Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-03-24


,ne thousand eight hundred and % | was
a member Of the Senate, and at the city of
every day of that session. In
the course of that session, at different
times and places, several Of the Federal
lists, Senators and Representatives. from
the New-England States, informed me
that they thought it necessary to establish
a separate government in New-England,
and if it should be found practicable to
extend it so far south as to include Penn
sylvania, but in all events to establish one
in New-England," &c. He adds, Just
before that session of Congress closed,
one Of the gentlemen to whom | alluded,
informed me that arrangements had been
made to have the next autumn in Boston
a select meeting of the leading Federalists
in New-England to consider and recon-
mend the measures necessary to form a
system of government in the Northern
States, and that Alexander Hamilton, of
New Y ork had consented to attend that
meeting" He further adds, !" The gem
tlemen who in the winter Of 1903 and
1904, informed me there was to be a
meeting of Fedcralists in the autumn of
1904 at Boston, at the Session Of Con-
gress in the winter of 1904 and 1895, OBJ
served to me, that the death Of Gen.
Hamilton had prevented that meeting ;
but the project had not and would not be
abandoned"
In your letter, part of this leorrespon-
dence, dated Washington, Dec. 80,
1929" you say, 1T was inlttese letters
of 1888 and 1869 that | mentioned the
design of certain leaders! Of he Federal
party to effect dissolution Of the Union
and the establishment of a lUthern con-
federacy. This design had been formed
in the winter of l8O3-4, immediately af-
ter, and as consequence Of he acquisition
of Louisiana. Its justifying causes to
those who entertained it we're that the
annexation of Louisiana % the Union
transcribed the constitutional powers of
the Government of the lifted States"
This plan" you add ".was 50 far matur-
ed that the proposal had besh made to an
individual to permit himsel Ial the proper
time, to be placed at the hNd of the mill
itary movements which Lswas foreseen
would be necessary for 0FrJing it into
execution. In all this thes was no overt
act of treason"
Without permitting myflf to believe
that you will countenanceany lmputation
against the honour or patllism Of my late
venerable parent, it is toolbyious that the
publication of Governou7 Plumer's letter
and your communicatio4o II. G. Otis
and others, not only ten4o such imputa-
ton, but. moreover, addfit The sanction
ofyour name.
|, Under these circumst4ces, deeming it
a sacred duty to pressed the memory OF
my father from all stain must also con-
slider it my right to askthat you will in
form me whether, by u publication of
GOVERNOR Plumer's lett, or in your COM
munication to H. Cos and others, an
opinion is to be AUTHORIZED that you are
in possession of any tidence, or that
you believe the late All. consented to
attend the alleged meeifg of the leading
tederalists of Boston, Or that he was at
any time concerned in ne project to eff
feet dissolution of the Union, and the
establishment of nortern confederacy,
'or in any manner Whatsoever. | beg fur
Their to ask, sir, that if he indication in
the paragraph of your last above
quoted, of the indlvidnl to whom pro-
posal had been made, stpermit himself to
be placed at the head o. certain expected
military movements, reers to Iny father,
you will furnish me win the evidence up
on which that indication and reference
have been made.
| have the honour to,e, sir, your obe-
dent servant,
JAMES A. HAMILTON.
WASHINGTON MARCH 6, 1929.
James A. Hamilton, Esq. Washington.
Sir-In answer to Jour letter of this
date, take the liberty of referring you to
Mr.. Plumer himself fol any explanation
of the statement in his letter of the Both
December last.
The information which I received in
the spring of 1894 at Washington, was
entirely distinct from and independent of
that Of Mr.. Plumer. A part of it was
not that your father mad eonsestetg TO be
placed at the. head Of the project or to
take part in it, but thatit had been COM
muncated to him with a view to engage
his cooperation in it, and that in the
event of necessity for the employment
of military force for its execution, it was
that he should be placed at
its head. My informant, to the best of
my recollection, was MIR. Uriah Tracy, then
a Senator from Conn., say, to the best
of my recollection, because, at one of my
with Mr.. Tracy on this SUBJ
ject another member of Congress, also
now deceased, was present and am not
perfectly sure from which of them it was
that received this information. After
the close OF that session Of Congress, be-
ing at New York on or about the 7th of