Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-10
8 P EECH:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the House of Rel
fafivea

Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the House of Represen-
tatives,
The peculiar circumstances, under which
we have assembled, call for serious di..
rection OF cur thoughts to that Being, in
whose hands are the destinies of men and
nations. The aspect of our public sffairs
imposes on all the duty of patience and
c'-cumspection, in their Investigations
and their actions. best exertions,
Tor the general welfare, are now neces-
sary. The known patriotism OF the pee.
Pc OF massachusetts is a pledge for the
d''piay OF those virtues, on every public G.
10 +rgency. How far existing, or threaten.
81, ev'is my be provided against, or en-.
daugered rights be secured, by any apen-
rs constituaonally confided TO their State
legislature, are, at the present moment
{ considerations of the most interesting oa.
ure. ftr
. That affecting Providence, which has
deprived You and y ur fellow ciszens of
ne ASSISTANCE and expes si,ce of HIM who
vas selected, by their SURFACES, to dis
charge the inportaat, duties oil Chief Ma.
y'stra.e, can be felt and lamented by none
more sincerely than myself. Tris even:
naving constitutionaEy devolved On me
hose duties as a substitution tn his talent
n his experience, you may rest assured
for the residue of The wear, of my solicitudr
assidnity aud best endeavors TO prono,e
what, from my own Convictions, shall a :
pear most conductive to thu: good of tho
whole On this occasion, TO reneat th,
prescribed oaths, whichI nave already Ia
ken, wuuld be but the avowsIs of nv poli,
sicai sentiments. The Natio.Ii and TN,
st ate constitution contain them. The far
t'ud obvious constructors of these instru,.
ments N the sense IN which I shall be con-
vinced they were intended tore understood
VIII furnish my RUE of action. wi, never
they can apply. The outlines of our res
pective relations and duties are there 20 he
found.--My inexper;ence ia legislative bu.
siness, will, i fear, be thought too often IN
sall for your indulgence add candor. l.
constructed by the constitution and the law.
md sincerely aiming 20 adhere TO their pro
visions, and TO advance the general interest
and harmony among the citizens, there
snotild unhappily be difference of opinj-
on between the different departments of
government, as TO means or thcir aDpiica.
ton, 1t can be no just cause of uneasipess
or distrust amongst Us.
The New England States have been re-
presented o their injury and to The injury
OF the United SEs.es, as distracted witi
divisions, prepared for opposition to the
authority ol the law aud ripen:ng for q
secession from The Union. Anxie,ies
suggestions or app. chensions of this KING
have been expressed on The floos of Con
gress. Such sugge lions we trust are nm
founded Our enemies aione could have
made them. II is ,obe Iamented that aDy
colour has ever b en furnished for snch
alarms. II cannot be concealed shat IT.
this State, existing difficulties and The an-
paren, indications Of greater ones have
produced instances OF exci,ement, violence
and indiscretioD, which form serious claims
on our attention, Could Legislators be
agreed, all would be tranqulized without.
Would not such al achievement be worthy
an united effori and reward the labors al
a whole session! The times call for nm,
on, confidence and mutual forbeafance and
accommodation. Will not a recollection
OF some prominent principles and facts in
our history, with a legislative example,
have this tendency, among our citzens
May we not avail ourselves Of this oppor-
unity to review, 10 a summary manner,
the situation in which we are placed and
the dangers TO which we are exposedi
lfever forgetfulness Of past dissenii.
oDs and joint efforts, for the common IN
terest, were necessary, they are so at this
moment. VIII each citizen determine
tor himself, that no personal gratificaiior
shall stand in the way of any arrangement,
which viii concentrate The genel al will
and direct its strength for our coantry's
safety. For one l am prepared for this
measure Of accord and devotion to the ex
igency of the crisis or my heart deceive.
me. Onion is every thing It is our
strength, our numbers, our resources.
III we must have conflicts, let them be
with foreign enemies. Ifwar, let il be by
ne whole people, a. one man, in defenc,
Ut their violated rights. Let not parti-
Gle ofour means be wasted n parry or in
1 slss,s Il IL -.