Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-16

chusetts, proposing Convention OF del
egates from the N. England States, to
consult on the adoption of measures for
their common safety.
This communication was referred to
JOINT Committee of both Houses. Cen
eral Henry Champion and myself were
appointed from the upper House.-H
was Chairman of the Committee. /
drew the report, recommending COM
pliance with the proposal made by the
State of Massachusetts, and asst igning
the reasons at length. The report was
published by order ofthe Legislature, s
exte nsively circulated in the Newspa-
pers of this and other States. Seven
Delegates were appointed to represent
the Convention. AS soon as it was Or
ganized, Mr. Otis,a delegate from Mas
sachusetts, proposed, after some prefato-
ry remarks that it should be recommen-
ded to our several Legislatures, to pre-
sent a petition to the Congress Of the
United States, praying that they would
consent that the New-England states, or
so many of them as should agree togeth-
er for that purpose, might unite in defend
ing themselves against the public enemy;
that so much of the National revenue,
as should be collected in these States,
should be appropriated to that defence;
that the amount so appropriated should
be credited to the United States; and
that the United States should agree to
pay whatever should be expended be-
yond that amount. This proposal was
approved by the Convention. The same
views had been stated here, before the
meeting of the dclegates.-By the Con-
stitution Of the United States, no such
compact for mutual defence could be
| formed, without the consent of Congress,
/ BY thus augmenting our immediate re-
sources, and obtaining the national guar
anty that the expenses of the war, to be
/ incurred by the states thus uniting,
should be ultmatel y paid out of the Ma
tional Treasury, it was supposed that our
credit as well as our present pecuniary
resources would be enhanced. A de-
bate was had in the Convention as to
certain amendments to the Constitution,
ofthe United States, to be proposed fol
adoption bv the State Legislatures. One
i was, that Congress should not have pow
II er to declare war without the concur
renee of two thirds of both Houses.
cannot from recollection, detail the pro-
| posed amendments; but they appear or
the printed report of the Convention, OF
which have copy at my office, which
the prisoner may use on the trial II he
| pleases A committee, Of whom | was
one, was appointed by the Convention to
draw up that report, to present to their
respective Legislatures. The proposal
Of MIR. Otis was adopted with little vari-
alton. This report was Immediately
printed by order of the Convention, and
was circulated throughout the country.
l Among other things, as may be seen
! by that report, it was recommended to
the Legislatures represented in the Con
vention, to adopt measures to protect their
citizens from such conscri ptions or I'M
j pressments as were not authorized by
the Constitution of the United States.
This resolution originated from project
of the then secretary ofwar, which be-
lieve was not adopted by Congress.
L The secretary Of the Convention kept a
| journal of their proceedings.-Thls, as
understood, was deposited by Mr.. Ca
bot, the President, in the office OF the
secretary of the state Of Massac chusetts,
and a copy transmitted to Washington
and lodged in the Office Of the secretary
of state of the United States. 1t was
| afterwards published in certain newspa-
| pers. | saw it in the American Mercu-
| ry, newspaper published at Hartford,
| by Mr.. Babcock. The Legislatures OF
Massachusetts and Connecticut, pursu-
ant to the recommendation of the Con
vention, sent delegation to Washington
! to present their respective petitions to the
! Congress of the United States. The
gentlemen sent from Connecticut, were
Mr.. Terry, Mr.. Goddard, and | think
! Mr.. Dwight On their arrival, the
! Treaty Of Peace, concluded at Ghent,
reached the National Government, and
| further measures became unnecessary.
Il This is an outline of the origin and
proceedings Of the Hartford Convention.
There was not according to the best OF
my recollection, single motion, resolu-
ton, or subject Of debate, but what ap-
pears in the printed journal or report.
! If any further particulars are requested,
will state them,
4 Question by the Prisoner.-Was it not
: an object Oft the Convention TO embarrass
and paralyze the Government OF the U.
States in the prosecution of the war with
| Great Britain.
\ y1nsuer.-It was not. Nothing Of the
kind was done or entertained by the
Convention, or so far as ] know, or be-