STATE PAPERS. 



409 



vided against future enterprises on 

 the rights or the peace of the nation. 



" The contest in which the 

 United States are engaged appeals 

 for its support to every motive that 

 can animate an uncorrupted and 

 enlightened people, — to the love of 

 country,— to the pride of liberty, — 

 to the glorious founders of their 

 independence, — by a successful 

 vindication of its violated attri- 

 butes ; to the gratitude and 

 sympathy, which demands security 

 from the most degrading wrongs 

 of a class of citizens who have 

 proved so worthy of the protec- 

 tion of their country by their heroic 

 zeal in its defence ; and, finally, to 

 the sacred obligations, of trans- 

 mitting entire to future genera- 

 tions that precious patrimony of 

 national rights and independence, 

 which is held in trust by the pre- 

 sent from the goodness of Divine 

 Providence. 



" Being aware of the inconve- 

 niences to which a protracted ses- 

 sion, at this season, would be 

 liable, I limit the present commu- 

 nication to objects of primary 

 importance. In special messages 

 which may ensue, regard will be 

 had to the same consideration. 



«' James Madison." 

 " Washington, May 25, 1813." 



Remonstrance to the Hon. the Se- 

 nate, and the Hon. the House of 

 Representatives of the United 

 Statet, in Congress assembled. 



TheLegislatureof Massachusetts, 

 deeply impressed with the sufler- 

 ings of their constituents, and ex- 

 cited by the apprehensions of still 

 greater evils in prospect, feel im- 

 pell«df by a solemn sense of duty, 



to lay before the national govern- 

 ment, their view of the public in- 

 terests, and to express with the 

 plainness of freemen, the senti- 

 ments of the people of this ancient 

 and extensive commonwealth. 



Although the precise limits of 

 the powers reserved to the several 

 slate sovereignties have not been 

 defined in the constitution, yet we 

 fully coincide in the correctness of 

 the opinion advanced by our ve- 

 nerable chief magistrate, that 

 " our constitution ensures to us 

 the freedom of speech, and that 

 at this momentous period it is 

 our right and duty to inquire into 

 the grounds and origin of the pre- 

 sent war, to reflect on the state of 

 public affairs, and to express our 

 sentiments concerning them with 

 decency and frankness, and to en- 

 deavour, as far as our influence ex- 

 tends, to promote, by temperate, 

 and constitutional means, an ho- 

 nourable reconi,iliation. 



If then such are the rights and 

 duties of the people, surely those, 

 who, at this solemn crisis, are 

 selected by them, and who are 

 specially honoured with their con- 

 fidence, may venture respectfully, 

 but frankly, to express the senti- 

 ments and feelings of those whom 

 they have the honour to repre- 

 sent. 



The States, as well as the in- 

 dividuals composing them, are 

 parties to the national compact, 

 and it is their peculiar duty, espe- 

 cially in times of peril, to watch 

 over the rights, and guard the pri- 

 vileges solemnly guaranteed by that 

 instrument. Certainly then this 

 expression, from the legislature 

 of the free and independent com- 

 monwealth of Massachusetts, will 

 not be disregarded by the present 



