Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-16
.Massacfas,ets Legislature.
ANSWER
OF The House Of Representatives.,
TO TIE
GOVERNORS SPEECH.

4 Ua0y H IfLteos y -. = -
! The House Of Representatives re-
Give with peculiar satisfaction your Ex-
ce.,snry.s communication to both Hea'
ses, and sincerely rejoice in the unequ.-
vocal testimoney of'the increased conn
dercc and appreciation of your fellow c'-
tizens mamie sted i'm yoar recent election.
When your excellency in compliance
wi,b the anxieus wishes ,ef the pc ops
| consented the last year TO leave the ps@
sures aud tranquility of your tasori.e re-
| si,ience, aud resume your high ONCE ;
| you rendered to your country service
never TO be forgotten. A new order o.
| things has arisen IN this commemorate
suspicious to personal security and the
| pu5,ic peace. The most alarming inho-
vn,ions upon our ancient laws and usa-
yes we're introduced under The SANCTION
OF the big authorities. Freedom OF
sDeech and the right OF the people TO
discuss in their assemblies the measures
Of governments, were denounced ne
| Law Officers of;he Commonwealth were
! instructed TO ransack files OF newspapers
N search Of libels. To perpetuate the
usurpation of party power, and eHecta-
x.iy 10 preven, the reaction OF Puoiic
! sentiment under any change. of times or
NJ affnirs, the valuation which consti-
,ntes the basis of taxation, and OF repre-
,eutar.on in one branch OF the Leglsia'
tuse, was framed on principles grossly
erroneous and the State was divided
withou, regard to the provisions OF the
constitution, the dictates of justice or
the principles of equality, into districts
of TIE most prsposterous and inconVc-
nient forms for the purpose of securing
politica! maiorities. A mopied institu-
ton was created founded on the deter
animation to abolish those already exist
ing. and lis capital was apportioned to
counties and towns, upon a Adigested
sche me OF premiums Tor political COR
rap,ion The courts of justice were
new modelled, and a general removal
from o.Gce Of those WHO we're suspected
Of deviation from the creed of the ruling
nary was commenced aid defended as
a measure of political justice.
At thi. alarming Juncture, the eyes OF
me peoste we're turned towards your ey.
ceilency asst a tried and iai.hI.l friend
whose moderation and hruness were
calculated 10 check the progress ofthese
abuses AID contribute TO their retorna-
ton. These expectations have been
fulfilled, and the good sense OF the peo-
pic with the benefit ofyour influence <
example has rescued the state from OPP
preston, and probably saved it from the
horrors Of civil cornmotlon.
We advert with great interest TO your
excellency's observations upon the eS-
po,ure of our sea coast to Danger, and
are deeply affected by information ofthe
priva,ioBs and sutferlngs to whlch~ the
inhabitants are doomed in many places,
by the wanton and war in which
we arc engaged. As the general go.
vernment has wholly abandoned this im-
portant and extensive coast. and the
trace so essential 10 their interest, as no
norton OF the immense revenue drawn
from this state is applied to effective de.
fence, and as we learn from the war de-
paytment, that even the arms to which
we arc entitled by law, have been seattle
prosecute q War of foreign conquest a.
eainst cur unoffcnding neighbors the
dictates Of self preservation demand that
we should adopt measures tor cur own
pro,ection. And although system OF
= =, huS hr>o 70
comm:rued by the President of The 3,
STATES, wniSb will add enormous tHr.
thens upon our constituents, yet we con-
fideniiy hope that the patriotism OF oar
citizens w,il still be able to furnish some
means Of dctcnce for our native State,
,shooid the General Government still
{, ,urue to withhold that protection,
which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
7, IS, in these circumstances grea; con-
,o,ation, that cer brave and disciplined
Militia, by year provident care have
been reserved al home to repel invasion
instead Of being sent on expeditions
worse than iruiiiess, in which we might
have been compelled to mourn over
thSir StiCdlS, "nSu Iu'iS "Ouid
have forbidden us 10 rejoce in their sue
cess.
The RICH, ard duty Of q free inquiry
into " tie grounds and origin" of the
present war will never be reiinqulshed
6y our constituents, without slruggle
The doctrine that sile: acquiesccnce in
ruinous measures, must be enforced, be-
cause they arc stamped with The forms
or the constitution, is hot adapted to
their character or comprehension. They
imbibed different theories in those times
when their petitions and remonstrsnces
we're despised and rejected by Brisish
Parliament, deaf to their complaints and
alien TO their feelings. Such doctrine
is an incentive to tyranny, to stitls oppo-
si.;sn, by doing its work with dispatch.
IGnr Excellency's illustration of the
causes oft unjust u ar in which we are
Ca ord