Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-02-06
5pceD
Gentlemen offbe Senate, and


Gentlemen Of TIE Eon,s Of Reprefntat;acr,
THE peculiar circumstances, under
which we have ef1emb!ed, call for ferious
direction of mr. thoughts to that Being, in
whole hands are the deftinies of men and
of nations. The afpect of our public af-
fairs impofes on all the duty of patience &
circnmfpeetion. in their Investigations, and
their actions Our ben exertions, for the
welfare, are now nccediry. The known
patriotifm Of the people OF Maflichnfetts
is pledge fof the difplay of tbefe virtues
on every public emergency. How far ex-
fling. or threatened evils, may be provided
againft, or endangered rights be fecured,
by any agency conftituti ,nally confided to
their State Legislature. are at the p,efent
moment, conliderations of the NOT inter-
citing nature.
That affletinc Providence which has de-
prived you, and your fellow citizens, of
The atiiaance and experience of him, who
was ieleeted, by their fnifrages, to diicharge
the important duties of Chief Magiltrate,
can be felt and lsmentcd by none more
iincerely than by myfeG This event hav-
ing conlttutionally devolved on me thefe
duties as a fnbatu,i)n to his talents, aud
his experience, you may ref afIured for
the reiidue of the year, of my folicitude,
affiduity and bet endeavors to promote
what, from my own convictions, ihall ap-
pear mott conducive to the good of the
whole. On this location, to repeat the
preicribed oaths, which have already tax.
en-. would be but the avowals of my poli,-
cal fentimenis. The national and the ltatc
contribution contain them. The fair and
obvious conifrue.ion of thefe Initruments,
in the fenis in which f,lall be convinced
they were intended to be underliood, will
furnifh my rule Of action, wherever they
can apply. The outlines of our REFLECTIVE
relations and dniies here to be found.
My inexperience, ! flative buGneis,
will fear, be thoug often to call for
your indulgence anC or. If inftrutted
by the conAitution he law, and Gn-
ccrely aiming to acl 10 their proviiions,
and to advance the general intereit and
harmony among the citizens, there Ihould
unhappiiybe adherence ofopinion between
the different departments of government.
as to the means of their applieation,it can
be no juit cauie OF uneaiinefs or diitrult
among us.
The New-Ensland States have been rep
reientcd. to their injury, and to the injury
OF the U. States, as diflraeted with dvi.
iions prepared for oppoiitIon to the an.
thority OF the law, aud riptning for a iocei-
non from the Union Anxieties AZ iug-
gettons or approximations of this kind, have
been exprefIed ON the floor of Congref,.-
Suck iugyeltons we truit are uufounded.
Our enemies alone could have made them
X IS To be lamented, that any colour has
ever been furnuhed for fach alarms. 1t
cannot he concealed, that in tins State, cx
iit'ng difficulties and the apparent indlca.
tions of greater ones, nave produced IN
itauces Of excitement, violence. and indil
cre,ion, which form ferrous claims on our
attention. Could Legislators be agreed,
al would be tranquilized. from Without
Weuld not iuch IN aichievemen, be wor.
thy an united effort, and reward the ldbo,s
of whole ieilion The times call for
union, confidence, and mutual forbearance,
and accommodation. Will not a recoilSc-
tion at .ore prominen, principles and facts
in our hiiiory, with a legiilative example,
have this tendency among our citizens.-
NAY we ltH dsdil OuI IIiNNS VI LUIS OJpDf-
,nnlty 70 review, in fummary manner,
the litnaion in which we are placed * the
dangers To whch we are txpoied.
II ever a iorgetfuln,is OF paa dihentions
AMI Joint effort, for the common interef,
were neceHary, they are 70 at this moment.
Will not each citizen determine for him
fell that no.perional graiiiication lball Rand
in The way of any arrangement which viii
Concentrate the general will. and direct is
ftrength for our Country's fafety, For one
] sm prepared for tins msa!ure of accord
and devotion to the exigency of the criiis,
or my heart deceives me. Union is every
thing I; tits our nrength, our numbers,
onr rc.ources. II we null have conflicts,
LET them be with foreign enemies. If war,
art IT be hy the whole people as one man
10 defence OF their violated rights. Lc-not
A psrtice Of our means be waited, IN par
ty or individual contentious.
IL c1rnot he neceii,uy nor would it be
huetcial. to review in detail the continA-
ed aggravated Injuries and iniults which
have been heaped upon usby the warning
powers OF Europe. The aggregate of cur
wrongs have been great indeed. The
couutesvaiing meaimes Of oar national
goyCrnmeut, produced by thete aagfei-
huns, are generally knowE. The recent
cowmunisAtiens Of PUBLIC Documents,