Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-12-16
SPEECH
Csnlemen of the Senate. and
Gentlemen Of the Houie OF Representatives,

u GALL
Cenlemen of the Senate. and
Gentlemen of the Houie OF Representatives,
IT is with peculiar fatisfadion,
that | meet the Sixth Corgrefs of the Gnind
sfSsfs IF hnsttiea.- Coming from all parts of
Inc Union at this critical and inrerening period,
he members mat be fully poiI fed Of the fea.
tiRents and wiihcs of our ooniituen,s.
The Aaiterirs proAeas of abundance from
the labors OF the people, by land and by fea the
PROPERTY of ON exended commerce, no,wish.
itanding intensptiors, oceaioned hy the bellig.
erent itate OF a great part of the world lie
rsturn Of health. induary and trade, TO thofe
ciiles which have latelybe-n afltfedwth dileafc /;
and the various and ineimablc advantsges,civil
aud religious, which, iccured under our happy
frame at government, are continued to us IN
impaired, demand of the whole American
people fnccre thanks 10 a benevolent Defy for
the mercifrl difpeniations of bis providence
But while thefe numerous ble[ings are recollett-
ed, it is painful duty TO advert to the migrate
ful return which has been mace for them by
Tome OF the people in certain counties of Penn
fylvania; where, feduced by the arts and nil
Representations of defgning men, they have
openly refIled The law directing the valuation
of houics aud lands. Such defiance was given
to the civil authority as rendered hopelefs all
further attempts, by judicial proceis, to enforce
the execution IF the law, and It became neceiTary
to direct q military force to be employed, con-
filing ct fme companies Of regular troops,
volunteers, and militia, by whole zeal & as1viiy
in co operation with the judicial power, order
and fubmia'on were reio.cd, and many of the
offenders arreAed OF thefe fome have been
[canviaed of mifiem-anors, and Ghcrs, charged
with variovs crimes, remain TO be tried.
To give due efisd to the civil sdmoiRration
OF government, and TO enfure "a iuit execnion
of the laws, reviiinn and amendment of The
Judiciary fyaem j, intellectually rerenary. In
this eatcnhvr tontry it cannot but happen, thar
numerous queaions refpeaing the Interpretation
Of the laws, and the rights and duties OF officers
and citizens, mpl arifc. On the one hand, the
the laws ihould BE- exccuted--or the other.
individuals ihould be guarded f,om opprefflon.
Ncither Of thefe objects is efficiently aIIured
under the psetens organization Of the Judicial
department: | therefore carnclly recommend
the fubjeti to your f;rious confederation.
Petfrverisg in the pacific and humane policy,
which has been invariably proteasd, and naccre-
ly pu'fncd, by the executive authority oil the
United States, when indications were made on
the part of the French Republic. OF difSo.
htion to accommodate the exiting differences
between the two COUNTRIES, ! felt il to be my
duty to prepare for meting their advances by a
nomination OF minilters upon certain conditions,
which the honour of our country Dictated. and
which its moderation had given tia right to
prcicfibe. The aiIilrances, which were Iequir-
Ibf the Feench> government, previous to the
WParture OF our ENJOYS, have been given,
through their Miniacr of Foreign relations; and
have dire fed them to proceed on their milton
to Paris. They have full power to conclude a
tre,ty, fubjea to the Constitutional advice and
contest OF the Senate. The characters Of thefe
Gentlemen are fure pledges to their Country,
| that nothing Incompatible with its honor or in.
tereR, nothing inconiaent with our obligations
of good faith or friendihip to any other nation,
will be llipulatej.
It appearing probable, from the Information
| received, that our commercial intercourfe with
iome ports 10 the>(land of St. Domingo might
faicly be renewed, ! took fuch iieps as feened
to me expedent, to aEcertain thar point The
reiulr being fssisfatlory, then, in conformity
With the act Of Congrefs on the flbiea, dire aed
the rettraints and prohibitions OF that in,ercorrfe
| to be discontinued, on terms, which were made
known by proclamation. Since the renewal oil
this intercourfe, our citizens, trsdingzto thofe
ports, with their property, have beep duly ref.
peaed, and priva'seriug from thoie ports has
ceafcd.
In examining the claims of Brtilh ldbieeas by
the commiilioncrs at Philadelphia, under the
lixth article of the treaty of amity, commerce
and navigation, with Great. Britain, difference
Of opinion, on points deemed eIiential in the
Interpretation Of thar article, has ariftn betweer
the commiilioners appointed by the United
States and The other members Of that board
fran which the former have thought it theil
duty to wthdtsw, vi is dlcsssly 70 be regret