And the resolution was agreed to, and recommitted to the original committee, with instruction to bring in a bill accordingly.
Friday, June 12.
Massachusetts Memorial.
Mr. Lloyd presented a resolution of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, passed June 2d, instant, expressing their opinion "that an offensive war against Great Britain, under the present circumstances of this country, would be in the highest degree impolitic, unnecessary, and ruinous;" also, a memorial of the said House of Representatives, passed by a majority of one hundred and sixty-six, on the same subject; and the resolution and memorial were read, and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.
They are as follows:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
In the House of Representatives,
June 2, 1812.
Resolved, As the opinion of this House, that an offensive war against Great Britain, under the present circumstances of this country, would be in the highest degree impolitic, unnecessary, and ruinous; that the great body of the people of this Commonwealth are decidedly opposed to this measure, which they do not believe to be demanded by the honor or interests of the nation; and that a committee be appointed to prepare a respectful petition to be presented to Congress, praying them to arrest a calamity so greatly to be deprecated, and, by the removal of commercial restrictions, to restore, so far as depends on them, the benefits of trade and navigation, which are indispensable to the prosperity and comfort of the people of this Commonwealth.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.