Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-03-07

rank.
HARTFORD, Conn Feb. %.
This morning his excellency Gov. Trum-
bull met both branches of the Legislature
in the Council Chamber, and delivered
the following
SPEECH.
Gentlemen eFtte Cou'csl,
Dir. Speaker, aad Gentlemen Of the House
Of Representatives.
IMPRESSED with the importance Of
the communications which [ have now to
lay before vou--prompted also By the con-
current petitions Of a number OF the citizens
. Of this state, conveyed to me with their re-
solutions adopted IN their several town
meetings, convoked for the purpose !; and
having had under my own consideration,
the very alarming crisis Of our national al
fairs, arising from variety Of measures a
dopted and contemplated by our national
legislature, more especially from the per-
manency of the embargo, with the means
resorted to for It's more rigorous enforce
ment, and particularly the late law Of Con
gress, passed on the 9th day of January
last, containing many very extraordinary,
not to say unconstitutional prov isions tor
its execution: | have conceived the pros
pect so momcntous and threatening, that
have not hesitated to convene the icgisia-
ture of the state, at this unusual time, in
order that they may have opportunity to
consider and deliberate on the extraordina-
nv situation into which our country seems "a
bout to be plunged, if not speedily prevent
ed and to devise such constitutional mea-
sures as in their wisdom may be Judged
proper, to avert the threatening evil.
1t will be useful for the Legislature TO
take view of the various measures of the
national legislature, during their present and
preceding sessions, not only those which
have immediate relation to the embargo,
but other acts which have been andare IN
der their consideration, affecting the rights,
Interests, welfare, and even the peace of the
nation. Indeed it would be useful for the
general good, il the state legislatures were
often to cast watchful eye towards the pc
neral government, with view, candidly to
consider, and juesiciously discern, whethe,
the powers dele gated to the United States
are not exceeded, or are SO exercised as MOI
to interfere with or counteract those which
are reserved by the people for their OWE ma
nacement. When under the direction Of 9
wise and prudent discernment, temperate
caution-not an over jealous disposition,
such an examination will always prove a
wholesome measure.
On the present occasion, it will be unne-
cessary for me to enter into any particular
statement ofour private suffcrings, or the
threatening aspect of our public situation in
relation to the unprecedented acts of our ge-
neral government, which are accommodating
upon us. The individual feelings and ex-
perience of the members of this legislature,
now convened from all parts of the state,
will speak the private distresses which have
been produced by these acts and your ge-
neral information will give you, gentlemen,
correct view of the dangers which impend
our public interests, liberty, rights and pro-
perty, arising from the same source. Des-
pairing OF substantial relief from any other
quarter, the people are now looking with
anxious solicitude and hope to the wisdom
and direction of the legislature of their own
choice; and seem, confident that some mode
may be devised to remove the pressure I'M
der which they are at present suffering. To
your collected wisdom and prudence they
submit the task-And may it not be hoped,
| that, with our united efforts, under tenn