64 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1807.

Mr. W. H. Brown, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled. An act for the relief of Mar-
tin Brown, an insolvent debtor, of Saint-Mary's county; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on
the table.

The house, according to the order of the day, proceeded to the second reading of the bill for opening and
extending of Pratt-street in the city of Baltimore, and, on motion, the question was put, That the further con-
sideration of the same be referred to the tenth day of November next? The yeas and nays being required, ap-

peared as follow:

AFFIRMATIVE.

W. H. Brown, Merriken, Stevens, Frazier, Muir, Hawkins, Jump. Ray,
Blakistone, Reynolds, Gale, of Som. Henry, Shaaff, Shriver, Bowles, Bruce,
Gardiner, Stone, Winder, Hall, Sudler, Streett, Schnebly, Tomlinson,
C. D Hodges, Green, Dennis, Callis, J. Brown, Ayres, Carroll,. Greenwell 3.
O. Williams, Rogerson, Ennalls, B. Hodges, Sturgis, Bayard, Darne,

NEGATIVE.

W. Moffitt, Little, Jackson, Porter, Robins, Kuhn, Holbrook, Steuart,
Welch, Harryman. King, Page, Dashiell, Forwood, Boon, Linthicum,
Belt, M. Brown, Mitchell, J. Williams, Biggs. Davis, T. Dorsey, Briscoe. 27.
Emerson, P. Spencer, Cox,

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

On motion, That the journal of the 4th December be corrected, ORDERED, That Mr. Winder, Mr. Shaaff
and Mr. Hall, be a committee to examine the propriety and most proper mode of doing the same.

The clerk of the senate delivers a letter from the president of the United States, enclosing an address to the
legislature of this state. Ordered that the same be placed on the journal at length.

WASHINGTON, December 10, 1807.
GENTLEMEN,

I RECEIVED, sometime ago, from the President of the Senate,, and Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives, of Maryland, an address of that Legislature, to which, on public considerations, it was thought ad-
viseable that the answer should be deferred. I now ask permission to convey the answer to the Legislature
through the same channel, and to tender you the assurances of. my high consideration. and respect.

TH. JEFFERSON.

The Hon'ble The President of the Senate, and
The Speaker of the H. of Representatives of Maryland.

To THE LEGISLATURE OF MARYLAND;

I RECEIVED, in due season, the address of the legislature of Maryland, bearing date the. 3d day of January
last, in which, with their approbation of the general course of my administration, they were so good as to ex-
press their desire that I would consent to be proposed again to the public voice on the expiration of my present
term of office. Entertaining, as I do, for the legislature of Maryland, those sentiments of high respect which
would have prompted an immediate answer, I was certain, nevertheless, they would approve a delay which had
for its object to avoid a premature agitation of the public mind on a subject so interesting as the election of a
chief magistrate.

That I should lay down my charge at a proper period is as much a duty as to have borne it faithfully. If some
termination to the services of the chief magistrate be not fixed by the constitution, or supplied by practice, his
office, nominally for years, will, in fact, become for life; and history shews how easily that degenerates into an
inheritance. Believing that a representative government, responsible at short periods of election, is that which
produces the greatest sum of happiness to mankind, I feel it a duty to do no act which shall essentially impair
that principle; and I should unwillingly be the person who, disregarding the sound precedent set by an illustrious
predecessor, should furnish the first example of prolongation beyond the second term of office.

Truth also requires me to add, that I am sensible of that decline which advancing years bring on; and, feel-
ing their physical, I ought not to doubt their mental effect. Happy if I am the first to perceive, and to obey

this admonition of nature, and to solicit a retreat from cares too great for the wearied faculties of age.

For the approbation which the legislature of Maryland has been pleased to express of the principles and mea-
sures pursued in the management of their affairs, I am sincerely thankful; and should I be so fortunate as to
carry into retirement the equal approbation and good will of my fellow-citizens generally, it will be the comfort
ef my future days, and will close a service of forty years with the only reward it ever wished.

TH. JEFFERSON.

DECEMBER 10, 1807,

And the bill to establish a public road in Prince-George's county from Lansdale's Branch to intersect a road
leading to the Oyster-shell Landing, on Patuxent river, endorsed, " will pass. " Ordered to be. engrossed. '

Mr. Jackson, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of John Wilkins, of Somerset county, report, that they
have taken the same into consideration, and arc of opinion that the prayer of the petitioner ought to be granted,
they therefore submit to the consideration of the legislature the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That all proceedings against John Wilkins, and his securities, on a judgment obtained against
them on account of a balance due the state by the said John Wilkins, as sheriff of Somerset county, be and are