The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-18
nlsuNION PROJECT.

DISUNION PROJECT.
[The following is the letter of Gov Plumer,
alluded to in our paper of the 18th inst The
evidence it affords of any serious project for
-dsunion, is weak indeed II ~ true, he con-
fcsses himseif in favor of such a scheme, but
on sounding the leading federalists he found
them almost universally opposed to it. Was
that the reason of his deserving the party
Thus far, no one pretends to have any knowl-
edge of any such project, among the leaders Of
the party, except such as deserted it near that
time. AS they refuse to produce their evidence,
is it not fair inference, that, if the project
ever existed, it was confined to that class of
politicians j
Extract Of letter from Wm. Piumer, hereto
fore a Senator ofthe United States, and aE
tercards Governor Of Ne,o Hampshire.
EppING. IN. H. Dec. 20, 1928.
During the long and eventful session of
Congress of 1903 and 1904, was mem
her of the Senate, and was at the city of
Washington every day of that session. In
the course of the session, at different times
and places, several of the Federalists, Sen
ators and Representatives, from the New
England States, informed me that they
thought it necessary TO establish separate
government in New England, and if it
should be found practicable, to extend it
SO far South as to include Pennsylvania !;
but in all events to establish one in New
England. They complained, that the slave
holding States had acquired, by means of
these slaves, greater increase of Represen-
tatives in the House than was Just and
equal-that too great portion OF the pub
lie revenue was raised in the Northern
States, and too much of it expended in the
Southern and Western States; and that
the acquisition of Louisiana. and the new
States that were formed, and those to he
formed in the West and in the ceded Ter
ritOry, would soon annihilate the weight and
influence of the Northern States in the
government.
Their intention, they said, was to estab-
lsh their new government under the au-
thority and protection of state governments.
That having secured the election of gov
ernor, and majority of Legislature in
state in favor Of a separation, the legislature
should repeal the law authorizing the peo-
pie to elect Representatives to Congress,
and the Legislature decline electing SEN
the States from the Union, establish custom
house officers to grant Registers, and clear
ance to vessels, and eventually establish
federal government in the Northern and
Eastern States. And that if New England
united IN the measure, it would in due time
be effected without resort to arms.
Just before that session of Congress clos
ed, one of the gentlemen to whom have
alluded, informed me, that arrangements
had been made to have the next autumn in
Boston select meeting of leading federal
lists in New England, to consider and rec
ommend the measures necessary to form
a system Of Government for the Northern
States, and that Alexander Hamilton of
New York, had consented to attend that
meeting.
Soon after my return from Washington,
adopted the most effectual means in nv
power to collect the opinions of well inform
ell leading federalists in New Hampshire,
upon the subject. found some in favor of
the measure, but great maority of them
decidedly opposed to the project; and from
the partial and limited inquiries made in
Massachusetts, the result appeared to me
nearly similar to. that in New Hampshire.
The gentleman, who in the winter of
1913 and 1904 informed me there was to he
a meeting of federasts in the autumn of
1874, at Boston, at the session of Congress
in the winter of 1904 and 5, observed to me
that the death of General Hamilton had
prevented that meeting; but the project
was not, and would not he abandoned.
owe it to you as we'll as to myself, to
state explicitly. that in the session of Con-
gress, in the winter of 1903 and 1904, |
was, myself, in favor of forming separate
Government in New England; and wrote
several confidential letters to few of my
friends and correspondents, recommending
the measure. But afterwards, upon thor.
onghly investigating and maturey consid-
ering the subject, | was fully convinced
that my opinion in favor of separation was
the most erroneous that ever formed upon
political subjects. The only consolation |
had, was that my error in opinion had not
produced any acts injurious to the integrity
OF the Union. When the same project was
revived IN 1908 and 1909, during the en-
barge and non-ntercoursc, and afterwards
during the war of 1912, used everv effort
in my power, both privately and publicly.
to defeat the attempt then to establish a
separate independent government in the
Northern States.
You are at liberty 70 make such use of
this communication as you shall consider
proper.
Accept the assurance Of my high respect
and esteem. Signed.
WILLIAM PLUMER.