Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-17

soE.ag, o.G refers al express terms 50 81 ashsng-
toms JareueR address, as its text hook. IL, then,
no power TO do wrong tDds give,, by the legislature
10 the convention, and ii nothing INSTITUTIONAL
disoyal, or tending to disunion, was in fact done
(alI whchis manifest Of rccord,) there remains |
no pretext for impeaching the member Of the con-
vention by imputing to them covert and nef,rious
desgns,eNcept the unchari,ablc one that the char.
acte-s OF the men justify the belief, that they
CHERISHED in ,hier hearts wishes, and intentions to
do, what they hid no authority to execute, and
what in fact they did not attempt. On this head,
TO the people OF New England who were acquaint-
ed with these characters, no explanation il neces-
sary.-For the information O! others, il behoves
those OF us who were members to speak without
refercnce to ourselves. With This reserve we may
ali be permitted 10 say, without fear OF con,ra,iic-
ton. that they fairly represented whatever of nor
al intellectual, or patriotic worth, is to be found
in the character OF tn. New England community;
tie. they retained all the personal consider alton
and confidence which enjoyed by the best citi-
aens, those who have deceased, to the hour of
their death, ond those who survive TO the present
time or the satisfaction OF those who look to self
love, and to private Interests al springs Of human
1 action. 1t may be added, that among the mass of
citizens, friends and come xious, whom they re-
presented, were many whose fortunes were prin-
cipally vested In the public funds, to whom the
disunion o! the States would have been ruin. That
convention may be said 10 have originated with the
people. Measures Tor relief had been demanded
4
all parts OF the State long before i, was organized
us main aud avowed object was the defence Of
Nis part Qf the country against the common en-
enY. The war then Wore lis most threatening as
pect New England wasdesti,utc OF national troo,s:
her treasures exhausted: her taxes drawn into the
| national Golfers
| The proceeding, and report Of the convention,
| were in conformity with this object. The burden
p,icaiion to Congress TO permit the States to pro-
vide Tor their own defence, anu to be iuGe,nnifed
with the expense, by rcimbursemen,s, in some
shape, from the National Government, OF al least,
portion OF their o.cn money. This convention
adjourned early in January. On the 9th of the
same month, an act OF Congress was passed, which
gave TO the Sta'e Government the very power
which was sought by Massachusetts, viz-that Of
raising, organizing and offering state troops, ito
be employed in the State raising the same, or in
an adjo'sing State and providing for their pay
ana subsistence. This, repeat, was the most
important object aimed by the institution of the
convention, and by the repor, Of that body. Had
tins act OF Congress passed, before the act OF Mas
sachusetts for organizing the convention, that con-
ignition nerer tcOuid hare eriSted. Had such an
act been anticipated by the convention, or passed
before It's Adjournment, that assembly would have
consileic cd its commission as in great measure
superseded. For, although it prepared and re-
ported sundry amendments 10 the constitution of
the United States 10 be submitted 10 all the States
and might even. il knowing OF this act OF Con-
sress, have persisted in doing the same thing;
yet, As this proposal for amendments could have
been accomplished in other modes, they could
nave had no special motive for doing, but what
arose from their being together; and from the
consideration which might be hoped for, as TO
their propositions. frcin that circumstance. 1t is
thus matter of absolute demonstration, to all who
do not uSurp the privilege Of the sEARcHER IF
hedyfS, that the design o; the Hartford Convention
anu us doings were not only constitutional and
, !audaoie, but sanctioned by the act OF Congress,
passed alter the report was published, no, indeed
with express reference TO il, hut with its priucpal
features and thus admitting the RESPONSIVENESS OF
us general tenor, and principal object 1t is n-
deed grevous TO perceive Mr. Adams condescen
ing 10 intimate that the Convention was adjourned
TO boston, and in strain 81 rhetorical ,athos con-
meeting his imaginary plot. then at least in the
thir'eenth year OF its age, with the 'catas rophe,
which awaited the ultimate proceedings OF the
convention That assembly adjourned ,oithout
dog, otter making its report. Ii was ipso iacto
dissolved, like other Committees. One OF its re-
solutions did indeed, purport that ff the appIica
ton OF these States to the government of the u
niied States, RECOMMENDED IN a foregoing reso.
iufon,) should be drSucceSsju, and peace should
not be concluded, and the defence Of these States
should De neglected as IL has been, since the CON
nencement OF the war, it will be, in the opinion
oil this Convention, eXpedient for the Legislatures
OF the several States, to appoint delegates TO an0
Their Contention, 10 meet at Boston on the third
tuesday OF June next, with such powers and in
| srucuons os the exigency OF crisis, IRonen-
| tous may require On this il is to be observed
First, that the Convention contemplated in the
! iosegoing resolution never appointed, and ne
| yer could have been, according TO the terms of
! that resolution; because, as is shown above, the
object OF the intended application TO Congress had
been attained. Aud, Secondly, if the contingent
cies mentioned in that resolution had occurred, the
! question OF forming such new Convention and
the appointment Of the delegates, must have gone
into the hands OF new assemblies because ali the
| Legislatures Of the New England States would
have been dissolved, and there would have been
new elections, before the time proposed for the
second Convention And, lastly, it is matter of
puoc notoFiety that the report Of this Convention
produced the elect of assuagng the public sensi-
Diiiiy, and operated 10 repress the vague and ar
dent expectations entertained by many of our citi.
zens, OF Immediate and efIectual relief from the
| evils OF their condition.
! we pass over the elaborate exposition of con-
sttutional law in the Presidents letter having no
can, nor any inclination at this time TO controyert
| ITS leading princip PIES. Neither do we comment
upon though we perceive and feel, the unjust. &
we must be excused for saying, insidous mode
IN which he has grouped together distant and dis
connected occurrences which happened ia his nb-
sence, from tie country, for the purpose of produ-
| chg, by their colocation, garing and sinister
eiiect upon the federal party. They were all of a
pubic nature. The arguments concerning their
merit or dement have been exhausted; and time
| ana The good sense of an intelligent people, will
pace them ultimately in their true light, even
though MIR. Adams should continue to throw OBJ.
stae!es in the way TO this harmonious re action of
| public opinion.
1t has been source OF wonder and perplexity
10 many in our community, TO observe the i'm
Inense difference in the standards by which pub-
TIC opinion has been led to measure the same Kind
oil proceedings, when adopted in different States
no pTetence IS urged that any actual resistance TO