Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-31

fences lUpuleu, as vi agreement respecting
the culprits. The sticklers for the freedomotI
the press and the opposers of ssditiOn acts go
far beyond the maxims of law, which oui !
English anc,s tors in the days of the third Ed |
ward found intoIerable. They strain points.
which were not thought tenable by the legal |
assassins of Algernon Sydney. They will |
have it, not only that speaking and acrtting !
against the war measures fan administration |
arc misdemeanors and acts of mora! treason,
but that one mans writing and speaking is |
evidence Of treason IN others who are Of has
political party. They hold the Legislature and
Convention responsible not for what appears
in thei: own records, but for all the ebulli-
tions Of zeal and resentment which burst forth
from all quarters of the State and of New
England against the war for the noise and
threatenings of the drums ecclesiastic;''-
for the indignant remonstrances ofthe county
and 10 Wn meetings, expressive of the regret
and Indignation of an astounded people $
icI the imprisoned and frequently nconsider-
able essays in the public papers, in which in.
dividuals of all classes proclaimed their fears
of the variety Of wo'' which impended over
the country. All these symptoms of discon-
tent, in natural course of events agtating
people bitterly averse to the war policy, and
finding vent through the usual and safest
avenues of public opinion, have been laid to
the charge of the Convention ty achosc inStrat-
mentality, they lrers in truth not encouraged
but tenlperated. The opposition TO these war
measures though confined to words is viewed
as equivalent TO overt acts of aid to the pub
lie enemy; and the fashion has been that
achencesoereT they proceeded, the Convention
from whom they did not proceed, must sustain
II Il,
agreeably to the fundamentals of our Con-
stitution no man can be held 10 answer for
even petty larceny, till the same be formally
described, the best citizens may be held up
TO the execration of their country and the
world upon the rambling suggestions Of a
Chief Magistrate and the echo OF his friends.
Its this CHAOS of accusation which those
who would reply to it must reduce and mould
into some manageable shape. Although
know nothing of the calnmnious writings
against the Convention which have Appeared
the last year, except from the occasional! re-
marks in answer to them which have Glanced
10 iall in my way. am satisfied that the al
%hofs, though equal in The qualifications OF
ma,i5n,ty and arrogance to their predecessors,
alc entirely deficient in pgctensjors Il
Their talents fer fabrication and sopilistry
ijie idle and o.;eu repeated medley Of disco r.
AInt s!anders-or done more than betl;Azeu
the stories u other times with the truinpery
% their own bal taste. | therefore proceed
O.. the presumption that whatever has been
Of IAN be urged against the Hartford Conyer.
ton or its creators, must hc Included in some
oa'' or Elore OF the following propos:;ions:-
;st. That the resolve Of the Legislature
Tho (
0; it Unconstitutional.
end. That i! not unconstitutional in terms
lis makers intended under cover Of ii TO al.
tempt some object adverse to the Constitution
or laws of the Union.
81. That admitting the Legislature to be
innocent in act and intention, the Colven
ticn We're nevertheless guilty il one or til,
other OF these respects.
lth. That the whole procedure was i.
ans event inCxpedient.
10 those who feel a Sufficient interest il
the sGRjcCt to pursue the inquiry / trust tht
following suggestions will arPear roasona
h.o -
lst. That every read,r desiro1s a. corrsc
information IS bound either to peluse the Lee!
'slatiTe proceedings, which originated an>
.2l.o"ud me Convention, as well as tic re-
port OF the Convention itsei, OF t,!le up.
,"e,ilt the substantial accuracy Of The hi.
quotations and statements that shah be .:.;,sie
q. the;r contents.
ID. That every reader will in like man
Ter either acqualnt himself with The content
q, t..e Private journal Of the Convection O
w",ci the original is in the otfce Of the Srcra
fary OF Stale OF Massachusetts, and copic
If which were published last SDrins. in III,
Bosion newspapers, by reading the SAM, O
S.ye credit to the assertion th.t it cont, in
nothing Tepugnant TO the public report:
also advance the following iii. tinci fact
as lncoAt.over;ible -
hat the Legislature Of Massachusetts dur
Ing The w.r passed no act or resolve whatso
ever. aa;horsnI. obstruction to the due exc
cd.un oll!,e laws otthe United States.
j nat the language Of opposition and djsaD
probation d the national pol:cy expressed BY
,Gat 5srS isature III those PROCEEDINGS vf,ici
are regarded ny their opponents as mos, Oh
actiona5ic. is coupled with strong aud uni
ilF.a assurances OF attachment to the Fedora
Union.
That the Executive Government Of the
State IS equally unobnoxious to the CHARGE o
any act Of opposition to the National Govern.
Eneat.
cutiVe Government, to comply with the re-
QUESTION of the President of the United States
was confined to ohe particular. it was a re.
iusal to place the militia at the control Of a
Pretect sent without an accompanying force
tota!Ie the command from the hands of the
Governor. 1t was given upon the faith of the
opinion OF the Judges of the Supreme Court
bis sworn advisers, upon a constitutions
question. The incompetence extended only
10 the form and not to the substance of the
requisition. The duty required was perform.
ed, fully and faithfully.
submit also the following opinions as de.
ducble from acknowledged principles and
facts which command the assent Of imnart;a1
Judgment -
That the Legislative and Executive bran.
ches OF the State Government and the Hart.
ford Convention, are amenablc for their own
acts alone-and not for sentiments expressed