The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-06-12
SPEECH /:

council, the Secretary OF State, and the
Treasurer, and delivered the following
SPEECH: ]
Gentlemen Of the Senate, and
Gent'erRea Of tke House Of Representatives.,
!. IN meeting the two Houses in conformity to
ancient usage, it IS with great satisfaction |
have it IN my power to observe, that nothing,
affecting the essential interests of the Com
monwealth, has occur - since the last session
OF the late Legislature, to require special con-
sideration on this occasion. The complicated
concerns of society, however, are continually
furnishing new subjects for legislative regard.
We are besides in possession of great and
numerous blessings, which have been
youchsafed to as by a benefoent Providence,
and which, while they call for our devout
gratitude. claim our watchful care to pre-
serve. Among the blessings which our du-
ty as citizens, and as publick agents, calls
on us to guard with solicitude, we may reck-
on our civil and religious liberties, which arc
euarAHseed to us and our posterity in the full
est extent, oy constitution G; government
framed by the wisdom Of our fathers, and
recently confirmed by the sovereign act of
the people. 1t may, it is conceived, be as
samed as truth, that our constitutional rights
and liberties are so full and complete as to
admit OF no accession. lfthis position be well
founded, il suggests to US the danger of at
tempting changes in Gus system of iurispru-
dence, and the solemn duty of preserving I'M
impaired our ilcstimable acquisitions. Having
acquired every thing valuable TO US as men.
as citizens. and AS Christians. we are pressed
by the NEST weishty considerations to provide
Tor their continuance. If as we fondly inn
agine. we have reached higher degree of
freedom than has fallen to the lot Of other
nations, it behoves us to maintain with dignity
and frmness our lofty pre-eminence not suf-
ferins Ourselves, by supneness or the preva-
ience oil selfish passions, to hazard an antiine-
~ and ignomlaious fall. In connexon with
these reflections, the result Of the late revision
OF the Constitution in the Convention. and in
the primary assemblies of the people in the
several towns, presents an suspicious aspect
The termination of that interesting review
evinces the sober and discriminating charac.
ter OF our fellow-citizens; it proves that when
the pubhck mind is well informed. there is lit
tic danger to be apprehended, in questions
Involving their interests, from lerity and ca
price that the freemen of Massachusetts,.
being practical men, duly approaching their
own rights, are not to be induced lightly to
Ss::..Haadnn nriqciples and practices which have
ti'o yielueo tnem Prosrer;fy and safety
II goes, moreover, to obviate one OF m, ,sr,t
serious obJectoas that has been urged AGAINST
nee governments-a tendency to instability
and vaciilation With the knowledge Of the
course OF human affairs possessed by those
VINO hear me, no induction Of argument ia
necessary to sheaS that the prosperity and
happiness OF the State, as connected with
Puollek liberty, can be secured only by an in
leAipie adherence to the principles of the
Constitution And recurrence TO those
Sr1 hsta2 al
Interests, can never be more seasonable tl.an
at the opening Of new political year. The
statesman, thence regulating his course. will
be. conducted in safety through his future
deliberations, to the best results.
In examining the Constitution, il is observa-
bic, that many of its most important urovis-
Ions contemplate safe distribution of mower
IN the several constituent departments Of gov
eminent. II scrupulous care is employed in
defining the limits of power assigned TO the
Executive branch of government. and in pro-
scriolnS staining armies as dangerous to lib
erty, me history of our ancestors, antecedept-
~ toand after their leaving Europe, and that
Of their descendants tdl the close of the rev.
oiutlon, sufficiently developes the source of
tner peculiar sensibility on these subjects.
and lustIhes the cautious exactness in define
atinS the boundaries of tolerated authority.
which appears IN the Constitution. But these
are mol the only sources of danger to free
dom. Its pillars may be secretly undermined.
as we'll as overthrown by open violence. The
form may remain after the spirit has become
extinct. Inc trainers of the Constitution
were aware that comnact on parchment
merely, however definite its checks and pro-
VISIONS, would prove an insufficient preserya-
tion TO a free government, should the people
become Indifferent TO their own safety. and
sink INTO state Of ignorance and prohigacy.
Renee IN the Bill Of Rights it is declared that
aiFequent recurrence to the first PRINCIPLES
OF the Constitution, and a constant adherence
10 thoSe OF piety, justice, moderation. tenn
perance, industry, and frugality, are absolute
necessary to preserve the advantages of
liberty, and to maintain free government
That virtue Is the vital principle of Repub-
lex, though trite observation, is one never
theless that can hardly be too often repeated
Inc people constituting the great source of
power should the pnblick mind become cor
ruPe, inc government would suffer cores
Ponuing degeneracy; the character OF
people necessarily inlusing itself into their
political institutions. In relation TO ourselves.
therefore, and as we would wish to transmit
10 luture generations the blessings of that
government we have derived from orr an
cestors, all The means that patriotism and leg
islative wisdom can devise, should be brourht
into action, to maintain the purity of the pub
lick niind, to quicken and invigorate the moral
sense, and 10 encourage the practice of all the
Personal and social virtues.
A,royo- 40 H.. II n ,