The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-06-19
SPEECH
Of His Erceiiency ELBRIDGE GERRY,
Delivered J'~e In, 1871, 6cf5t sAe
Legislature Of A1oSSaeAusetts
Gentlemen Of tae Senate, and

ne citizens ot this commonwca1, in the
iui. exercise of their elective rights having
called on Us IN our respective sttions, 10
promote their prosperity and happtss, have
manifested, at tins critical period, al honour
able confidence IN our pairiolick tirIsness and
eNerIions.-lo fulfill their just expectations,
VIII DC the height of my ambiliou and on
your cordial and effectual co-opaation,
have the greatest reliance.
The measures which durinc The ,ea. last
past, were adopted by the Execu.ive end Leg
islative departments of this State, snl watch
they were solicitous 10 stamp wth impir,,ai-
i!y, moderation and justice, appear X a., >
met the general apprubration oi the pubtck
and ia most Instances, 10 have alIayed thai
unrcieniing party spirit, which when indulp.
ed, has never failed, on the ruins of liberty.
TO establish despolism But a different
system has been pursued by few OF our
towns, and in particular by our metronol;s
where OF late, an assemblage" of major
IL! ol her electors, many OF them citizens
whose talents, professions, property and in
huchce, have placed them III the most res
pectable grades OF society, and in high Offices
OF government have in the most deliberate
manner, " unanimously" passed various Re-
solutions, too important, IN their nature, and
tendency, to be uGnoticed, The publication
OF these measures, which in no instance have
been disavowed, is so marked, AS TO admi,
no doubt OF their authenticity.
Had this assemblagc" been contentwith
exercising freely their rights of suffrage @,
agreeably to the CONSTITUTION of The Unite,
States, " of peaceabIy pelirionng the Gov.
ernment tor d redress of grievances or ia
conformity TO the Constitution of hi, Com.
monwealth, ">of requesting, in an ORDERLY
and pcaceablc manner, the Legislative BODY.
by addresses, petitions or rcmonstrances. To
rcdresS the wrongs Cone them, add the gre-
v"nccs, they suffer, no rational objection
could have been urged against them ola the
contrary, their conduct, ii il had even result
ed rom miet"&en zeal, would have been us-
~ applauded, but their open avowai OF hos
tillly 10 the Government, OF the United States
demands OF US, in support of il, as a sacred
otillcial duty, an ingenious, and efficient line
OF conduct.
The measures referred to, we're predica-
ted on assertions that our +" ancient and res.
pectable metropolis" d" was the first 10 en-
courage commercial entsrprze :" That this
was source OF our national prosperity :,
a
by their quick discernment of, and lhei, viz.
orous opposition TO all invasions of their
rights that at the risk Of their lives and
fortunes they had opposed the encroachmcnts
oil arbitrary power !" that they had expected
" domestck Government which would rio-
tect them In the lawful exercise of their
rights that amongst these, the most In
valuable was protection, in the nursuit of
commerce )" that" the Government of The
United States mas for many Years past man
itested disposition alaimingy hostile 10
commerce." but " mast eniintnliv bv the la,n
act OF Congress-" which under certain pre.
texts, inflicts deadly wound oh our com
merce : that " the only remedy shor, oil an
appeal to force is 10 change our national ru-
iers, and that "this important measure can
only be effected, by a correspondent change
In the administration of this State"
In regard to these positions il is presumed
that this "as asscmblage" will not assume aH
the merit OF encouraging commerce, or of
opposition 10 the Invasion Of our rights, or OF
opposing, at the risk of life and fortune, the
encroachments of arbitrary power but, will
admit It's icllow-ciiizens of the metroDoiis
and oil the State, to equal honour with them
a,
that " the assembagc," in whatever light il
may view the federal Government, will moi
deny the Sovereign right Of its lcIow-ci,izens
of the I. States, to exercise their i1dpm,nt
on the conduct of that government to de.
clare their conviction, that il is wise, lust,
impartial and patriotck Government, and
their testimony, that instead OF nnicting, /,
has wardcd off by every possible mean,
deadly blow, aimed by foreign powers oa our
commerce, and to applaud, rcvere and sup.
port their Government, IN opposition TO those
who have proclaimed their disaffcc,ion 10 il,
have prescribed it, and doomed it to dcs,ruc- |,
ton.
The assemb!age," in their first resou.
ton, declare " that having reviewed with |
impartiali:y our foreign relations, they are
unable to discover any alteration in the con-
duct of foreign D.tions vhirh o,r ;,,.,;c. o,. |