The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-20
ANSWER OF THE SENATE.
Nag II 6!eaLt your Exeelleneg,

May ii 6!eaje your Exrel2eney,
ASSEMBLED 1t this time TO perform n.
duties enjoined upon us by the Contribution of
this State, and taking into confederation thr
happy htuation of OR public affairs, we feel
ourieves bound 10 acknowledge with gratitude
the many unmcrted favors and exalted priv;-
leges, which we, through TIC bleiiings Of hi.
vine Providence, enjoy, under our pre!ent free
and enlightened Republican Governments. BE
ailured, Sir, our united efforts ihall be exerted.
IN devlhng the beit means to promote the pub
IIc welfare, to prote6 and fecure the civil and
religious rights of our Coufituents acajnN thl.
arts and intrigues of defgnirg men.
Senlible that virtuous habits are fire G,ree
pretervatives of free Government, we there
fore conhder it on. duty 20 encourage and fin.
port thofe in1itutons, the beft calculated 70 ir-
form and iDitruet the mind in moral and religi-
Gus duties. And we regret The inftitutions &c.
tab!ihed according TO the indications os y vine
Providence, for the benefit of mankind, (houId
ever be made Instrumental in attemptsto fubvert
the only Free Government now exiting; in
head OF afiordlng encouragement to fupport it
under our prefeDt tuccefsful experiment; or
thar any mould attempt 10 weaken the energies
OF a free people, by declaring that our Repre-
tentative Government cannot long exiR, by
'nvitlious companions of it with other fyfems.
With pleafure and fatisfattion we receive
your Excellency's communication of the ratf-
cation of the Amendment to the Federal Com
ititution, in the choice OF PRECEDENT and Vice
PreIident Of the United S.ates-hoping thereby
TO efcape thofe dangers to which we have 70 re-
Gently been expofed.
That part Of your ExceIlency's communics-
ton, relative 70 an Amendment of one of the
fundamental articles Of the Contribution of the
United States, propofcd by the Legislature of
Mahachufetts, will be duly attended TO, and the
fnbject receive al that candour and deliberate
on, which reipeG for the doings of fiffsr fate,
and the more important confederation of pre-
ierving the Union Of the feveral fates, merit,
We coincide with your Exceliency in the be-
lief That the iyltem of our General Government
was framed and adopted after much folemn de-
liberation, and that thesproyifon made for al
terations, as time and Experience might point
out, was wife. But the reafors for a change
ought to I've clear and ftrong, len, while endea.
vouring 10 avoid fome apparent Inconvenience,
greater unfOrefeen disadvantage are produced,
and by one change after another the Conitituti-
on be enentially altered, aad the harmony of
fytem detroyed.
From the hiltory Of other nations, we have
no right to exPeG perpetual exemption FROM
wars. Though, under our prefcnt happy ftu-
alton, direct taxation my appear nominal vet,
fhouid we be 70 unfortunate rs 10 be engared in
war, that would not be the caf for from Che
probable failure Of other '~5curces direa taxati.
on NUT be refored to a1a f7ould thisameud-
ment take place, sc ao-.u, from the reduction
OF representation in thofe States, to which tie
proPoied alteration a'sde', throw mu.h hes-