The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-20
SPEECH

"''"c"Ss Oh INC LeSillaturc ms DAY, and deli
rered the following
SPEECH:
1Ar. Prssfdent, and Gentlemen oT.he Senate. lNr.
Speaker, and Gentlemen Of TIE Hcxyt Of Re
Prsjeat0tipe5.
ASSEMBLED at this time, to which the
Legislature was adjourned, agreeabiy 10 yonr
requeft, for the purpoft of performing the pub-
Tic oates required by the Confitution-while
we gratefully acknowledge cur obligations to
inc supreme Governor of the world 10, tn. ..y
aifeo privileges with which our country has
been favored-may we unite our efforts. a. III.
Representatives. of free people in Jsye, .h.
bef means of promoting the public welfare ,nJ
fov itcuring the individual rights and latino h,r,
pinefS Of our fellow citizens. up
IL iecFns to be a principle uncentroyertki
that none but virtuous people can long fin.
port free government. How important is !.
then that the promotion of virtue hlouId be du-
~ regarded in the formation and execution of
laws; that encouragement and fupport fhould
ne given to infttutions calculated to inform th..
duties.
Since the laft fcfIion of the Legislature. 1b,r.
received letter from the Secretary of St,t;.
informing, eiat the amendmet, propofed durinr
the ait ielilon OF Congrefs, to the Conftitutio5
OF the Un'ted States, refpeStine the manner ,f
voting for PRECEDENT and Vice-Preiident of tb.
United States, has been ratified BY the LeriG,-
lures OF three-foHrths Of the ftveral Gates rh;s
letter will be laid before you.
have ALTO received 4 letter from his Excel
iency the Governor of the Commonwealth Of
12GOaehw'ff', inclohng refoldtion of their
Legislature, propoiing an amendment Of the
Contribution of the UN:ted States, as it refnei,c
the superintendent Of Representatives amor
the ieVeral States, and con6nirg the fame 20 the
number OF free Inhabitants reipeGivcly. 1'hs
letter and reiolution will be laid before you
L ne importance OF the proPofed amendment.
and reipett for the doiugs of ifcr State, claim
and Will undoubtedly have, your candid and
democratic attention. The Contribution of the
o"fff States was undoubtedly formed with
much deliberations, and ought not TO be altered
"ithout rnaniteit reaions therefor: yet it WAS
wliely provided, that alterations might be mad
IT found necefary. Representatives and direc,
take. are included in the fame article in thu.
ConritntIon, and were to be apportioned 4
mong the States on the fame principles. That
part OF the article, which refpects direct taxes.
appears to be mammal: while the preparation -
Representatives. from fome of the States is
greatly increafed in confequence of the large
number Of ilavcs which they hold and the i'm
portatlcn CT laves, which. it is fsid, is now
publicly allowed by one or more of the States.
mas tendency further to inCr eafc the inequality
IF representation.
The fcveral matters unfnijhed at the laf Ccf-
hon, or referred to the prefent, will occrcy
your attention; and cannot omit mentionirg
particularly that which refpeSts 4 BUILDING for
the confinement OF terminals, as bsing highly i'm
portant.
Whatever bu!inefa you may think proper to
Law before me will meet nay ready attention.
And be afured, Gentlemen, that ihaJl efeem
1t pleaiure to cooperate with you in meafures
calculated to promote iuficc, and advance the
general welfare.
JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN.
STATE ofNezv-Hams1irs,
NO0embrr IS, 1904.