- , ' r" x . . - . , , i , ,
1
. a. a. iv i m w m aw t rf- i iv u r mm . m m . ,
;,JVol. h . JiALElGH, MARCH 9, 1809. , TnTh,
MtaMaMasaiaiargHBar '
'V " " I At such a toint th trovtrnment I . .
. t . rr i . . ...... .,.. w W;rinre mt nTPTVin ni nn i n. .n
V HlVDIklOK. AT THt L'rPBfc EID Of FaIETTE'
YILlX-STXEKf, iuk Casso's cor.nj.K. l'airt
-Thee DoLtAfc rr.a axm-m, fayaulk half
1IULT IN AIT AVCB-SlKGLE PAfCS 10 CtNTS.
POLITICAL.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Tin po'iiirn rf this State has gained so much of the
ru'i . . ' t :i'i'n that wo presume no apology is
i,., iiavin devmcd sr gTeat a portion
j.r u.i- p. .per to in expositiHi ot" the sentiment
and vmwh of its legislature.
rVp.ii 1:" X ' (.unnior't knjftliy uilrtu vu given in
F.XTHACT noM the ANSWER
Oi Uc IIoiLi- i if Kcp.erntaUvei t tlie Speech of the
Lit uteiiunt Governor.
------
Wc lit now unwilling to believe that any
(Jiiunun oi sentiment run exist among; the
New Kn'.and state or their inhabitants as to
the obvious inti ingment of rights, secured to
them by the constitution of the United States ;
and still more so, that any man caa be weak
or wicked taough to construe a disposition to
sunport that constitution and preserve the u
nion, bv ft u -m penile and firm opposition to
acts which are repugnant to the firsi principles
and purposes of both, into a wish tefsecede from
the other states. If a secession has been con.
ceivedby the states or people referred to in your
honour's communication, it is unknown to the
house of Representatives, who absolutely dis
claim any participation therein, or having af
forded the least colour for such a charge. If
ever such suspicions existed, they caa have 4
risrn only in the minds of those who must be
gcnii)la that they had adopted and were per-
iStin in, measures which had driven the
p!r to desperation, by infringing rights, which
the r.ir .;ns of Massachusetts conceive to be
timJen.uble and winch they fondlv hoped had
bveii inviolably secured to them by the federal
coir.p.ict.
T'n.- legislature and people of Massachusetts
rverhi e been and now are firmly and sincere--U:
v he4 to the union of the states, and there
i?no st: i.; e tliev have not hen. anr!
bow, willing to Eubmit to in order to presf Ty 1 will afford, anfrt,.,:
Of ihis truth vour honour must be convinrcrL
At such a point the eovernment unlrtav;nr
i ..... 6
10 extcnu us powers Deyopd the limits of the
?otiiution, degenerates into tyrraonv. The
people, if temperate and firm will, we confi
dendy rely, eventually triumph over such usur
pations. Were it true, that the measures of govern
ment once passed into an, act, the constitu
tionality of that act is stamped with the seal
of infalibil'uy and il no longer a subject for the
deliberation or remonstrance of the citizens,
to what monstrous lengths might not an arbi
trary and tyrannical adminratration carry its
power. It has only to pass through rapid read
ings and midnight session, without allowing
time for reflection and debate to the final enac
ting of a bill, and btfurc thetople. ure even
informed of the intentions of their rulers, their
chains are rivetted, and the right of complaint
denied them. Were vjch a doctrine sound,
what species of oppression might not be in
flicted on the postrate liberties of our country.
If such a doctrine were true, our constitution
would be nothing but a name ,nay worse, a
fatal instrument to sanctify oppression, and
legalise the tyrranny whkh inflicts it.
Nothing but madness or imbecility could
put at hazard the existence of a balanced go
vernment, capable of operating and providing
uw jjuiiiivijuuu, uiucss iue administration
of that government, by its arbitrary imnosi-
uuiu imu cnuangcrea or ciesiroyuu the very
oojects tor tne protecuon ot which n had been
lusinuieu.
