Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-18

auu tue ohiy mode IN which they could consult each
that purpose. S'' '0'
BUT thus not the only ground nor is il the strong
est on which to rest the justification of the proceed
,sgs IN question II the government of the United
States I'D timo of such distress and dancer should
be unable, or should neglect to afford nrocct;on and
rehei 10 The people, the legislature of the State
would not only have right, but il would be their
70 consnstoge,her, and, If practicable to fur
nish these from their own resources This would b,
~ aid OIL the general government. How severely
the people OF Massachusetts experienced nj TINT time
the want OF this ability or disposition in the Generul
we need not repeat. If the legislature
oil single state might, under such circumstances,
cndesvour to provide for its defence without inrinp
ing tue national compact, reason Is perceived w6v
hey might not appoint committee or delegates to
eontcr with delegates OF ncghbourinp Safe, who
were exposed to like dangers and suerncs to dev;sc
ana suggest to their respective legislatures measures
by which, their own resources might be employed
IN u manner not rcpngnant 20 their obligations as
members OF the Union a part of New ENGLAND
had been invaded, and was then held by tho enemy
without an effort by the general government TO re-
gam it, and ifnnothcr invasion, which wus then threa
.sheS ana generally expected, had taken place. and
Inc New England States had been still deserted by
the government, and left to rely on their own re-
sources, is obvious that the best mode of nrovn1
Tor their common defence would have been nv a 81,
mutaneous and combined operation of all their for
COS, The states originally possessed this right and
we hold that 1t has never been surrendered nor ,,on
from them by the people.
fne argument on this point might be easily extern
oed; Dut we may confidently RELY on the two uroun
above mentioned to wit: the riuht of the nconIc
through their State legislatures or otherwise In NO
titlon and demonstrate for q redress of thoir o,oy
ances; and the right of the states in a time Of war
ana OF threatened invasion TO make tho nccesSorv
provisions for their own defence. To these objects
was confined the whole authority conferred by orr To-
ssIature on the delegates whom they appointed.
iney were directed to meet and confer with other
delegates, and to devise and suggest measures of
relief Tor the adoption Of the respective states bu,
not 10 represent or act for their constituents by a
grcemg to, or adopting any such measures themselves
or IN behalf Of the states.
Bit whilst strenuousy n1nintsin thie y;obt ~ ,o
people, to complain and to demonstrate in the stronp
ext terms against measures which they think 10 he I'M
constitutional pnust or oppressive and to do this in M
aioer wcntney shall deem most convenient or effcr-
tai provided 1T be in IAN orderly Sc peaccabe manner
We readily adult that wise people would not hasti
" resort TO IL, especially in this impos,ng form
on every OCCASION of partial and temporary discon-
tent or snHerfuS. We therefore proceed TO c5n-
slider,
Secondly, the propriety and expediencv Of adont
mig that measure in the autumn of 1914 On his
point 10 enough 10 say that the grievances that were
sunered and the Dangers that were apprehendc1l M
that time, and the strong excitement which thew pro-
duced among all the people, which is stated more
particularly elsewhere in this address rendered some
for their relief indispensaby necessary If
the legislature had not undertaken their Cause II
appearedtto be certain, as We have already srgocsd
that me people would take il into their own hands:
ana there was reason to fear that the proceedings in
mat case might be less orderly and peaceful, aud at
the same time less efficacious
Thirdly. We have already stated the objects which
our state government had in view, in PROPOSING tho
convention at Hartford, una the power conferred
on .heir aeiegates H. instead of these avowed OBJ
Jects' tnere nau BEEN any secret plot for a tsmenl-
ment OF the Union, in which it had been desired 10
engage the neighboring states the measures for that
purpose we may suppose would have been conducted
III the ihosl private manner possible. On the contra
0F nd lorsy
their delegates, and prescribing their mowers and
dutcs was openly discussed and passed in the rs,al
manner; and copy oft was immediately sent h. di
state in the Union. -
Fourthly The only remaining question is whcther
Tue delegates exceeded abused their powers As 10
tis we have only to refer to the report of their pro
ceeIings, and to their jourpa which is deposited in
the archives of this state "
ihat report which was published imD1ediatelv fer
inc adjournment Of the convention and wac scor oc
yer accepted by the legislature holds forth the npor
lance oYthe Union paramount TO nil oth., consJ
eraiions; oniorces it by elaborate reas,,,;r md
refers IN express terms ~ WdshinpLons f1rereN nd
dresS, as It's text book IT, then no power 10 do ,ron
U gf7e" by the Legislature to the convention and #
Ioint9 unconstitutional, disoyal OF. tendn,y ~ di,,
mon, was IN fact done all which is manifest Of record
tneIe remains no preteXt for mpeachinr the mcbeTs
OF tho convention by impuing to them covert and NO
lSlouH designs, except the uDcharitabc one that the
Characters OF the justify the belief that thov
Cherished in their hearts wishes and intcntons 70 10
what they frhd no authority to execute and what in
iGot they did not attempt. On this head to the peo
PIE OF Ne~ England who were acquainted with these
characters, no explanation is neCessary--For tho in
formation Of others, it bchoyes those IF us who were
m mbcre to speak without reference TO ourselves
WIN TINS reserve we may all be permitted to saw
rear ol contradiction that they fairly rcpsc-
ted Whatever of moral intellectual or patriotic worth
Is 10 be iound in the character of the New ENGLAND
community: that they retained oil the personal consd.
cIauo ana confidence, which enjoyed by tho best
citizens, those who have deceased to the hour of their
ocath and those who survive TO the present time -
For the satisfaction Of those who look 90 sefIovc and
70 private interests, as springs ofhuman action IT NAV
b. added, that among the mass of citizens f,icnJs az
connexions, whom they represented were many hose
fortunes were principally vested in the public funds
to whom the disunion Of the statas would have been
rum That convention may be said to have orirjna
tcu with The people. b. asures for relief had been
demanded from immense numbers in counties aud
towns IN oil parts Of the state, long before II was or
genIcu' us main and avowed object was Hcdefenee
Of Ibis mart of the cOtyilrU 09ojusI ILe c.,,,..,