Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-20

ell, which gave TO the state governments, the verv
power which sought by massachusetts, viz
that of raisng organizing and occring state troops
to be employed in the state raising the same or in an
adjoining state, and providing for their pay and sub
sstence. This we repeat, the most important
object aimed by he institution OF the convention
and by Tic report of that body Had this act of Con-
greSS passed, before the act u Massachusetts for Or
:anzing the convention, int coRccnton gerer ,ro,d
apoe erjSie;. Had such act been anticipated by
the convention, or passed before its Adjournment
that assembly would have considered its commission
III Great neGSulc superseded. For aIthonirh II
prepared and reported s,dry amendments to the con-
stltution OF the United States be submitted to oil
the states, and might even if knowing of this act of
Congress, bavc persisted in doing the same thing;
yet, this proposal for amendments could have bacn
accomplished III other modes, they could have had no
special motive for doing, but what arose from their
being together; and from the consideration which
might be hoped tor, rs to their propositions from that
circ;ns 0nce. It's thus matter of absolute demon
stralon to Ill who do not usurp the privilege of the
sEA3cHEE 9fkeGrts, that the design of the Hartford
convention and It's dungs not only constitution
al IN! audible but sanctioned b. the act ofCongress
passed AFTER the report published indeed with
express reference to IS but with lis principal features
and thus admitting tue reasonableness OF it's general
tenor and principal object 1t is indeed orievo,,s to
perceive Mr.. Adams cundesccndng 20 intimate that
the convention was adjourned to Boston, and in a
strain 0f rhetorical pabos connecting his ina rinarv
plot, then at least in the thirteenth year of it's auc
With the catastrophe, which awaited the ultimate
proceedings of the convention. That assembly al
Jor'e1 'citiom dGp inter mailing as report. It was
ipso facto dissolved, like other committees. One Of
lis resolutions did indeed plrport that If tfe appca
ton OF these states to tho government of the tinted
States (yesommendedn fGreronr ,,csol,, soyl5
beung0cccSfui, and peace SouH moi 5r concled ard
te dtnre q these stGics Sto"id be neglected as i, c
oecR, since the commencement OF the war viii bn
IN the opinion Of this convention expeiien for tho
legislatures ofte several states to appoint delerates
~ d'toSer conreiio TO meet at Boston, on the third
Tuesday of juno next. with such powers and instruc
tons as the eXigcncy OF crisis so momerto,ls InF
require On this it is TO be observed,
tirst that the Convention contemplated in the
foregoing resolution never appointed and never
could have been, according to the terms of that esc-
luton; because, is shown above the object of the
intended application to Congress had been attained
And, Secondly, If the contingencies mentioned il,
tnat resolution had occurred, the question of forrn10
Such new Convention, and the appointment of the
Delegates must have gone into the hands of nc,y as
Senlbhes; because all tho Legislatures of the New
England States would have been dissolved and there
would have been elections, before the time pro-
posed for the second Convention. And lastIv it is
latter OF P"0c rotoIiety, that the report OF this
convention produced the effect OF assuacinc the
public sensibity, and operated repres the var,ie
and ardeut expectations entertained by many CT our
citizens. Of immediate and eFectuaI relief from the
evils OF their condition.
We pass the elaborate exposition of con,stifr
tional law in the Presidents letter hayinr no call
any inclination this time to controvert its lead
ing principles. Neither do we comment uDo,,
though we perceive and feel, the unjust and we
must be excused, for saving, nsidous mode in which
he has grouped together distant and disconnected
occurrences, which happened in his absence from
the country, for the purpose of producing BIZ their
coocatcn, glazing and sinister effect uron the fed
erai party. They were all Of public nature. The
arguments concerning their merit or demert have
been eHsiasted and time and the good sense Of an
intelligent people, viii place them ultimately in their
true light, even though Mr.. Adams should continue
10 throw obstacles in the wry 70 tins i,arroonio,,e =
action Of public opinion.
1t has been OF wonder and perplexity f.,
many III our community to observe the immense a
ference in the standards by which public opinion ha
ocen led to measure the same KIND of proceedings
when adopted IN different States. No preteDce IS
urged that any actual resistance to the laws or forci
bic violation of the constitutional compact has eyer
happened IN Massachusetts Constitutional Questions
have arisen here we'll as in other States II is
surprising and coTsolGtorv that the number has mi
been greater and that the termination of them has
not been less auIcabe. To the discussion OF sn,nc
OF them great excitement unavoidably incident;
but n comparing with causes and effects the
impartial observer VIII perceive nothing to authorize
any disarogen!ent to his STATE to the advantage of
the pretensions Of her members of the confedeTscv
On this subject We diecaim the purpose OF lstiti-
ting invdlous comparisons; but every one Knows that
Massachusetts has not been alone in complaints and
Inconsistencies aGant The acts of The national govern
ment. Nothing can be found on the records of her
legislative proceedings, surprising the tore of reEo-
utons adopted in other States in reprobaton of the
alien and 5ed:ion laws. In one State opposition to
The execution of treaty, in others, to the laws in
siituilng the bank has sounded the of prepare
ton Tor resistance IN imDassone1 strains Khan
were ever adopted here. And at this moment claims
OF State Rights, and protests against the measures of
the national government, in terms, for which no par
aie can be found IN Massachusetts are ushered into
the halls OF Congress, under tho most solemn and
imposing forms Of State authority. It is not orr
part to ccnstre or to approve these proceedings.
Massachusetts has done nothing at any time in op1o-
siAoa to the national government, and she has said
nothing IN derogation OF It's powers, that Is not fully
justified by The constitution; and not so much otor
States have said, with more decided emphasis: and.
It Is believed without the stimulus of the same actual
grievances. We are no longer at loss to account
Tor the prevalence of these preiudces against this
n-... q. c.l,.n.r.... .,....l: 80