Auiiougn inenistoryot tae urst twelve vears
oJ our federal government -abundantly proves
mai uu Huministrauon, nowever wise and ban
.... f. j 11 . . '
j) , .ui uc oausiactory io ail our citizens, yet
have the people, at idl times, and under all
administrations, an undoubted right to insist
that neither the letter nor snirft ofthe mnc;.
tution shall toe violated, and most certainlv
ine paucy ana capacity ot that administration
may be questioned, which in a few years has
reaucea tnis creat. active and enter nr no- n a.
tion, from an unexampled height of commercia
prosperity, to comparative poverty and idle
ness. Assuredly that administration wbirk
meets aggression only with retirement and
non-intercourse laws, never can arnuiri. th
confidence of a commercial people, and never
1 will affrifrl nntr r. ... L '. . l ' - i a
Ve Uo not appeal to the unvarying conduct of
our citizens uuring tne g'orious administration
' of Washington and Adams, when the patrio
tic rndcav ours of our statesmen under the
mos: "herplcxing embarrassments, pcrsued and
I enic rd the interests and the honour of the
vnai'mn liut we can appeal to the patience
vidv which our fellow citizens have borne the
administration of those, whose boast itlias
been, to prescribe all the measures of their pre
decessors and most of th men whose talents
and virtues had assisted in securiug to the U.
States the blessintrs of a free povernmnt
1 he people in this section of the country had
undoubtedly flattered themselves, that the li-b'-nl
confidence which they had afforded to
th! professions of their rulers would induce a
regurd to their interests, and when experience
had shewn the competency of their measures
to the honour or safety of their country, they
would have had the magnanimity to correct
their crrours. It ought not to be a matter
of surprise that men who either on the floor
of congress or elsewhere, have adopted mca
Jfireft h stile to the union, subversive to its
principles, should endeavour to brand with the
calumny you mention the efforts of those who
sincerely aim at preserving the constitution,
by demon Crating the tendancy of their acts &
,ho SH'.'.tioilslv exert thema(lvpn tr r,.
-, , 1 V I .Ut, d
j . ' ' fav-vvttfca I HIU !'
oiv,r,Lt,ou ol the federal compact by stating did then, the protection instead of the annihi
( - .aj, ui ovin aw .rtm. - vix event wniCIl ' J IrtllOU OI
mstice and denredation. To the ni-Mmi art
ministration is the country-indebted for a sys
tem of measures as novel as it is imbecile, as
weak against foreign nations as it is oppressive
and ruinous, to our own.
The house of representatives certainly have
no disposition to assume the direction of those
affairs, the management of which has been so
properly confided to the general government ;
yet upon this occasion it may not be deemed
improper, to observe, that, from the scanty in
formation which has been suffered to escape,
they cannot discern in the situation of our fo
reign relations, any difliculties or embarrass
ruents which have not heretofore hrr eu-c
- vria JVV-V-VO
fully encountered by former administrations of
our goyeriimenr.v During the administrations
of Washington and Adams, circums'tances of
much greater political embairassraent were
met with a steadyeye, and firm and vigorous
purpose. ' Negotiations with both the great
contending powers ot JC-urope were commenc
ed, and by a steady adherence to the just rights
of .our nation, with an activ e preparation to
use force, when negociation failed, the patri
ots of that day successfully renelled rvcru un
just pretension, while they preserved the ho
nour, as wen as the resources and property or
uicir euow-cuicens. 1 ne House or Keore
sentatives, therefore, cannat doubt, that the
same measures resorted to with the same spi
rit and good faith, would effect now what thev
. j ' - - mvi
wis house cannot fail to deprecate as them-eat
tst of evils, and to prevent which they wilt
'nve no constitutional means unessayed. But
jUould be jjre atly to be deplored; if any thing
ft your honour's address could be construed
.'Qio a sanction, bv the chief maiistrat fthU
; ' - j .naa
wiiimonwealth, of a charge so unfounded & a
, inuer no unmerited.
" I hat the rep-ulatinn of om- mmmr;ni in
a O ' ' . "viiijuvikiAi 1 J
. , mi, (UU3i
yjsear confid . t ireneral
if.. 1 ' ' y : .0
l1 1 3" i rt,,u paipacie, that we
--r.-'vi uu 11 unnecessary to De repeated here
pr it not for the purpose of concurring with
yoar honour in the justice of the sentiment
PU?tbe liberty of dissussug the measures of
Jfar general government wjth freedom and
J?fo5s, though with fairness and moderation
:J1-?. S tllfi puse of representative never
tVi j: ' :;;v, ' ' r
i "V C'tCannOl DfyrOn wttt, mi Inn....
our commerce the m-espi vatinn .,
.... . " -
steaa 01 tne abandonment ol the nation's ho
nour. f
It cannot be denied, that jealousy and dis
trust have arisen among the people or" Massa
chusetts, and much is to be regretted, that they
have been so well founded. A evi..-f
licy ruinous to their interests, and uncongeni
al, to their enterDrisinf snirit a sustt...
