Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-10

this to these jealous persons only proves that
the plot was stiled i'll embryo. Nobody, saw
they, can shew that the Convention did NOT
intend to dissolve the Union or make a sepa.
rate peace. 1t is vain to reply that it was
equally within their power 10 have turned the
course OF the Mississippi for the convenience
oil Gen. Packenham and that the same de-
mand Tor negatice proof, would oblige them
TO stand mute to charge Of plotting TO blow
up Congress with gunpowder, or the President
with an Internal machine. The " rising GEN.
Grafton" 1T seems too, who can hardly be ex-
pected to delve into the dry details OF legisla-
tive proceedings, must be taught to believe
that the Convention was a Cabal, menacins
the integrity of the Union and disgraceful TO
the state-its parent. Many honest and zeal
Gus individuals join in the outcry against this
tegattnt1te child Of the State, as if its crimes
could disgrace only half of the family. or as
IT their posterity could always carry abroad
the parish registers in their pockets, and es-
cape the dishonor of a traitorous pedigree bv
showing that their fathers were not among
the publicans and sinners.
While these idle misapprehensions could
be ascrbed only to the ordinary sources of
'lction,to that portion of our editors, deba-
ters, tub orators, and attornies without cases.
VINO constitute the cheap detence'' of our
natlon, there was reason to hope that they
would expire IN time with the embers of those
passions which gave rise TO them; andlike
the mania OF witchcraft, (Which in its day
was current, with much more plausible eri-
qence) serve merely to show that in seAson
oil discomfort, the propensity to believe in the
marvellous bears an exact proportion to the
lncredbiiity Of the tale. But new aspect
IS now given to vulgar calumny by the
speech Of Governor. The discredit of the
Hartford Convention is no longer derived
from the fiourishes of electioneering rhetoric or
the "tales of my landlord.n 1t rests upon
what ought to be the hest and most reluctant
testImony-that of Chief Magistrate, bound
by a sense othis own di, nity, & the ties of nat
| aral attachment to construe in the most favor
able sense, the transactions of the people of
his own State. This Governor feels himself
compelled, to admit and proclaim that the
good name" Of the State had incurred a
reproach" by long continued course of
disloyalty, by which it was regarded as ex-
! communicated from the " American family. -
And this language be holds upon an occasion
when grateful emotions naturally suggest
That OF panegyric, when immemorial usage
demands that of civility; and when, if ever,
the people have right to expect that the
man OF their choice will cover with the mantle
OF ttfice their political errors. All these enor-
mites he thinks were aggravated by the
Hartford Convention. Now, when these
things, under these circumstances. are solemn
~ said by a Governor, appeal to the candid
OF all parties, whether it can be proper to let
them pass g as old wives tales''3 How will
this affair stand with posterity, and what must
De the measure OF humiliation and permanent
less OF credit and influence of this State, if
those members Of that Convention who are
upon The stage, acquiesCe in this description
OF their own times and characters! We see
how easily the history ofevents passing under
/ our own eyes is distorted, and the difficulty
, OF forming correct estimates of the characters
and motives otmen, and of the origin and OBJ
Ject of measures, from what is written with
protested impartialty.
Hereafter it will be too late TO etface the
blot made by his Excellency upon the histor-
&c page, by alleging that his speech was inten-
ded merely to chime with the slang of the
day. IT will be answered (plausihle though
uh'ruiy) That the accused party in the Legis-
lature quailed under the pungent rebuke from
the chair, and that the members of the Con-
Ventlon continued to be dumb as sheep before
their shearer. viii then future generations
be consoled for the disgrace Of the State, by
the compliment paid to the " rising genera
ton" for having disavowed the deeds of their
undWLfut fathers Or will not the rising gen
eratlons Of this State burn with shame and
indignation whenit shall constantly be thrown
In their teeth by the rising generations of
other States, that their base blood has crept
to them through ancestors who SILENTLY adj
United themselves to be stigmatized as out
laws from the "Amercan lamilyn' What
must be the feelings of the sons of Massachu-
setts when on any public occasion requiring
statement Of her claims, the boast of her
foImer deeds shall be met with the reproach
OF her latter recreancy? When the spirit
which inspired the impulse and suggested
the emblem of ''join or die" shall be con-
trasted with the inIatuation that would divide
the States; and when the glory of that Pro-
VIncial Congress which shone forth upon The
nativity OF the Union, shall be regarded. on
the confession of a Governor, as extinsuished
IN the obscurity of an authorized conclave,
whose dark designs, in time of war. dis
heartened the friends of the country and en-
couraged its foes.
These anticipations open field for obser
vations pertinent to the subject that would
fill avolume. They are suggested as my in
ducement and justification for appearing be-
fore the public, but will be pursued no fur
iher than to repel the charge and suggestions
in that speech, and to slew that the charac-
ter of the Hartford Convention whether for
good or evil rests upon the broad shoulders of
the community, and consequently that every
friend to the honor of the Stete, of whatever
party, has deeper interest in res.ling both
the State and Convention from the disparage-
ment of "disloyal motves'' (be his opinion
ofthe expectancy OF past measures as it nav
than he can have in the issue Of any cleo
tioneering tournament, or the downfall OF any
political antagonist. II. G.. OTIS.
WV. WV
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
.WeSSape from the President of the limited