Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-25

{ ed them, and ask leave 10 report NJ
monstrauce to the Congress OF the Y.
States, which is hereuDto annexed.
All which is respectfully submitted,
T. H. PERKINS, Per Order.
REMONSTRANCE:
To the Honorable the Senate, and the
Honorable the House OF Representa-
tives Of the United States, In Congress
assembled
The Legislature of Massachusetts
deeply impressed with the sufferings OF
their constituents, and excited by the ap
prehepsiop of still greater evils IN pros
pect, feel impelled, by a solemn sense
of duty, TO lay before the National go
yernment, their view of the public int
rests, and to express with the plalness OF
freemen, the sentiments OF the people
of this ancient and extensive Common
wealth.
Although the precise limits of the
movers reserved 10 the several state So
yereign,ies have not been defined by
the constitution, We, we fully aoincide IN
the correctness of the opinions advanced
by our venerable Chief magistrate,
"that cur constitutions ensure to US the
freedom Of speech, and that. at this mo-
mentous period, ii is our right and duty
to inquire into the grounds and origin OF
the present war, 10 reflect on the state
of public affairs, and tocxpress our sen
tin-n,s concerning them, with decency
and Trankness, and to endeavor, as far as
our limited Influence extends, to pro.
mote, by temperate, and constitutional
means. an honorable reconciliation"
Ifthea, such are the rights and duties
of the people, surely those, who, at this
solemn crisis, are selected by them, and
who are specially honored with their
confidence, may venture respectfully,
but frankly, to express the sentiments
and feelings OF those when they have the
houor to represent.
l.,e states, as we'll as the individuals
composing them, are parties to the ma
tional compact, and it is their peculiar
duty, especially in times of peril, to
watch over the rights, and guard the
privileges solemnly guaranteed, by that
instrument. Certainly thehthis express
sion, from the Legislature OF the Tree
and indie pendent Commonwealth OF Mas
sacbusetts, will not be disree ardcd, by
the present congress at the Y. States.
For although the numerous petitions *
remonslrauccs of the people OF this state,
in relation to such measures as they
deemed dangerous to their rights and
ru;nous TO their Interests, have hereto
lore been received, in manner little cal
culstsd to produce that harmony, and
10 cement that union which ought 10 be
the permanent aim of the general go
vernment, yet We cannot but indulge the
bspe, that new councils AID amore con-
cilia,ory spirit will distinguish the Sc
yersl branches of the present National
Leeislature-that they will endeavor, by
Tue exercise Of justice and importantly,
10 allay the apprehensions aid restore
the confidence of the eastern and COM
n,ercial states--to remove theT actual
sUfferings, and to replace them In the
Happy aud prosperous condition: IRON
which they have been driven, by sue
cession OF measures, hostile to the rights
of commerce, and destructive to the
peace OF The union.
I, is not TO be expected, that hardy
and industrious people, Instructed IN the
nature of their rights, and tenacious OF
their exercise, whose enterprlze was a
source of individual wealth and national
prosperity, should find themselves oblig-
ed TO abandon their accustomed employ
nep,s, and relinquish the means of sub
sistence, without complaint; or that
noral and christian people should con-
tribute ,hsir aid, in the prosecution OF
an offensive war, without the fullest evil
dence OF its Justice and necessity.
The United States, from the form of
their government, from the principles
Of their institutions, from the sacred pro-
LESSONS, which in all periods of their
historv they have made. from the max
ms transmitted TO them. by patriots and
sayes whose loss they can never suffi-
cien,ly dcp.ore, as well as frosa regard
"a thei, bsst and dearest interests, ought
to be the last nation to engage In war
of ambition, or conquest.
The recent establishment OF their IT.
situations, the pacific, moral and indus
rious character of their citizens, the
certainty ,hat ti,ne and prudent appiica-
lion of their resources would bring a
.easonatle remedy for any transient
wrongs, would nave induced wise and
provident, an impartial and temperate
administration, to overlook, if 1t had
been necessary, any temporary evils,
which either the ambition, the interest,
the cupidity, or the injustice OF foreign
pawe.. might occasionally, and With
nu, any deep and lasting injury, have In