It is with pleasure that the two Branches of the Legislature of Massachusetts improve the opportunity afforded by their annual meeting, to offer to you the only tribute which can be acceptable to the Chief Magistrate of a free Nation;—the tribute of their approbation;—and to present the only homage which a grateful People can safely pay to their most distinguished Citizen;—the homage of their confidence & esteem.

We are happy in being able to assure you, that the sentiments which we now express for ourselves, have during the auspicious period of your administration, experienced a constant and increasing progression with the great body of our Constituents. They have viewed with gratification, a system of frugality, retrenchment & economy in our National expeditures (congenial to the primitive habits & systems of Massachusetts) introduced & pursued with a faithful & disinterested perseverance. As a natural consequence of this system, so plain & obvious in its principles, and so familiar in its application to their private & local concerns; they have contemplated with satisfaction the relinquishment to the several State Governments of those branches of public revenue, which had, by the Constitution, been submitted to the control of the federal Government.—under the confidence, that they would be put into requisition, only upon extraordinary exigencies, & at periods of great national pressure. They have found the increasing product of the public revenue, applied with a steady & unvarying hand, to the rapid extinction of a debt, which had threatened by its increasing weight to repress the rising energies of an infant Nation. It is in view of those effective measures which have been adopted for the accomplishment of this great & desirable object, that our peculiar solicitude has been excited; and it is in their successful execution that our highest expectations have been surpassed.

Our intercourse with the Nations of Europe, tho’ frequently embarrassed by the jealousy & rivalship of contending interests, has been preserved on terms conducive to our national interest, & compatible with our national honor: and the inestimable blessings of peace have been secured to our country, during a period of unexampled difficulty devastation & distress thro the civilized world: whilst by the judicious application of our public force we have commanded the respect of those piratical & barbarous powers, upon whom the customary laws of Nations, or the common principles of reason & justice, have no governing influence. The abundant advantages of our agricultural & manufacturing interests have been secured to us, by means the most safe efficient & desirable;—the removal of burdensome impositions & embarrassing restrictions. Our extensive Commerce, tho harrassed at times by vexatious seizures, & unreasonable interruptions, has under the fostering care of the Government, been attended with a very general & encouraging success.

The recent extension of our territorial limits (an event which is too often gratifying only to the pride and ambition of Nations) derives in this instance, its chief importance to us from its capacity of contribing to our permanent safety & defence:—and above all from the morality of the means by which it has been obtained.

It has been a consideration consoling to the feelings of philanthropy and propitious to the interests of humanity, that your benevolent efforts for the civilization of our aboriginal inhabitants, have been crowned with a success, worthy of the ardent & generous zeal with which they have been directed.

Impressed, as we are, with these unfeigned & grateful sentiments of approbation, towards the past measures of your administration; we have only to assure you of that rational & steadfast confidence, with which they have inspired us respecting the future:—and that whether our rights are hereafter to be vindicated, against the aggressions of foreign foes, or the machinations of internal conspirators,—the People of Massachusetts will not be found wanting in their duty to the calls of their Country or the requisitions of their Government.

That your life and personal happiness may long be protected by a beneficent Providence;—and your public usefulness for many years continued,—is, for the sake of our Country, our sincere & ardent wish.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 In Senate January the 22d. 1807.

The foregoing Address being read & accepted, It is ordered—That the President of the Senate, & the Speaker of the House of Representatives transmit the same to the President of the United States.

Sent down for concurrence