1 o -r - "J ov-'w, iui
which the administration has vet. in r,,-
tllrn Qcbinm A . I i 1
iixj .lu-cijumc reason, nas borne
most heavily and UneOUallv On tlie nmlhern
nd commercial states. For relief from this
oppression the people fondlv 1
meeting of congreaa ; but alas ! how fatally
hav their "hrvroa Kaon kUi.l Tu.,' i i t
- - - - uwt'N-a wvvu umaLLU in-ir rii i m i i .
t - 1UIIIUIV
prayers have been answered by an act so arbi
trary and oppressive, that it violates the first
principles of civd liberty and the fundamental
provisions of the constitution. At such a mo
ment, and under such
thmjr which freemen hold dear: 5 of ta!re t
w-unot ie expected, and it ought not to be wish
V 1.4
that they should suffer in silence-. ; The
rifcht to sacrifice the interef nfnn. -. -.r
.ui . ------ v.,v,.. ui
i-re union to the prejudices, partialities, er
"""tnicocc ot another.
The house of representatives derive peculiar
satisfaction from contemplating the patriotism,
ordeT and discipline of our m.litia, and look
with confidence to this establishment forasnre
defence of their conntry and its rights suxh
a bulwark will aWay render "standing ar
mies in tune of peace" unnecessary for pro
tection ; and inadequate for usurpation or sub
jection at any time. So long as the militia
system shall bedcemed susceptible ofjmprove
ment so long will it be the favourite object of
U giative aid and shall meet the early andper
severing attenti0n cf the house of repri9ttL,
t!vrt. Si far a it lies in our power we will
take care that itall be capable of " moving
and being moved without mortifying delays
and dangerous collisions." Nothing will more
subserve thisvdesirable-end than the preserva.
tion of that discipline upon which depends the
regularity and precision of all military movp.
ments. A vigilant regard also to those mili-1
tary judgments, (upon which depend the pridt 1
and honour of a soldier) will tend greatly to
inspire confidence in our officers, to procure
"ucuience in their men, and restore to the sys
tem that harmony which constitutes its per
lection. 1 o cherish the interests of literature, at all
times, and all circumstances, the house of re
presentatives will consider amnno- th C-,t
most pleasing of their duties. Upon this sub-
r-' "c 'iu aiways oe ready most cheeriully
to co-operate with your honour.
Exu-act from the Answer ot the Senate to the Lieut.
Governor's Speech.
Miy il pleatf your Honour,
f c are constrained with trreat resnrrf tn
express Our mingled regret and astonishment,
that your honour should seem to doubt tl.n ra
pacity ox the people to decide on questions in
..riujj uicir unauenaDic rignts. Your honour
is pleased to ask " if citizens in the streets in
town meetings in multitudinous asscmhlet
pressed with dteD Dersoual interests are m.
pable of deciding on great complicated and
i-uiisiuuuonai questions .'" and to n hstrv-.- that
rom" hence cur peril."
cide- when the nublic functionari ah.,c
" " Ultll
trust ? We need not inform your honour,
that the meetings to which von allnHo K.,.,
Ijeen attended by men second to none in the
u. orates xor their legal and political know-
euge tor tneir love of order and for their
patriotism : many of whom art- orm ...
in the public service and confident mo'., r
them now holding high and important offices
mine state: and that these meetings have
been conducted with gre it order and decorum.
ian u ue necessary to remind your honouj
tnat the aggressor is responsible for all the coo
sequences which you have been pleased so na
thetically to describe ? That the people have
uui scut us ncrc ro surrenrtter their u..a
to maintain and defend them ? And that wr
have no authority to dispense with th rl, .;.
thu3 solemnly imposed i Your honour has
described " the calamities vhich introduced
ouri'ederal constitution," with great truth.
" Our government was humbled and ineffici
ent our union a thread our commerce un
regulated and unprotected our revenue no
thing our faith perfidy our creditbankrupt-
ey our privation the want of everything
individuals were embarrassed," &c. " and our
courts ot justice stopped, iic.
Can it be necessary to remind your honour
that the administration of Washington, pro
duced precisely the reverse of the picture which
you have been pleased to draw so much to the
life.
