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me, as to render the people of the United States prosperous and happy. I rely with entire confidence, on your co-operation in objects equally your care; and that our mutual labours will serve to increase and confirm union among our fellow citizens, and an unshaken attachment to our government.

UNITED STATES, December 3d, 1799.

JOHN ADAMS,

ANSWER OF THE SENATE.

ACCEPT, Sir, the respectful acknowledg ments of the Senate of the United States for your Speech delivered to both houses of Congress at the opening of the present session.

While we devoutly join you in offering our thanks to Almighty God for the return of health to our cities, and for the general prosperity of the country; we cannot refrain from lamenting that the arts and calumnies of factious designing men have excited open rebellion a second time in Pennsylvania; and thereby compelled the employment of a military force to aid the civil authority in the execution of the laws. We rejoice that your vigilance, energy and well, timed exertions have crushed so daring an opposition, and prevented the spreading of such treasonable combinations. The promptitude and zeal dis. played by the troops called to suppress this insurrection, deserve our highest commendation and praise, and afford a pleasing proof of the spirit and alacrity with which our fellow-citizens are ready to maintain the authority of our excellent government.

Knowing as we do, that the United States are sincerely anxious for a fair and liberal execution of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, entered

into with Great-Britain, we learn with regret that the progress of adjustment has been interrupted by a difference of opinion among the Commissioners. We hope, however, that the justice, the moderation and the obvious interests of both parties will lead to satisfactory explanations, and that the business will then go forward to an amicable close of all differences and demands between the two countries. We are fully persuaded that the Legislature of the United States will cheerfully enable you to realize your assurances of performing on our part, all engagements under our treaties with punctuality, and the most scrupulous good faith.

When we reficct upon the uncertainty of the result of the late mission to France, and upon the uncommon nature, extent and aspect of the war now raging in Europe, which affects materially our relations with the powers at war, and which has changed the condition of their colonies in our neighbourhood; we are of opinion with you, that it would be neither wise nor safe to relax our measures of defence, or to lessen any of our preparations to repel aggression.

Our enquiries and attention shall be carefully directed to the various other important subjects which you have recommended to our consideration; and from our experience of your past administration, we anticipate with the highest confidence your strenuous co-operation in all measures which have a tendency to promote and extend our national interests and hap piness.

SAMUEL LIVERMORE, President of the Senate pro tempore.

THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE,

I THANK you for this address. I wish you all possible success and satisfaction, in your delibe

rations on the means which have a tendency to pro. mote and extend our national interests and happiness; and I assure you, that in all your measures directed to those great objects, you may at all times rely with the highest confidence on my cordial co-operation,

The praise of the Senate, so judiciously conferred on the promptitude and zeal of the troops called to suppress the insurrection, as it falls from so high authority, must make a deep impression, both as a terror to the disobedient, and an encouragement of such as do well.

JOHN ADAMS.

United States, Dec. 10, 1799,

ANSWER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR,

WHILE the House of Representatives contemplate the flattering prospects of abundance from the labors of the people by land and by sea, the prosperity of our extended commerce, notwithstanding interruptions occasioned by the belligerent state of a great part of the world; the return of health, industry, and trade to those cities which have lately been afflicted with disease, and the various and inestimable advantages, civil and religious, which, secured under our happy frame of government, are continued to us unimpaired, we cannot fail to offer up to a benevolent Deity our sincere thanks, for these, the merciful dispensations of his protecting providence.

That any portion of the people of America should permit themselves, amidst such numerous blessings, to be seduced by the arts and misrepresentations of designing men, into an open resistance of a law of the United States, cannot be heard without deep and

serious regret. Under a constitution where the public burthens can only be imposed by the people themselves, for their own benefit, and to promote their own objects, a hope might well have been indulged that the general interest would have been too well understood, and the general welfare too highly. prized, to have produced in any of our citizens a disposition to hazard so much felicity, by the criminal effort of a part, to oppose with lawless violence the will of the whole. While we lament that depravity which could produce a defiance of the civil authority, and render indispensible the aid of the military force of the nation, real consolation is to be derived from the promptness and fidelity with which that aid was afforded. That zealous and active cooperation with the judicial power, of the volunteers and militia called into service, which has restored order and submission to the laws, is a pleasing evidence of the attachment of our fellow citizens to their own free government, and of the truly patriotic alacrity with which they will support it.

To give due effect to the civil administration of government, and to ensure a just execution of the laws, are objects of such real magnitude as to secure a proper attention to your recommendation of a revision and amendment of the judicial system.

Highly approving, as we do, the pacific and humane policy which has been invariably professed, and sincerely pursued by the Executive authority of the United States, a policy which our best interests enjoined, and of which honor has permitted the observance, we consider as the most unequivocal proof of your inflexible perseverance in the same well chosen system, your preparation to meet the first indications on the part of the French Republic, of a disposition to accommodate the existing differences between the two countries, by a nomination of Ministers on certain conditions, which the honor of our

country unquestionably dictated, and which its moderation had certainly given it a right to prescribe. When the assurances thus required of the French government, previous to the departure of our Envoys, had been given through their Minister of foreign relations, the direction that they should proceed on their mission, was, on your part, a completion of the measure, and manifests the sincerity with which it was commenced. We offer up our fervent prayers to the Supreme Ruler of the universe for the success of their embassy, and that it may be productive of peace and happiness to our common country. The uniform tenor of your conduct through a life useful to your fellow-citizens and honorable to yourself, gives a sure pledge of the sincerity with which the avowed objects of the negociation will be pursued on your part, and we earnestly pray that similar dispositions may be displayed on the part of France. The differences which unfortunately subsist between the two nations cannot fail, in that event, to be happily terminated. To produce this end, to all so desirable, firmness, moderation, and union at home, constitute, we are persuaded, the surest means. The character of the gentlemen you have deputed, and still more, the character of the government which deputes them, are safe pledges to their country, that nothing incompatible with is honor or interest, nothing inconsistent with our obligations of good faith or friendship to any other nation, will be stipulated.

We learn, with pleasure, that our citizens with their property trading to those ports of St. Domingo with which commercial intercourse has been renewed, have been duly respected, and that privateering from those ports has ceased.

With you we sincerely regret that the execution of the VIth article of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation with Great-Britain, an article pro

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