Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-28

the States, it is clear that nothing more
could be expected, than a recommemdn-
ton Of measures by the Convention,
which being adopted by the Legislatures
should by them have been recommended
to the people. lpanse net to consider
whether the charge of coordination"
IN an odious sense, as applied TO any
project which must be submitted to the
people, lin whom reside the right to
change their governmeuO be not de-
stracuve of Itself; because | wish never
to anticipate in imagination circumstan-
ces that would justiiY men of principle
in COunselliog their fellow citizens to
shake eff CT even weaken the bonds Of
our Union, and because further, would
dlsdain - take shelter in the dark MAJ
es OF that theory. On the contrary,
admit t,at iftlie trainers of The Conyen-
ton OF lis members, permitted them
selves in the hour of their ccuntry's ex-
tieme peril, even 10 brood over schemes
OF dSunion, whether to he executed hy
themselves or others, their. impotency
Of means wonll furnish no paI!iation for
the political depravity oftheir hearts.
SILL 1t is material, iii forming our es-
innate of c!andesliue intentions. to bear
in fond, that all which the Legislatures
az; Convention together could do, mus,
have Terminated in Recommendations and
TcpoTts For in Judging Of ii mans dis
position TO commit IA crime, nhcil he
had the power to DO, bat from which he
may have been deferred by circumstances
it IS often sufficient to be acquainted
VIA his character But in forming an
opinion of the likelihood of his intentions
to give bad and desperate counsels to
others, We look not merely to his char
acter, but TO that ofthe party for whom
the advice is supposed to have been in
tended. No sower will be presumed
to dssilne his seed for soil in which he
knows 1t cannot vegetate, and the
waste OF bad advice is for that reason
probably less than that of goo!. When
therefore, the federal members of the
Legislature Of Massachusetts, or such of
them rs were behind the curtain. in
tended in the first instance to convey
10y no matter what occult act) TO the
convention case almost too absurd
to be st%tedas a possibility thcir pro-
ject OF Reorganization, what was the
cnance OF favourable hearing When
he members Of the Convention or
lny OF them in their turn entertained
the design Of recommending treason.
Strata9ems, or plots" for adoption by
the seVeTa! Legislatures, and faalIg by
the people, what was their prospect OF
success Z! These questions must have
', occurred, and were not very dfficnIt to
be resoived.-The people had spoken
loudly, and their representatives we're
perfectly appFlsed, how far they would
go in opposition.-They were either
ripe for preceding to extremes, or they
were not. IFthey were moi thus ready
their representatives knew it,; and un-
less qualified for The insane hospital.
they conld never intend, under cover
OF any authority, TO propose measures
which must ultimately come before the
people, and whiSh being rejected. would
rebound 10 the Confusion aud disgrace Of
their authors. If Oh The other hand.
tie people were thus prepared
the Convention, who instead of TAX
ing advantage Of tue excitement,
AIMED by their report to soolhe their IT.
rltalon and stimulate their patriotism
TO reconcile them 10 more endaring pa
tlence, and cheer them with a more en-
Evening hope az also the Legislatures
OF the different States who accepted
that rePort--dese'ved ereN, not III Ct their
country
But proceed 10 lacts.--The number
OF tedcrdIlsts (or Of persons composing
the ma ority, for there was among them
= few of the ''.fying sYuod,") in both
Honses,in the session Of 1914, when the
Convention was formed, may be taken
at an average three hundred vary
ing but not materially from time to time.
The Members Of the Convention were
elected from the people at large from
the different sections Of The country in
Massachusetts and Maine, two only be-
Tag Members OF he Legislature.
At the time of passing the Resolve
and appointing the members ofthe con-
yen'ion, twas uncertain and impossible
TO be known whether any other State
would concur in the measure. Applica-
ton was publicly made to each of the
n, Eng iand States, after the passing of
the resolve, and not before, through the
same organ-its Executive. Those of
New-HamPshire and Vermont did not
convene their respective Legislatures in
season to come into the plan of Il Con
ventlon. Now the readiest mode of as
certalning whether il was practicable
for the majority Of a Legislative body
(organIzed and doing business with open
l. l.. u