Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-02-09
THE CONVENTION.
THE PROCEEDINGS OFA
CONVENTION OF DELEGATES
Convened at Hartford. in the State of Con
necticut, December Is, 1914.
IooNrISuED PROM Qua LASH

4
Inat the stock of population already in
shefe states, is amply sufficient to render
th's cation IN due time sufficiently great and
powerful, "a not controyertible que stion--
Nor will II BE- seriously pretended, that the
national deficiency in wisdom, arts, science
arms or virtue, needs to be replenisbed
frosa fosaign countries. Still, IL is agreed.
tiias . liberal palicy should osfsr the rights
Of hospitality and the choice of settlement
tothose who are disposed to yisi. the conn.
Try. Bot why admit to participation ia
| the government, aliens who We're no par
tiesto the compact---who are ignorant OF
the nature Of oar Institutions, and have no
stake in the welfare Of the country. but
what Is recent andtransitory It's surel.
a privilege sufficient, to admit them after
due probation to become citizens, for oil
bus political purposes To extend it be.
yond those limits, is to encourage foreign
ers tp come to these states as candidates for
prelorment The convention forbear to
express their. opinion upon the inauspicious
effects which have already resulted to the
honour and peace Of this nation, from this
misplaced and indiscriminate liberalily.
TIE last amendment respects the limita.
tieno tAe Office Of president, TO single
constitutional term, and his eligibility from
the same state two terms in succession
lgon this topic it is superfuous to dilate
| The love of power is principle in the hu-
man heart which too often impels to the
use Of all practicable means to prolong its
duration The Office of president has
| charEns and attractions which operate as
i al - i. IL
| first aud most natural exertion Of vas
/ patronage. is directed towards the security
cfanew election. The interest Of the coun
try, The welfare Of the people, even homes
fameland respect for the opinion of posteri
ty, are secondary considerations. All tn,
enasnes of intrigue, all the means of cor
ruption, are likely to be employed for thu
object. A president whose political caree
Is limited to single election, may find M
other interest than will be promoted b.
| making it glorious to himself and beneficial
TO his country But the hope Of re election
is prolific of temptations, under which these
magnaniInous motives arc deprived of theil
principal force. The repeated election o
the president of the u States from any on,
state affords inducements and means fol-
intrigue, which tend to create an undu,
local influence, and to establish the domino
/ ton of particular states. The justice
therefore, of securing to every state fai
and equal chance for the election this Of
ticer from its own citizens, is apparent, ans
this object will be essentially promoted b.
preventing an election from the same stat,
twice in succession.
Such is the general view which this con
vention has thought prrper to submit, of thu
situation of these states, of their danger
and their duties Most of the subjects
which it embraces have separately received
an ample and luminous investigation, b,
the great and able assertors of the rights 0
their country, in the national legislature
and nothing more could be attempted OF
this occasion, than digest of general prin
ciples, and of recommendations, suited t
the present state of affairs. The peculia
difficulty and delicacy of performing, evei
this undertaking, will be appreciated by al
who think seriously upon the crisis Nego
tiations for peace, are at this hour supposed
to be pending, the issue of which must be
! deeply interesting to all NO measures
should be adopted, which might unfavora
! bly, affect that issue none which shoulG
embarrass the administration, II their pro
fessed desire for peace is sincere; and none
which on suppositiOn of their lnsincerity
should afford them pretexts for prolonging
the war. or relieving themselves from the
( responsibility of dishonorable peace II
is also devoutly to be wished, that an occa
sion NAV be afforded to all friends OF the
country, of all parties, and in all places, te
pause and consider the awful state to which
| pernicious counsels, and blind passions
have brought this people The number o.
those who perceive, and VINO are READY 'e
retrace errors, must it is believed, be ye'
sufficient to redeem the nation. 1t is ne
cessary to rally and unite them by the as
surance that no hostility to the constitution
| is meditated, and to obtain their aid N
placing it under guardians, who alone ear
save it from destruction. Should this Tor
tunate change be effected, the hope OF nap
piness and honor may once more dispei 'h'
| ~Io1x~x 0ur nation NAV We