Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-01-14
Legislature Of Massachusetts.
SECOND SESSION.
BosroN, Jan, 8.
GENERAL COURT.

BosToN, Jan. 8.
GENERAL COURT.
quorum of both Houses being formed, no
tee thereof was given by joint committee tc
the Governor, who soon after reported that His
Excellency would make communication by
message at o'clock.
In the House OF Representatives, Petition
was presented and referred from Ephraim No.
rey and others TO be Incorporated as the SEC.
on d Unlversalist Society in Brookfeld.
In the Senate, twenty-five members were
present.
At one o'clock the Secretary of the Com,
monwealth came in and delivered the follow.
ing Message from the Governor, which wa:
read, and the two Houses adjourned.
MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate and
Gentlemen Of tie House of Representatives. :
On your return TO the Capital, at the com,
mencement of new year, to resume the I'M
portant duties incumbent on the immediate
representatives of the people, it must be a
source Of great satisfaction to have observed
the general prosperity, which by the blessing
of Heaven, prevails throughout the Common
wealth: and what is also the best comment on
our institutions, civil and sacred. To the
morals and good habits of the people, we are
indebted for that respect for the laws, which
secures their due observance, and for the or
derby and discreet conduct, which guarantees
to US the peaceable enjoyment of our lights
and privileges.
Agriculture, the staple source of the health
and strength of the state, encouraged and aid
ed by government, is gradually improving
and, with continuance of the patriotic zeal
andexertions of individual citizens, will attain
higher degrees o! perfection. Manufacturing
establishments are extending and increasing
and as the means Of protecting them by dis
eliminating duties on foreign imports, is by
the constitution, vested exclusively in the fed.
eral government, it is confidently hoped, that,
on revision Of the existing tariff, an increase
OF duty on certain articles, and on those par.
ticularly which are of primary necessity, may
be considered as accordant with, if not requir.
ed by national policy. Our commerce and
fisheries, those great sources Of wealth, and OF
that peculiar force, on which We rely for our
maratime defence, have been successful. The
arts and sciences, our schools and other semi
naries of learning, existing on permanent foun.
dations, and supported by public opinion, are
advancing in improvement.
The fiscal affairs Of the Commonwealth, also
afford cause of satisfaction. By the report
which the Treasurer will lay before you, it
will appear, that on the first of the present
month, the balance Of property in favour of
the Commonwealth, exclusive of the bank tax
and auction duty, amounted to S142, 522 O3,
of which, $780, "a was in cash.
The claim of the Commonwealth on the gov.
eminent Of the United States, for military sup
plies and services rendered during the last
war, engaged the early attention of the Exec
utive. Under the authority of aresolve ofthe
General Court, passed February 18th, 1923,
two Agents were appointed in June last, who
proceeded Immediately to Washington, to adj
just and procure settlement Of this claim.
With the exception of an interval occasoned
by the sickness Of one Of them, they have be n
constantly engaged in preparing and presenting
it in detail, which as had anticipated, is found
to be work requiring much time and labour.
transmit herewith, the latest communication
received from the Agents, exhibiting the actu-
al state of the claim, and from which judg-
ment may be formed of the probability of re-
suit founded on just principles, and conforma-
BILE tothe expectations Of the Commonwealth.
In conformity to resolve Of the 18th Of June