with a confident reliance, that as far as my conduct shall be uniformly measured by the constitution of the United States and faithfully directed to the public good, I shall be supported by the Senate as well as by the house of representatives and the people at large ; and on no other conditions ought any support at all to be expected or desired.

With cordial wishes for your honor, health and happiness, and fervent prayers for a continuation of the virtues, liberties, prosperity and peace of our beloved country, I avail myself of your leave of absence for the remainder of the session.

FEBRUARY 25.

The answer to the address of the Vice-President of the United States on his retiring from the Senate, was yesterday agreed to as follows:

SIR,

THE Senate of the United States would be unjust to their own feelings, and deficient in the performance of a duty their relation to the government of their country imposes, should they fail to express their regard for your person, and their respect for your character, in answer to the address you presented to them, on your leaving a station which you have so long and so honorably filled as their President.

The motives you have been pleased to disclose which induced you not to withdraw from the public service at a time when your experience, talents and virtues were peculiarly desirable, are as honorable for yourself, as from our confidence in you, Sir, we trust the result will be beneficial to our beloved country.

When you retired from your dignified seat in this house, and took your leave of the members of the Senate, we felt all those emotions of gratitude and affection, which our knowledge and experience of your abilities and undeviating impartiality ought to inspire; and we should with painful reluctance endure the separation, but for the consoling reflection, that the same qualities which have rendered you useful, as the President of this branch of the Legislature, will enable you to be still more so, in the exalted station to which you have been called.

From you, Sir, in whom your country have for a long period, placed a steady confidence, which have never been betrayed or forfeited, and to whom they have on so many occasions entrusted the care of their dearest interests, which have never been abused. From you who holding the second situation under the Constitution of the United States, have lived in uninterrupted harmony with him who has held the first.

From you we receive with much satisfaction the declaration which you are pleased to make of the opinion you entertain of the character of the present Senators, and of that of those citizens who have been heretofore Senators. This declaration, were other motives wanting, would afford them an incentive to a virtuous perseverance. in that line of conduct which has been honored with your approbation.

In your future course, we entertain no doubt, that your official conduct, will be measured by the constitution, and directed to the public good, you have therefore a right to entertain a confident reliance, that you will be supported, as well by the people at large as by their constituted authorities.

We cordially reciprocate the wishes which you express for our honor, health and happiness, we join with yours, our fervent prayers for the continuation of the virtues and liberties of our fellow citizens ; for the public prosperity and peace ; and for you we implore the best reward of virtuous deeds, the grateful approbation of your constituents and the smiles of Heaven.

REPLY
Of the Vice-President of the United States to the address of the Senate Feb. 23d.

AN address so respectful and affectionate as this, from gentlemen of such experience and established character in public affairs. high stations in the government of their country, and great consideration in their several states, as the Senators of the United States will do me great honor, and afford me a firm support, wherever it shall be known, both at home and abroad.-Their generous approbation of my conduct in general, and liberal testimony to the undeviating impartiality of it, in my peculiar relation to their body, a character, which in every scene and employment of life I should wish above all others to cultivate and merit ; has a tendency to soften asperities and conciliate animosities, wherever such may unhappily exist; an effect at all times to be desired, and in the present situation of our country ardently to be promoted by all good citizens.

I pray the Senate to accept my sincere thanks.

JOHN ADAMS.