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


CountrY. The scheme was to organize a
force and provide a fund for supporting it. The
Convention was a measure subsidiary to this
scheme. It is iii connexion Nth this only that
it can be fairly examined. It was designed as
an instrument to effect ends, to which it was
from the beginning declared to be adapted.
But its enemies will have it that it was secret
ly destined for other ends, which we have seen
it was not calculated to promote. They refuse
to the inventor the benefit of his specification.
They deny the utility of the wheel and pully,
not because they were i'll adapted to produce
an effect intended, but for the reason that they
might be misapplied so as to cause some other
effect. This is not fair, in ordinary cases.
Means intrnsically bad, can never justify ends.
But in judging Of the erpediency Of means, not
liable to this reproach, what have we to rest
on without keeping sight of the end
| Every member who came to the autumnal
session of the Legislature of 1914, knew that
| he was summoned to aid in devising means of
defending the Countrywide Governors Mes
sage was confirmation enough of the fact, that
! the Militia or State troops was the only force
to be relied on that the expense attending
| levies Of these was not to be expected from
| the national treasury: that the resources of
the State were inadequate to defray it, and
consequently that without some arrangement
Nth the General Gorernment. the horrors of
unresisted warfare, or unconditional submits
sion, presented the only and deplorahle alter
native. This communication of the Governor
was referred to large committee of both
| Hoases.-And their report, of which it is I'M
necessary to give an epitome, comprehended
a scheme Of defensive measures, already al.
luded to, and to which the convention, as it
will appear, was contemplated as being mere
! ly instrumental. The first resolution reported
was in these wor9s:-
ReSolred, That the calamities of war be-
ing now brought home to the territories of this
Commemorative portion of it being in the
occupation of the enemy-our sea-coast and
rivers being invaded in several places and in
all exposed to immediate danger-the people
of Massachusetts, are impeiled by the duty Of
selfdeience, and by all the feelings which bind
good citizens to their country, to unite in the
most vigorous measures for defending the State
and expeling the invader, AND NO PARTY
FEELINGS OR POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS CAN Ev-
Err INTERFERE WITH THE DISCHARGE OF
THIS EXALTED DUTY"
This resolution, which one would think
pledged all its supporters to some effective
measures, passed unanimously.
.4ao!htr resolution pzs that proriding far The
appointment Of the Conrentjon, recited an a
fOrmtr letter.
Another, recommended provision to be
made for raising corps of State troops, not
exceeding ten thousand rank and file, to be or
ganized by the Governor for the defence ofthe
State.
Another, for accepting and organizing vol
unteers as part OF that force, who should hold
themselves in readiness to march at a moments
warning, to any part Of the common rge.i IN f.
be entitled. TO t;4. pay when in service, and &c
a compensation short of full pay for the term
Of their enlistment.
Another, for authorizing loan, not exceed
ing million Of dollars, pledgiDg to provide
funds, &c.
1t cannot be too often repeated, that these
resolutions, apart from that relative to the
Convention, embraced system Of State de-
fence, the adoption of which was rendered i'm
perative by circumstances.-But to secure Ii
1t permanent efficacy, The c0HSent OF Con
gTess must be had to some mode of providing
OF reimbursing the expense, the Executive
Government having declined defrayine if
Without calling Convention, the State might
have requested that consent on its ow1 account
No objection could be made to its doing So
To its petitioning Congress for what the
State and the Governor rs now endeavorine t.
obtain-paymcnt of its troops-Here thenth
question of expediency is strsitened down to {
single point.-Was 1t i'll and proper 10 requeS
The cooperation Of other States in an oppIicqtio,
10 Congress for a concession, actich IL fras f
and proper for Massachusetts 10 request for her
self; and in the obtaining ,phich those States
belng a. similar circumstances, had sintjl1
interest eff this be considered doubtful O
. decided in the negative, another arises-Wa
i" it nanifeStly and ,fagrantly unfit and imrrope
so much SO, that for attempting to unit,
more States than one in a request which eacl
one might very reasonably have preferred b,
itseli-those who favored such joinder in ne
tition, should be regarded as destitute of iusti
fcation or apology for their indiscretion?
: To assist the judgment in forming a satslac
tory conclusion upon either or both these cues
tions; certain facts which have been but lit
tie noticed, become extremely material.-Be
fore Massachusetts made any overture to he
: sister States, and indeed fortnight prior t.
: the sitting of the Legislature, the State o
Rhode Island made THE FIRST ADVANCE t.
the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut
Governor Jones by letter of 2lst September
informs Governor Strong, that by an act of the
Legislature of Rhode Island he is authorized
and requested in case of invasion to march t.
the assistance of any neighbouring State, anc
accordingly offers his aid and requests the CO
operation OF Massachusetts, upon like emer
gency. Governor Strong in reply, engages tc
lay his communication before the Legislature
when it should assemble; and promises in tn,
mean time to use all the constitutional mean!
at his disposal TO aid Rhode Island in case @
need. In Connecticut the same misunder
standing between the General and State Gov
ernments concerning the authority over the
militia had arisen, and in consequence the
former withdrew its assistance and supplies tc
the troops called out to protcctNew London lac
ltually blockaded) and other places. In Yer
mont, sometime before this period, the Govemo
had actually ordered back the militia which
had been marched out of the State, conceivins
his own State to be in danger:-And in New
Hampshire where Governor Plupor n Il oo,