THE PATRIOTICK PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS, During their Session from Jan. 26, to March 4, 1809. CONSISTING OF The Lieutenant Governor's Speech, Report on the Lieutenant Gover- Answer of both Houses, Report of the Joint Committed on nour's Military Orders, with three Memorial to Congress, Petitions, Sold by him at No. 79, State Street, and Thomas Wells, No. 3, Hanover Street. 1809. Checked PREFACE. THE legislature of Massachusetts having closed its session, the true friends of our country must forever recollect its publick measures with equal pride and gratitude. Before our last election, the fortunes of our country seemed desperate. The legislature had then sanctioned the destructive system of Mr. Jefferson, whose origin can be found but in treachery or folly, wrong feelings, or absurd theories, and whose result, if the experiment was fairly tried, would have been our ruin. The success of the federal tickets in our counties and towns, gave new hopes to the patriots who had struggled so hard for it. Their hopes have been realized. On the convention of the legislature in May, the first object of the federalists was the revival and restoration of the government to energy and confidence. In the appointment to offices, and in the removal of incumbents, the publick interest was studied and has been secured. Their political opponents must confess, that in the selection of candidates, there was no sacrifice of duty to their love of party or of partizans. In their various answers to the communications of the executive, they have ever expressed just respect to the |