The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-01-08

sutute tht greatest and most permanent nur-
sery Of seamen for our gallant. navy, which
is the pride of the United States, and the sup
port Of their commerce aud honour abroad.
The martial energies of our country have
never been questioned; and her ability to
sustain the arts g peace, is now FULLY demon
strated. To you, gentlemen, as representing
the feelings of the people, the appeal may be
. safely made as TO the result OF the experiment
in this Commonwealth. The enemies of the
revolution represented us as possessing neither
the intellectual, nor the moral, nor the ply
steal elements, toI constituting and supporting
an independent government. But what are
the facts? Our naval and military triumphs.
our cemlacrce, which, under the fostering care
of a paternal government, has spread over the
world, and is now gladdening the human
heart In every cline and above all. the con-
tentment, the good order and social happiness,
enjoyed by more than ten millions of free cit
liens, give the answer.
Among the puhlick evidences of the sue
cess that has attended the exertions of the
people Of this State in internal improvements.
and which are sure pledges of continued pros
perity, we my refer 10 the general aspect of
the country, a connected with agriculture and
rural economr-to the number and admirable
structure of our bridses--to the goodness of
the roads inevery part of the State, and to
the various md expensive canals and locks on
the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. and
more especially the Middlesex Canal, that
unites TIN latter with the waters of Boston
harbour. Ii it were necessary to adduce
further pools Of the successful enterprise and
indusiryof the citizens of this community. we
might also refer to their navigation and ton.
mage, which are now presumed to be exceed
ed in amount by only one State. And it is
apprehended that we should not deviate ma
terially from the reality, IN. assuming, that,
with population equal to about one twentieth
part of the population of the United States,
Massachusetts contributed, in the year Just
ended, nearly one-fourth part of the whole
amount of revenue, derived from commerce,
to the national treasury. While these consid-
CREATIONS serve to erince the importance OF the
commerce of this State to the Union, it should
induce us to appreciate our resources, and by
every possible effort to augment their value.
While the distinguishing results now noticed
are primarily derived from the fisheries, and
from other natural advantages peculiar to our
local situation. it is cheerfully conceded that
those advantages are called into more effec-
United States code of commercial law. The
coincidence of The means of raising revenue,
and of giving an impulse to national indus
try, is happily illustrated in the existing tariff.
If our national commerce be extensive. if the
products of our agriculture are furnished with
a ready market, and if our manufactures are
multiplying and improving with a rapidity
hitherto unknown, we can scarcely too highly
appreciate the wise policy of the national
government-unless the Authority o. facts and
experience be discarded, we cannot hesitate
to - knowledge its souzdness and efficiency.
And although the deisting laws respecting
commercial revenue may be, and unquestion-
ably are, susceptible of a more perfect adap-
tation TO the manufacturing interest, and
might be made, in point of revenue, more
productive, yet the strongest conviction rests
on my mind, g that the interest of every part
of the Union requires that this subject should.
be touched with the greatest caulion,' and
not without clear foresight g of the effects
to be produced by the slightest change''
The facilities fer aeata;l4ins Axtonsiso mon
ufactures are scarcely less distinguishing for
this community, than are our advantages for
commerce Facts are fully illustrative of
this trelh. BY recurring to the laws of the
Commensurate, it is found, that one hundred
and foty-line acts have, at different times.
passed tho legislature, aud are now extant,
for Incorporating manufacturing companies,
with an aggregate capital amounting to more
than sixteen millions Of dollars and it is pre-
sumed TO be within your knowledge that
nearly all these establishments are now in
successful operation. In reviewing the diver
sited cfncerns Of The people of the Common
wealth. feel entire confidence that your de-
llberatl9ns will result in measures calculated
to promPte their best interests.
by the provisions of an act passed the six
teenth day OF February last, entitled 6 an
Act to establish the Gloucester Canal Cor
poFation" the GoVernour, with the advice of
the Council, was empowered, under circum-
stances herein named, to authorize the Treas
urer OF fle Commonwealth to subscribe for
numbT of shares in the capital stock of
SAID CORPORATION. In pursuance of which, af-
ter due examination, authority has been given
to The treasurer to subscribe for thirty shares
iii said sock, 10 the name OF the Common
wealth, and to pay the assessments made
thereon according to law. Cutting canal
as propoied by the corporation, promises to be
OF great advantage TO the coasting trade of
the Contnonweaith, and the safety of its cit
izens who are engaged in prosecuting the
same. Areport of the Committee of Council
on this stbJect, will be herewith laid before
you.
In conformity TO the several resolutions of
the 25thpf February, and the 18th of June
last, for Enlarging the yard OF tie State Prison,
and for Erecting new wall, the work was
commenced as early in the season as practical
bic, and prosecuted with assiduity, until,
from theapproach of the cold, it was deemed
for the interest of The Commonwealth that
the work should be discontinued. The State
Prison sill has claims TO the attention Of the