Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-05-12

My last proposed point of enquiry is,
0'tether The appointment and procedure Of
the Hartford Contention, nllosUing its IN
mOcence acre an all e0ents INGREDIENT
Here indeed is a question very different
from those hitherto considered; a
question fairly open to controversy, and
respecting which alone, ingenious and
7oeH informed persons at this day can en-
terrain serious doubts. The preceding
propositions depend on facts and Undue
lions, many of which are self-evident,
and all of which in connexion, amount
to the tul'ness of dsmonstration.--Buti il
is not pretended, that this inquiry is sus-
ceptible of the same uneqmvocal and
satisfactory illucidation. Political expe-
dlency is not like patriotism and the
cardinal virtues,--''steadfast and unmov-
able" admitting of neither shade or va
ration, But il is an accommodating
quality, which though honorably engaged
10 the service ofpatHotism, depends on
the calculation Of chances and events.
acts often in the dark or by a doubtful
light, and must be governed by time &
circumstances. There is but one genu-
inc love of country though, as has been
said Of other love, there are a thousand
different copies of it, 1t is seated in the
heart but the domcil OF expediency
is the head. Patriotism is ma;ronly
virtue which never changes the simpl-
city other dress But expediency may
and indeed must, conform 10 the fashion
and though she ought never 10 wear a
mask, she may occasionally when she
appears in a public assembly, "give her
cheek little red," without losing eth
er innocence or reputation. When pat
riotism is questioned for her conduct,
she calls upon truth and principle and
honor for her sponsors. BIZ: the youch-
ers ofexpe5;ency are wisdom and time.
We may say Of patriotism what it is very
desirable TO affirm of the law of the
land, "non crit lea ala Romas ala .Atben-
IS, &'c."-lt is always the same. But the
rule of expediency at Athens may not
only be differently graduated from that
of Rome, but in each Of those places ii
may, like the climate, depend on the
state of the atmosphere, on the tenn
pests and Gains which, though they
"balk not heavens design" battle the
prognoslics ofthe most careful observers
Hence ii is apparent that expedency
and inexpediency are not mere abstract
generaIites, but relative terms. And
when one says that the Convention or
any other measure was inexpedient, it
may import either that ii was impolitic
or superintendent not adapted to the
proposed end--or unreasonable, liable
to nisappreheDsion and unpopularity-
or SO injudiciously concerted as 10 de-
feat its object. The inexpediency of a
measure may thus be exceedingly gross
and palpable, betrayirg an absence of
political wisdom, forecast or experience
and juslifyiug perpetual forfeiture of
public confidence in skill and talents.
Or it may be ex:enuated by circ1mstan-
ces, and amount oaly to such excusabie
error Of judgment as sometimes befails
the most wise and experienced.-And
though correct estimate Of political
movement can seldom be formed until
after the event, yet is not the event al
ways the standard by which it shonld he
tried.
Within the boundaries of this immense
region of expedency, one would mag
inc that citizens Of the same country
could find space enough for tilt yards
and race grounds without converting the
whole into a Bear Garden. That they
might fairly contend for the prize of
ambition and the rewards of wisdom,
and be satisfied that those who are dis
Ianced should quit the field and pocket
their loss. without being booted and in
suited by DULLES and bravoes, and ston-
ed and pelted with rotten eggs. can
discern no reason why one assemblage
for political purposes rather than anoth-
er-whether. Convention or Caucus
whether members Of the State or Ma
tional observation-disclosures inexpedi-
ent may be their plans or proceedings !;
awaiting themselves only of the liberty
of opinions and speech, should be dealt
with as den ofbandits. 1t savors in
deed of imPartiality that a portion of
the chief censurs of the Convention as
sail their old colleagues and friends of
the Caucus, with quite as much virulence
and reproach as have been showered
on their ancient adversaries. But it sa-
vors more Of the fierce intolerance
which bears with no difference Of senti.
ment in respect to measures or to men !;
which imputes as crime to others what
it has done itself, and what it stands
ready to repeat under any allurem ent Of
interest or change of times. Which, do
ing whatever seemeth expedient in its
own eyes, and reversing the operation
& 81, l. l. l. Al.