Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-02-10

.yseif were apps;nted from the Upper
House. Hewss Chsirman Of s,e Com
msftee. tdrew thcEepsrt rees@m end
ing eeopliance with the proposal
made BY the State Of Massachusetts.
enti assigniog the reasons at length.-
This report WINS pvblishetl bv order Of
the Legislature. and extensively cir.
caiated IA the newspaper Of this and
other States. Seven Delegates we're
appointed TO represent this State in
the ConvesiioD. A. sooa rs IL WA
organized, MIR. Otis, a delegate from
Massachusetts,. proposed. after same
predatory remarks, that IL should be
recommended IA our several. Legisls-
lures, 10 present pctiiion 10 the Con-
gress Of tho United States, PRAYING
that they would consent that the New
England States, or 80 sssny Of them "A
shosld agree together Far that purpose.
might unite IN defending themselves
against the public enemy THAT SO
much Of the National revenue as should
be collected in these States should be
appropriated TO the expenses Of that
defence; that the amount 80 appropti-
aied should be credited to the United
States--and that the United States
should agree to pay whatever should
be expended beyond that anount.--
Ih's proposal was approved by the
Convention. The same views had
been stated here, before the meeting
"t the delegates. BY the Constitution
OF the United States, no such compact
Tor mutual defence could be formed,
without the consent Of Congress. By
thus asgmenting our immediate re-
sources, aud obtaining the national
guaranty that the expenses Of the war,
to be increased by the States thus uni.
ting, should be ultimately paid out of
the National Treasury, IL wan suppos
ed that our credit as we'll rs our pre
sent pecuniary rec0urces, would be
enhanced. A debate WAS had in the
Convention n 10 certain amendments
to the Constitution OF the United States,
to be proposed for adoption by the
State Legislatures. One was. Tint
Congress should not have power 10 de.
clare var without the Concurrence of
two. thirds of both Houses. cannot.
from recollection, detail the proposed
amendments; but they appear on the
printed report Of The Convention. OF
which have copy at my Uffice, which
the prisoner may use on The trial, If he
Pleases. A Comniitee. Of whom I
was one, was appointed by the Conven-
ton to draw up the report, To present
to their respective Legislatures. The
proposal OF MIR. Otis was adopted with
little variation. This report was in
med,stely printed by order of the Con
vention, and was circulated through
out the country.
Among other things, rs may be seen
oy that report, IL vas recommended to
the Legislatures represented in the
Convention, TO adopt measures to pro.
tect their citizens from such conscrip.
tons or impressmenis a. were not au.
fhorized By the Constitution Of the u
nited States. This resolution osieina
tel from project of the then Secrcta.
~ of War, which believe was not a
dsPted by Congress. The Sccsets-
~ OF the Convention kept q ioarnaI
OF their proceedings. This, a. un-
derstand. was deposited BY Mr.. Ca.
Dot, the President, In the Office Of the
Secretary Of the State Of hiassaehu-
sctts, and copy transmitted ts Wash.
in2ton and lodged in the Office IF the
Secretary Of State ofthe United States.
II was afterwards Published ia certain
newspapers Isaw il in the Ameri-
can Mercury, q newspaper published
at Hartford, BY Mr.. Babcock. The
Legislatures Of Massachusetts, aud
Conueeticuts pursuant so the recon.
meDdation Of the Convention. sent q
delegation 10 WashipKton TO present
their respective petitions to the Goa.
gress Of the United States. The gen
tlemen sent from Copnectieut we're
Sir. Terry, Mr. GODDARD, and I think,
Mr.. Dwight. On their arrival, the Urea.
ty Of Peace concluded ~ Ghent, reach.
ed the National Government, and fur.
ther measures became unnecessary.
This is en- outline of che origin and
proceedings Of the Hartford Con.
vention. There was not, according
to my best recollection, a single motion,
resolutions o. subject Of debate. bot
what appears 10 the printed Journal or
report IL any further particulars are
requested, ! viii state thea.
Question BY tie Prisoner. il
not an object u the Convention 10 EN-
barTass aud paralyze the Government
Of the United STATES IN the prosecution
Of The wsr with Great Britiain
8RssCey.--It vas not. Nothing II
the kind was done or intended By the
Convention, or, 50 far a. know o. be-.
Iieve, BY those By whom II ass oIi.
ginated. On the contrary. Us prinei