The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-03-26

not be accepted The Democratick
Editors will not republish the Report of
the Hartford Convention. It NAV,
therefore, not be superiluous for us to
state the substance of the paragraphs
which have been alluded to, that it may
be seen how far they countenance the
idea that those who signed the Report
were in favour OF Dissolution.
The Report, after remarking that
" To prescribe patience and frmaess to
those who are already exhausted by dis
tress, is sometimes to drive them to des-
pair; and the progress towards reform
by the regular road, is irksome to those
whose imaginations discern, and whose
feelings prompt, to a shorter course"-
and stating that there were some, who
yielded to the persuasion that no
change, at any time, or on any occasion,
can aggravate the misery of their coun-
try," observes
But as the evidence on which it This per-
suasionl rests is net yet conclusive, and as
measures adopted on the assumption of its GER
~
siderations are submitted IN the hope of recon-
ctt1ag al DO course Of moderation and firm
nesS, which may save them from the regret in
cidentto sudden decisions, probably avert the
evil, orat least insure consideration and sue
cess inthe last resort.''
Here then we have the motives of the
Hartford Convention for abiding to the
subject of Dissolution. 1t was with the
view Of discon,tenGqciag the idea, thatno
change in our then existing situation (bad
as it was) could be or the worse; and
"of reconciling all to G course of moaera-
ton and frmness.''
We regret that our limits will not suf-
fer us to give the argument against sep
aration entire. We can, only give its
general outline.
The first topick is the blessings which
were secured to the country by the Con-
stitution when properly administered /;
and the proofthus afforded, hat the Con-
stitution was competent to all the OBJ
Jects Of national prosperity, comprehend
ed in the views fits framers:' 1t admits
the abuse of the Constitution which had
recently taken place-but says, $40 at
tempt rpon every abuse of poser to change
the Constitution, could be to psrpetuate the
e0iis Of a repoiutioa"
In the next place, the Report dwells on
the grounds OF hope, that experience and
argument may induce change Of pub
lick opinion at the SoutEl-that {: our
brethren m those States will be brought 10
feel, : that the Eastern States cannot be
made erctuslVeIy the victims of capri
cioas and imprisoned policy that
tie great and essential interests of the peo-
pie are eoamon to tie South and the East.'
+" Finally" the Convention observe,
q" if the Union be destined to dissolution.
by reason OF The multiplied abuses of bad
administrations, il should, if possible, be
the work Of pcocoable times, and delhi
crate csnsent." They conclude their
remark upon this topick, with the fol-
lowing words =
& Buta Severance of The Union, by one or
more Sizes, against the will of the rest, and
especially in time of war, can be justified
oniy bytbsolufe necessity. These are among
the priripal objections against precipitate
measures tending TO tisunite the States, and
when ekimined in connexion with the Fare
we'll Addess ofthe father OF his country, they
must, it'd believed, be deemed conclusivss''
We night multiply extracts of the
same pIport-but as the Report is al
ready, q viii be shortly, in the hands
OF most II OFT readers, we forbear.
Fello7-Citzens! Such were the SEN
timents i the Hartford Convention on
the subJIct of a Dissolution of the Union
such pc Repoft-signed, and proba-
bly, written by HARRISON GRAY
OTIS. And it is for having, in mo-
ment o great Publick distress, alarm
and EXCITEMENT, come forward to remind
LIS Felllw-Citizens Of the excellence of
the Clfstltution, TO tell them that the
real iIt,rests Of the South and the East
were he same, and to refer them TO the
Farewell Address of the Father of his
ComtN-it is for this, that he is accused
of having been I" the first to propose and
suppot N the Convention a Dissolution
of the Uhion."
Hoes men, think ofthese things.
HARTFORD.