And will you permit us to ask in our ,irn
but in your Honour's words, " whence then
the causes of jealousy, distrust, altercation
and bitter aspersion" of that great and good
man, and upon all who were attached to his
measures. " Whence the ever to he re o-i- tri
indiscretions, suddenness and individual rash
ness which denounced" an administration, that
safely guided , the people to prosperity and
glory, amidst great and intending dangers i
Were these calumniators "more worthy of
confidence," " better instructed," or did they
-possess nigner means ol information'
were they less " blinded by their interest,"
less "actuated by prejudice or stimulated 'bv
a. a... yy . i i .... . V
rescnuncms man the political saviour of his
country and his compatriots ? Whence then
" the misrepresentations, groundless suspici
ons, violent and indiscriminate abuse" thrmvn
upon men who had a right to call for "union"
in support ot their measures upon men who
had given to the public " the proof of !..;
lents, xeal and labors to serve and render tlwir
cfibntrr jrreaj and happy," '
dopt them. "Vv htve vcriiirrl nert
expedients-. rc responsible la their coun
try for the dut? result." ' "
Your honour it pleased to inquire" " if w V
... -an " uu uiaiKiuinuu paucqvr,
and endure niivstinn iw fnnmk. In.mp .
, J I "
and give to government (r unimpedett
experiment upon fore if i nations.
1 further' they would retreat if they
1 he administration has ind edbeen 'nret
ed to the very wall.' arid vfe know iot KoW
much
could.
Hut may it please your honour we huve
seen as little ol ' spirit' as of policy in the Km
bargo System W'e know tlrt the Kmperor
approves, if he did not dictate the meJsure
Wekno.v that Great Hritain reCi ive iinmcn
advantage from the sunendcr to her of the
whole trade of the world and we cnn,t
imagine why the people should be called un-
on to endure privations' anv lonc-er. unleim
the administration, having failed to operate 0rtT
uie iears or intcrrsf ol the warrinp powers,'
expect, ere lons, to obtain some relief from
'-heir compassion.
We most heartily concur with vour honour.
''that there is a point in national sensibilitvv
as in the feelings of men. where natienr. anrl
submission end." And when that crisis shall
arrive your honour may rest assured that the
people of New Lne-land will f a von haw
been pleased to say) rally round the ' national
Constitution. But, sir, they will not 'cling
to an administration which has brought then
io me urinic or riMtrnrtmn ihv ut i n
.....j ... ( ;-
keeD their hold in the Mir;i r,f it. t'
nor 'sink with it into the frightful abyss.'; ; r2
No, sir ! The people of Massachusetts will A
not willingly become the victims to fruitless , V:V
experiment. "
touching the Militia we cannot conceal " t
)ur regret that the administration of the ge
neral government has not discovered that de
pendence upon 1 an establishment which your
Honour is pleased justly to observe, is 'so
preferable to a standing army in time of peace,
and to which the Constitution looks v. ith con
fidence for the defence of our country.'
UNITED STATES.
It
Hi
INSIST
Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
NON-INTEItCOUHSE
DEBATE
On Mr. Bibb's motion to strike out the 12tli s-ction. '
(Con ri n I E d.)
Mr. Culpepper opposed it. He conceived that k
the embargt? laws must if possible be repeal-
fd and though he was not partial to the hill un
der cons deration, yet he preferred it to a conti
nuance of the embargo, which if not repealed
he conceived must involve the country in ru
in. He entered at some length into a view of,
the advantages and disadvantages of external
commerce, heretofore under the treatyof '94,
with Great Britain : and censured thereierti.
on by this government of the offer tn ren,ir
that treaty. He reclaimed submission to the
decrees and ordei s, and was against rar ; but
oh iiimsuic iu unite xar juic
ncan people, ai.d afford a further erprtrtunity
for negociation. Should this fail, he' should
ue prepared ;n earnest tor war.
Mr. Cook was against the motion. He con
sidered the embargo as a measure which in its
friendship for commerce, was destroying it
by grasping it too tight. He wished its grasp
to be loosened.
Mr. G. W. Campbell next took the floor.
He W'Hi in favour Of the motion nnrlrr rnmi
deration. He said he was surprized at the
change which a few weeks, during which he
had been absent from indisposition, had'
produced on the minds of the members of the
house.' It seemed as if some enrhantmen
had spread itself over them, whiqh bef per.
lcivcu anci yet am not wish to remove.-- He
Id.
a tew weeks ago the Housi; had decided ifa tf f
vour of acoiu'muanceof th4 pintat'ra.WI-''f '
the only means of honourably javoidipg war; -
and some of tlfver ' "I
X
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