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BOSTON, 'January
Commonwealth of Majfachufetts.
By His Excellency JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq. Governor
©f the Commonwealth of Mafiachufetts.
j4n ADDRESS to the good people of the Commonwealth.
A SPIRIT of difc'onterit, originating in supposed grievances,
having in the course of the last fall, stimulated many of
the citizens in several of the coouties of this commonwealth,-
to the commiffionof acts subversive of government, and of the
peace and security derived from it, I thought it expedient to
aflcmble, and accordingly did affembfe, the general court,
for the special purpose of considering those grievances, and
all complaints whatever, and, if possible, removing the causes
of them. A patient and candid attention was paid to the
business of the fefiion, and every relief given, confident with
the existence of Government, apd the principles of equal
justice. These the legillature could not infringe, without
bringing upon themferves the detestation of mankind, and the
frowns of Heaven.
But relief was nos the only objeft, upon which the general
court bellowed their attention. In tenderness to the misguid
ed, and in hopes of reclaiming the obstinate, an aft of in
demnity was passed tor all the outrages which had been com
mitted against law, and the officers of it, upon this mild con
dition alone, that the perpetrators ftjould return to a due
submission to lawful anthority ; and as a ted of their sincerity,
ffiould, before the firrt day of January following, take and
fubferibe the oaths of allegiance, required by the cofiftitution.
In addition to these measures, the state of the treasury, the
expenditure of monies received, the fituarion of our foreign
and domestic debt, and other important matters, were in
particular detail, communicated to the people, by an address
from the Legislature. In that address they were also informed
of the dangerous and deftruCtive tendency of popular infur
reCtions ; and the insurgents were conjured, in the moll
serious and persuasive maimer, to deftft from their lawless
condurt, left they should involve themfelVes and their country
in ruin. But what have been the confequenceS ? The mea
sures intended for giving them fatisfaCtion, aud indemnity
have been spurned at: and fincc the publication of those mea
sures, the fame insurgents have frequently embodied, and 1
with a military force, repeatedly interrupted the judicial
courts in the county of Hamplhire and Worcester :—which
demonstrates that the government is held by them at open
defiance ; and the laws are, in those counties, laid prostrate.
By a rcfolve of the 24th of-OCtober, the lcgiftature ex
prefled their full confidence, that the Governor would per
l'evere in the exercise of the powers veiled in him by the cou
llitution, fer enforcing due obedience to- the authority and
laws of and for preventing any attempts to
interrupt the adminiftratiou of law and justice j upon which
the peace and fafety Os the commonwealth so eflentially
depend.
In the present dangerous and critical fixation of affairs, I*
feci myfeif couftrained, bv the molt sacred obligations of duty,
and for the purposes intended by the late legillature, to call
those powers into immediate exercise, for the protection of
the commonwealth, against the attempts of all persons who
thall enterprise its dell ruts ion, invasion,, detriment, or
annoyance :and I have accordingly, pursuant to my own ideas
of duty, as well as the expectations of the general court, or
dered apart of the militia to afiemble inarms, for the pur
pose of protecting the judicial court next to be holden in the
county of YVorcefter ; of aiding die civil magistrate to exe
cute the laws ; of repelling all insurgents against the govern
ment, and of apprehending all disturbers of the public peace.
It is now become evident, that the object of the insurgents
is to annihilate our present happy constitution, or to force
the general court into measures repugnant to- every idea, of
justice, good faith, and uational policy : and those who en
courage, or in any way aftift them, either individually, or in
a corporate capacity, do partake of their guilt, au‘d willbe
legally refponlible for it.
Success, on the part of the insurgents, in either of those
views, rauft be deftruCtive of civil liberty, and of the impor
tant bldlings derived from it: and as it would be the refolt
of force, undirected by any moral principle, it mult finally
terminate m despotism in the worst of its forms.
Is then the goodly fabric of freedom, which cost us so much
blood and treasure, so loon to be throwm into ruins ? Is it to
Hand but just long enough, and for no other purpose, than to
hatter the tyrants of the earth in their darling maxim, that
mankind is not made to be free ?
