The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-03-28
From the National Intelligencer.
Hartford observation-disclosures Z

Hartford OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 7.
The remarks suggested, and the documents
quoted in he foregoing letters, evidently
place it in The power of all who see Fl 10
read Them TO become equally convsrsant with
the whole history ofthe Hartford Convention
and 's proceedings. IS are the surviving mem.
bers that body. II is moi less certain from
ne same evidence thai nothing more was
done, or recommended 10 be done, in opposi
lion 10 the measures OF government, than had
,ppesre in other states and districts, and
public m etngs Of people who Were reluc-
iant in the prosecution Of the war No topic
OF complaint or remonsfrsnce was there urged
which had mol been before iosis'ed 90 with
equal, and sometimes more impassioned We
hemence. both within and without the walls
of Congress. They neither counsel'ed or
proceeded 10 any overt act OF resistance 10 the
laws, or threatened the slightest violation of
The forms of the constitution. The extent Of
their offending consisted merely IN he mode
adopted to give weight and efficacy 10 opin-
ions and theories, which. though not before
condensed under sanction 80 formal. were
familiar. TO the d.seniients from the policy of
the administration. in every section OF the
country. The aggravations Of their political
errors. f such they were. arc redncibe 10 the
simple act OF concerning. as deputies from states
and speaking with one accord. but do moi
consist in the intrinsic unlawiulness. or even
pecuIisrity OF their language or actions
Concerning The exped,ency Of conventions Of
states for these or other purposes, il is difficult
Tor any one member 10 speak with propriety.
as none is authorized TO express the private
sentiments Of The rest. But II may safely he
affirmed Of them. with one exception that
no equal number Of men surpassed them in
pretensions TO moral worth. sound sense. 20
li'it 2 experience. and the enio, lnent of pub
lie confidence in their respective states none
whose 6de'iy'to the Union was guaranteed
by stronger pledges, and to whose welfare
and happiness any revolutionary struggle
would have been more disastrous and, il may
be added none. OF whom so large portion had
bid adieu 10 the aluremenis and cares OF OH
ces and hcnors, and retired spontaneously TO
the shade Of private lie. II i. p,esunab'e
that such men, acting from the conviction of
their understandings at the time. would not
now incline 10 perform penance, or pr.citiate
favor at the expense of their Independence.
and sincerity, and dignity Of characters yet
il is certain that many If not all Of them.
wou d candidy admit that, with knowledge
since acquired Of The extreme jealousy and
misrep] sentation TO which a convention Of
states Us, ever be obnoxious. they would
find I'd enhancement, even with the pures, mo-
tives TO give countenance to a measure which
by offending public opinion wou'd be divesied
Of .htSpower of doing good. As the amend
mens TO The old confederation, in other words
the tdersl constitution itseC) grew out Of
coventions of delegates from few states
who were convinced Of its defects, it was not
uDsalu,ai that the. same expedient should oc-
c/ to those who were solici!ous for still fur
tier amendments. Besides which. the prox-
unity of the New Eogland states TO each 9th
er, and the continuity OF The line of their mar
.alime frontier, seemed to demand in the
progress of The war, a-unity Of plans OF defen.
lsi,e operations. that should comprehend the
whole, under whatever authority ii might
! be coDducted--as much so for instance, as
Virginia might have. required such Rplap for
herself And lhe1 inhabitants, being the
same people, with institutions. civil and mill
tary, differing only by almost inpefeef'ib'e
shades, aud assimiated in all their habits and
modes Of conducting public affairs. might
readily have been expected 10 desiae for the
exigency better means than could suddenly
have been suggested by those whose attention
was called TO more extensive theatre. But
since the epoch of that convention, new. views
and subjects Of grave and more deliberate re
Election. are opened upon most minds, IN the
rapid settlementofour newly acquired regions.
As the number Of states sugments, greater
scope is afforded for imaginary diyersities OF
local interests, and for powerful coalitions to