Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-05-19

waite all difficulties and secure the assent of
Congress? Can it now be coutended to have
been thus monstrous and inadmissible, mas
much as it has in fact the authority of Con-
gress in its favor? And having determined to
meet IN Convention for that purpose was it
outrageously, amiss to embody with one accord
and IN one instrument, the grievances which
they felt and the remedies they desired bv a.
mendments to the Constitution. Invested Of
every lntlmation of arming at redress through
any but the most peaceable and legitimate
medium
Protesting against conclusions drawn from
the subsequent unpopularity of the measure,
| ! ask who could have foreseen this, in its full
extent? What reason should lead men con.
scious Of honor and integrity, to presume that
their opponents would fasten upon this meas.
ure rather than any other. as the spell by
which their motives were to be branded as
| suspicious and odious. The minority in this
State for many years, had done what seemed
to be their utmost, to impress the world with
belief that the Federal Party was dsaffected
to the Union. But it was thought the only
converts to their idle stories were Sir James
Craig, and John Henry--The cry Of Union in
danger, bad been raised for years against lis
Old friends by its new ones, upon occasion of
every shew of discomfort with the ever vary
ing and always hideous features of the restric-
tive system. That it would now become a
general yell, and rend the wclkin, It was not
possible to foresee. 1t is true that an opposi-
ton OF unparalleled virulence and etfronterv
was made TO the acceptance of the report of
the committee in both houses. But to have
yielded to such a torrent would have seemed
to justify the opening ofthe food gates through
which it issued.-There seemed then to be no
good reason tor desistins from measure, felt
by It's advocates to be innocent and useful,
especially as 1t would open a natural avenue
for dlsavowal in behalf of the Eastern States
! OF the unworthy aspersions cast upon their
character and motives, aud fer conveying to
the whole people, the sentiments of persons
thought worthy of their confidence, upon the
obligations imposed and the sacrifices required
| by the trying emergency which while il
should AVOID revolving their ceilings, by deny
ing their business, might calm the irritation
that tended, an time, to run into extremes.
Sui iurthcr, the violence Of the opposition was
directed against all the resolutions. except the
hrst. Never was there display of more eyre
gious inconsistency. They agreed that the
country was in danger, and that party discord
should cease, so that cordial and vigorous
union might be had for its defenCe-But they
voted against the resolutions for raising men
and money as well as against that for the Con
vention. They outraged decorum and lost
sight OF self respect in Suggestions. ihat -. .,e
proposed force was to 10 h ccllsanzed as corps
q 0tssfE......on on the national government, and
not fer cooperation with it in defending the
country. No substitute was offered, but that
OF placing the militia at the disposal of The
Prgtct. An effort to effect this would have
becn the signal for general insubordination
! 1 he adherence Of the measure. coupled with
the apprehension of being converted into reg
ulars and marched to. Canada, while their
homes were exposed to the inCursions of the
enemy was insurHountabe. Thus the major
ity were left to act by the light of their own
discretion in circumstances altogether new,
and painfully urgent, anc were naturally in
sPired with a disposition to fortify their own
measures by consultation with those wha
were placed by the course of events in like
circumstances with Themselves. As it was thus
evidently the design of the opposition to brand
with the stigma OF disafection to the Union,
whatever was proposed by the advocates for
the resolutions the latter could not hope to
avoid the effect of the clamor by discarding
N'N iNSS4V'hoD ipi VIC SOuNSHliUH Tdl1lSE IMAM
the others.-Much less could they anticipate
that any such impression of the character Of
! that measure could prevail in an enlightened
community, convinced as they were that de-
lirious party rage and malice were the sole MO
tiyes OF those who wished to create it.
There was then nothing to forbid the call Of
; a Convention on the score of expediency, but
the objection OF an abstract principle. -It may
be SAID, that all meetings of delegates from,
state legislatures, TO consult upon the great
political subjects which are confded to the
province of the National Government, a,,atst be
IN Mear nature 1ne1Pedlent. am not inclined
to break lance with the supporters of this
principle, but rather to admit its business. But
the situation of the Eastern States was con.
coVed to afford an exception to the principle.
question of constitutional lar had arisen be-
tween the General and State Governments,
respecting their several obligations and au-
+ thorties. 1t was question Of that mature and
nothing more. In no other light should it ever
have been viewed. 1t was one of the many
questions which naturally arse in all confed-
Grated goVernments-A cdSuS faederGSn--0i
the same description with questions that were
frequent before the Amphyctionc Councils in
ancient times, and the Auic Councils in mo-
oeAh uhiCs-dudle5Ous 10 controversies winch
have arisen in Germany, Holland and Swift
zerland-And not different in reality from the
dispute on the Missouri question, and twenty
other questions concerning the conflict of Ju-
risdictions which have been raised under our
F Government, and one of which (the steam
boat question: has been lately adjusted by the
supreme Court. This controversy ought to
have been conducted and discussed with the
same temper Instead of which, such pains
had been taken to chafe the public mind, and
indeed so uniavorable were the times to tenn
perste investigation, that the majority in Mas
sachusetts could do nothing but endeavor to
defend the State by the best practicable means
There could be no Umpire between the Gen
eral Government and the State Government
The latter therefore deviated from its regular
sphere, under the impulse Of q necessity arlich
IS ADORE the IdU-At least such necessity was
conceived to exist, and the departure was not
intended to be drawn into precedent. A line
rnTc -