The pfefent is certainly a moil interesting period ; and if
we wifli tofupport that goodie-fabric, and to avoid domestic
slavery, men of principle, the friends of justice and the con
ilitirtion, mull now take their ftatiocs, and unite under the
government in every effort for fupprelling the present commo
tions and all infurre&ions whatever, or be infamoufly acceffary
to their own and their country’s ruin. But in such a union,
should they prove as firm in the iupport of jullice and the con
flitution, as the insurgents have been obstinate in trampling
them under their feet, the tide of government will have so
decided a superiority as to put au end to the present convul
sions, and restore a regular administration of law, without
the horrors of bloodshed, and a civil war : which I mod
ardently deprecate j and will fludiouily endeavour to prevent.
But unless such aforce appears, thole which indeed are the
greatest of national civils, leem inevitable.
If the couftitutioii is to be deltroyed, and infurreflion ttalk
unopposed by authority, individuals as they regard their
own happiness and freedom, Will from' necessity, combine
for defence, and meet force with force ; or voluntarily and
ingloriously rclinquilh the bleflings, without which life
would ctafeto be desirable; and which, by the laws of God
and nature, ought pever to be tamely surrendered.
What would be the end of such events; is known only to
him who can open- the volume and read the pages of futurity*
Strongly impressed with the thrutb of these ideas, I mull
conjure the good people of the commonwealth, as they value
life and the enjoyments of it, as they regard their own cha
racters, and the dignity of human nature, to summon up
every virtuous principle within them, and to co-'operate with
government in every necessary exertion, for restoring to the
commonwealth that order, harmony ami peace, upon which
its character and happiness do elTentially depend.
Given at the council-chamber, in Bolton, the twelfth
day of January, 1787, and in the eleventh year of the
independence of the confederated Bates of America.
JAMES BOWDOIN.
By his Excellency's command
JOHN AVERY, jun. Secretary.
MIDDLETON, January 15.
We hear from Worcester, that about 500 men, under the '
command of Gen. ; Lincoln, have arrived there,- to proted the
court, which according to adjournment, is to fit there to
> morrow ; and that captain Shays is forming a body of men
(who are calling their pewter into bullets) to oppose them!
Therefore we may exped soon to hear of bloodshed.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
; * Barracks Hartford , Jan. 10.
Colouel Humphreys, having cftablifhed the head quarters
of his regiment at Hartford ; and having made arrangements
of barracks,ffuel and provisions j delires the recruiting officers
to use their utmost exertions to obtain and forward imme
■’ diately the full number of men to the rendezvous.
In addition to the encouragements of pay and very liberal
rations, the following articles of cloathing will be allowed to
each soldier annually :
1 Coat, 1 Veil, 2 Pairs woollen overalls, 2 Pairs linen
ditto, 4 Pairs ofihoes, 4 ffiirts, 1 Leather Bock, 1 Stock
clap, 1 Hat or cap, 1 Pair ffioe buckles, 4 Pairs of socks,
I Blanket.
The uniform of the regiment will be, blue ground,- red fac
ings and cuffs.—White veils and overalls.
The non-commissioned officers will be diilingtiifiied by
ffioulcler-knots ; and the cloathing of the ferjeants will be oS
a better quality than that of the privates.
Permission. will be given to such non-commissioned offi
i cers, &c. fofdiers of the former continental army, as appear
by their difeharges to have been entitled to honorable di
ttinft'ions for three or fix years faithful services, to refurae the
fame badges of merit they formerly wore. Every occasion
! shall be taken to notice and reward extraordinary merit.
Regimental colours and uniform drums are expeited be
fore the regiment takes the field.
Uniformity of appearance wilTbe studiously attended to, in
the minutest articles, from the firft formation. of the corps.
The men are to wear their hair platted, and fattened up
behind under their hats.
As the term of inliftment is only for three'years, unless soon
er difeharged as the/weftern country in which the corps is
expected to operate, will afford a fine opportunity to young
men for locating excellent farms at a moderate expence; and
as more than seventy recruits have already arrived ; the lieu
tenant- colonel-commandant (in conformity to the recruiting
< inflruilions he has ittued) earneftiy requeuing none but the