Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-03
!. Massachusetts Legislature.
ANSWER OF THE HCUSE,To HIS .E,X
CELLENCY's SPEECH.

j.
CELLENCY's SPEECH.
ON few occasions have the legislature
convened under circumstances, claiming no.; {
Just solicitude or more deep interest Causes
Beyond our controul, and events beyond cur
foresight, have changed the aspect of the
would and anFihi ated relations ccrnentcd by
the force CT ages. Accustomed to consider
the wars Of Earshe as competitors OF private
intercst.or public pride. calculated to engage
the rassionssof coRending parties: and inopc-
srative beyond them, Neutral powers have
calmly watched the issue, and buried in their
own bosoms all fear and all affection After
profuse expenditure OF blood en-, Of treasure
the exhausted combatants have resumed their
former stations, and ratified their peace by
treaties founded on ancient rights and arfcient
boundaries. Hence thoughw war has leso!ated
It's pEains with unusual frequency, Europe IN
lately presented to tic philosopher and ike
statesman nearly the same political prcpor-
TORS, which almost two centuries hence were
settled as the basis Of It's sovereignties But
times ere changed and we are changed with
them. A new policy has stimulated the am
bit;on,ahd-a new system in,igorated the spirit
of conquest. Power has. assumed the decision
of right, and regulated its dominion by the
success OF intrigue, or the terror of violence
Laws hitherto doomed sacred and inlinutable,
inftde intercourse ofnauoEs, have been silent
ly worn away by Interpretation, or oblitcrated
by royal preclanations ard imperial DEGREES.
The progress from case of exception 10 a
general precedent and from general prece-
eientto-an unhendins principle, has been uni
sfoslnly accelerated by the success ef arms
and the acquiescence Of peaceful poYsrs-In-
tterest not reason has pror 'ugateeb the rule,
and tie argument oft existence as We'll as OF
justice, has been boldly inferred from'tte poll
scy.ofits adoption. A self conceived pe&essi-
ty,neasured by the eXtcIst Of force has set
tiedilot merely the comfy bat tie rights OF
nations and the coercion of tie sword las
quickened aleluctant obedience.
Under this extraordinary pressure Of events
q desire to avoid the calamities ofwar, and to
enjoy the advantages of an honorable neutra-
lity<has induced the U. S. to submit to many
'inffingemeots Of theirrights s many irregu-
lar exercises of belligerent authority Know
ing that,ia a STRUGGLED not for existence at
least for future safety, nations with most
Friendly Intentions, are at times compelled to
harsh condact we have borne, without MUIR
sner ordinary inconvenience. We love
peace because We haze known the miser; Of
-wsti. We lovePeace because we have neither
the wish nor the means TO CRAFTY the Inst of
We love peace because we have
,4eit its benefits. Our commerce our agTicul- /
ture and our manufactures are nourished by
it. We love peace because it 4is.4essent;ally I
the character Of a free, industrious and fu- !
gal people, and com ports with their perma- +
meat and trucst interests. But there is point !.
beyond which forbearaEce becomes pusilla- (
ninity and destruction. IF we submit we
must resign our national sovereignty and If
we reslstsecurity nusthe purchased by hea- {
Wy buHhens. kis choice Of evils which the
wiscst cannot avert, and the brayest cannot
vaneu;sh.
4 this crisis the United States seem re-
Pidly- approaching. The fate hernatioRs I
should admonish us touse ourmeans of de-
fence ". h prons ptitude and zeal, We 1--we
learncl! lesson which is every day important
that we can never safely rely upon the justice
OF nations, and that a recognition Of orr
rishas DEPENDS upon our ability to eaforce
them. ..rue policy therefore dictates that
for the future, wbetherin peace or in war, we
should accumulate military and naval resour-
ces; not as the instruments ofhosti!c aggres. /