History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

302 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
heavy taxes that we now labor under are grievous and burden-
some, therefore it is the opinion of many we might say of most
all that the Salaries of some of the principal Officers of Gov-
ernment having been granted at a time when the circulation of
cash was vastly greater than at present, therefore they now
become excessive and disproportionate to the ability of the
people to pay therefore we think ought to be reduced which
we think may be done without infringing on the Constitution
by voting all Government salaries on the last sittings of the
General Court for the next insuing year therefore you are to
use your best endeavors to have them salaries voted at the next
sitting of the General Court and that they are reduced to a
reasonable sum.
Fifthly : And we could wish that a system of laws might be
adopted as would tend to diffuse virtue and industry, and the
cultivation of our own manufactures of every kind as much as
possible, as we conceive that this is the only means of extri-
cating us out of our present difficulty and embarrassed situation.
Sixthly : In the present dangerous and critical situation of
affairs we feel ourselves under the most sacred obligations of
duty to enjoin on you that you use your utmost endeavor that
the difficulties that has arisen in this State may and that if
possible brought to a happy conclusion without the shedding of
blood we depricate the unhappy situation of this State when we
find many of our fellow citizens in arms in a most tumultuous
manner which we fear may be our ruin.
Seventhly : We apprehend that the present mode of appro-
priating the import and excise is not the most eligible but was
it to be applied towards the discharge of the foreign debt it
would answer a much 'more necessary and important purpose.
Eighthly :
Another
thing calls for your attention that is for
you to use your influence that all petitions that may be pre-
sented or brought before the General Court may be duly
attended to.
But sir we relying on your good conduct make no doubt but
that you will pay the utmost regard to these our desires so as
may lay in your power and concest with the spirit of the con-
stitution."