Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-13
TO THE


PRgSTDEHT or THE UNITED STATss.
II is with pleasure that the two BRAN
ches OF the Legislature of Massachusetts i'm
provcrthe opportunity afforded by their an
nual meeting, to offer to you the only tribute
which can be acceptable to the chief ma
gistratc OF a free nation the tribute of
their appreciation and topresent the on
ly homage which a grateful people can
safely pay to their most distinguished citi-
| zen ;-the homage of their confidence and
esteem.
We are happy in being able to assure you,
that the sentiments which we now express
for ourselves, have, during the suspicious
period of your administration, experienced
constant and increasing progression with
the great body of our constituents They
have viewed with qualification, system of
frugality, retrenchment and economy in our
| national expenditures, (congenial to the pri-
mitive habits and systems of Massachusetts,
introduced and pursued, with faithful s
dislnterested perseverance,. AS natural
consequences of this system, 80 plain and
obvious in its principles, and SO famiiiarin
Its application to their private and local
concerns-they have contemplated with
satisfaction, the accomplishment to the Sc
veral state governments of those branches
OF public revenue, which had, by the con-
sItution, been submitted to the control of
the federal government under the conf
dence, that they would be put into requisi :,
ton only upon extraordinary cxigencics,
| and at periods of great national pressure.
| They have found the increasing product of
the public revenue, applied with a steady
| and unvarying hand, to the rapid extinction
OF a debt, which had threatened by its in
creasing weight, to repress the rising en-
ergles OF an infant NATION. Its in view of
| those effective measures which have been
adopted for the accomplishment of this
great and desirable object, that our pecu-
liar sohcitude has been excited and it is
~ their successful execution, that our high
est expectations have been surpassed.
/ Our intercourse with the nations of Eu
rope, tho frequently embarrassed by the
Jealousy and rivalship of contending inter-
ests, has been preserved on terms condu-
cave TO our national interest, and compati-
Die with our national honor :-S1 the inesti.
maole blessings Of peace have been secured
10 our country, during period of unexam-
pled dlfhculty, devastation & distress thro
the civilized world i; whilst by the judici-
Gus application of our public force, we have
commanded the respect of those piratical
and oarbarouS powers, upon whom the Gus
tomary laws of nations, or the common
principles of reason and justice, have no
governing influence. The abundant advan-
tages OF our agricultural and manufacture
ing interests have been secured to us by
means the most safe, efficient and desira-
bic, The removal Ofburdensome impositions
and embarrassing restrictions. Our exten-
sive commerce, tho harrassed at times by
VeXatlous seizures and unreasonable in
terruptioDs, has, under the fostering care
| OF the government bapn with
very general and encouraging success.
The recent extension of our territorial
limits, Gan event which is too often CRAFTY
ing only to the pride and ambition OF natl
ons) derives in this instance it's chief impor-
lance to us, from its capacity of contribut-
ing to our permanent safety and defence -
and above all, from the morality of the
means by which it has been obtained.
1t has been a consideration consoling to
the feelings philanthropy, and propitious
to the interests of humanity, that your be-
nevolent efforts for the civilization of our
aboriginal inhabitants, have been crowned
with success worthy of the ardent and
generous zeal with which they have been
directed.
Impressed as we are, with these un-
telgned and grateful sentiments of appro-
baton towards the past measures of your
administration, we have only to assure you
of that rational and stedfast confidence,
with which they have inspired us respect
ing the future and that whether our rights
are hereafter to be indicated against the
aggressions of foreign foes, or the machi-
nations of internal consprators, the people
of Massachusetts will not be found wanting
in their duty, TO the calls of their country
OF the acquisitions of their government.
That your life and personal happiness
may long be protected by bencfcent Pro-
violence, and your public usefulness for ma
ny years continued, is, for the sake of our
country, our sincere and ardent wish.