Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-03-02

NCiG lluuc lO DOI1OW HOnGY, put without any adequate success. The National Constitution prohibited the emission of bills of credit. In this extremity while the legis- lature was in session, at New Haven, in Oct 1874, communication was received from the Legislature of Massachusetts, proposing a convention of delegates from the New Eng land States, to consult on the adoption of mea- sures for their common safety.
 This communication was referred to joint committee of both Houses. General Henry Champion and myself were appointed from the upper House. He was Chairman of the committee. l drew the report, recommend ing compliance with the proposal made by the State Of Massachusetts, and assigning the reasons at length. The report was pub
 lshed by order of the Legislature, and eXten- sively circulated in the newspapers of this and other States. Seven Delegates were ap- pointed to represent the Convention. As soon as it was organized, MT Otis, a delegate from Massachusetts, proposed, after some predatory remarks, that it should be recoin- mendedto our several Legislatures, to present to the Congress of the United States, praying that they would consent that the New Eng land States, CT so many of them as should agree together for that purpose, might unite in defending themselves against the public enemy;-that so much of the National rcve- nue, as should be collected in these States, should be appropriated to that defence; that the amount 90 appropriated, should be ere dited to the United States; and that the Uni ted States should agrect to pay whatever should be expended beyond that amount. The pro posal was approved by the Conventions The same views had been stated here, before the meeting of the delegates. By the Consttu- tion of the United States, no such compact for mutual defence, could be formed, without the consent of Congress. By thus augment ing our immediate resources, and obtaining the National guaranty, that the expenses of the war, to be increased by the States thus uniting, should ultimately be paid cut of the National Treasury, it was supposed that our credit as well as our pecuniary resources, would be enhanced. A debate was had in the Convention, as to certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States to be pro- posed for adoption by the State Legislatures. One was, that Congress should not have the power to declare war without the concur renee of two thirds of both Houses. l can not, from recollection, detail the proposed amendments; but they appear on the printed report of the Convention, of which 1 have a copy at my office, which the prisoner may use on the trial if he pleases. A committee, of whom l was one, was appointed by the Convention to draw up that report, to present to their respective Legislatures. The propo- sal of MT Oris was adotod with lntle variation. This report was immediately printed by or der of the Convention, and was circulated throughout the country.
 Among other things, as may be seen by that report, it was recommended to the Le- gislatures represented in the Convention, to adopt measures to protect their citizens from such conscriptions or improvements, as were not authorized by the Constitution of the U- nited States This resolution originated from a project of the, then, Secretary of war, which believe was not adopted by Congress. The Secretary of the Convention kept a journal o1 their proceedings. This, as 1 understood, was deposited by MT Cabot, the President, ir the office of the Secretary of the State of Mas sachusetts, and copy transmitted to Wash ington and lodged in the office of the Secreta- ry of State of the United States. It was af- | rewards published in certain newspapers 1 saw it published in the American Mercury a newspaper publishei at Hartford, by MI Babcock. The Legislature of Massachusetts
 and Connecticut, pursuant to the recommen- datlonS of the Convention, sent delegation | to Washington, to present their respective
 petitions to the Congress of the United States. | The gentlemen sent from Connecticut were, Mir Terry, Mir Goddard, and l think, MI | Dwight. On their arrival, the treaty oi peace, concluded at Ghent, reached the Ma tonal Government, and further measures be- came unnecessary.
 | This is an outline of the original and pro ceedings of the Hartford Convention, There
 was not, according to my best recollection, a
 single motion, resolution, or subject of debate,
 but what appears iii the printed journal, ol report. If any other particulars are request ed, l will state them.
 Question by the Prisoner. it not ar object of the Convention, to embarrass and paralyze the Government of the United States | ln the prosecution of war with Great Britain. .4nS7ver.-lt was not Nothing of the kind
 was done or entertained by the Convention, or, so far as know or believe, by those by whom it was originated. On the contrary, it's principal object was more effectual CO New England States.
 Question by Me Prisoner.-Has not tha Convention been generally reputed in the U- nited States to be reasonable?
 .Anszver. Much has been said and publish cd to that effect, but without the least founda tiCn. believe know their proceedings per fectly, and that every measure, done or pro posed, has been published to the world. NC one act has ever been pointed out, to my knowledge, as inconsistent with their obliga- tions to the United States, nor was any such act ever contemplated by them.
 Scientifc Erhedition 70 Mount .Ararat- -
 The celebrated mountain Ararat, on which. if tradition be believed, are to be seen the re- lies of thf4 ark Of Noah hut whose summit has hitherto been inaccessible, has lately been ex- plored by an expedition for Dorpat, consisting of Professor Parrot, the projector, who un- dertook to defray its costs out of his own pil- vate funds, and four students of Dorpat, se-