The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-16


nIe bod them answerable for its safe-keeping
NIats ~ ub-Treasury or independent Trea-
s,r,, ~ discharge them from their responsibility
7, T. hean ! responsibility Of their own choice,
And fear will hereafter compel them 10 deal no
nastlv and fairly in selecting bank repositories,
and our money viii be safe,
| Al, Chairman, | was surprised, two days
ogo 10 hear the remarks Of my colleague Mr..
paunenter) upon the bill we are now consider
| inc. He saw fit, for the instruction OF this com
mittee 10 make the Hartford Convention the
principal part Of his speech He informed us
that .fthe subject was well understood but still,
as il was quarter of century since its occur
renee, he would read a few authentic docu-
ments.n II is well known that the history OF the
| Hartford Convention has been fully and faith
| fully recorded. If the gentleman thought the
information so important and useful on the pre-
sent occasion, why did he not read the Hhoie
| history? II the gentleman had been content
with exhibiting what he called "authentlc docu-
ments," and commenting upon them fairly,
should have considered il wholly irrelevant; but
if the gentleman thought he could make any po-
iical capital out Of it, he might try the expert
n,ent. and il should pass wholly unnoficed by
! me.
But my colleague was not satisfied with his
tory, which he himself pronounced authentic.
His own distempered and diseased imagination,
looking back quarter of a century, through the
medium of prejudice, saw things that never ex-
listed, which he boldly afiirms TO be true. Of
this complain These remarks consider dis
ingenious and unjust, founded in error and pre-
ludlce--the mere newspaper slang OF party. he,
in fact after reading, and having read al the
Clerks table, the names of those who composed
the Hartford Convention. the greater part Of
whom have been dead for many years, accused
| them of being enemies 10 their country, and
guilty Of reasonable projects, which they con
ccdied from the people. These accusations
were mere assertions and insinuations, wholly
unsupported by single fact; for, indeed, they
were wholly erroneous and no such facts could
be found But political capital is the object,
and in the heated zeal and great necessity of the
occasion the means are overlooked, and are
sanctfed by the end. To make the capital
available, understood my colleague, by asser-
ton and nsinuation, TO give it his endorsement
as follows 1st To declare his authentic his
tory, in fact, untrue, that the convention had
Interior objects OF treason not recorded in their
history. 3D. To denounce them as traitors and
enemies 10 their country. 3D. To affirm that
those who were yet alive, who composed the
Hartford Convention, were Wings. And 4th.
That those who had been dead for years, if alive,
would belong 10 the Wing party. And then
comes the overwhelming inference, that the
Wings of the present day are traitors and enc
mies to their country. | shall not consider the
gentlemans argument as deserving serious no
tee. If it be capital by which honest men may
be gulled and defrauded, il is TO be lamented In
one point Of view only | feel bound to notice,
very briefly, the subject. Irefer TO the gross in
justice, III my opinion, done to the members of
the Hartford Convention. Indscriminate abuse,
and impuation Of hypocriical and unworthy
base designs, are imputed TO the dead and the
living. The maxnns Of heathens and Christians
are condemned, and the ashes of the dead have
hn.,, Il ,Ial,y rI.I d..
haps, Mr.. Chairman, my colleague. (Mr. Salton-
stalD has already said enough upon this anti
quated subject, 10 put down, in the minds OF
/ honest and unprecedented men, what we believe
error and calumny; still, as il has been my good
fortune and happiness TO know the most Of those
worthy and distinguished men personally, | trust
it will not be thought amiss that | should pub
Ellcly bear my humble testimony 10 the truth.
The twenty individuals who composed
the Hartford Convention were selected from re-
trement, neither desiring nor seeking political
preierment Many of themhad taken most ac-
tive and decided part in the Revolution, and in
the formation and adoption Of the Constitution
of our country They were (most of them are
no more) great men, mise men, and good men,
and so esteemed by honest men of all parties
who knew them They traitors and enemies
to their country am aware that the charac-
tiers OF these distinguished men need no humble
tribute Of praise from me, but the remarks forci-
bly, recalled to my recollection two Of the num-
Der, one OF whom is no more, of my own neigh
borhood, the old colony of Plymouth. Hodijah
Bayies and Joshua Thomas | had known
respected, aud honored them from the days of
childhood and who that knew them did not
Both were revolutionary patriots both revolu-
tionary officers, and Major Baylies continued
long in the revolutionary war, and, as aid 10
General Lincoln, sacrificed his health for life at
the seige of Charleston, South Carolina. They
accused of being enemies to their country-trai-
tors | would not have believed the man could
have been found TO make the accusation in this
House. | am quite sure an honest and intelli-
gent man cannot be found among those who
know them who will say he believes the accu-
sation has the slightest foundation in truth
will not repeat the names of the illustrious dead
Slander may wound the feelings of children,
and relations, and friends but truth is powerful
and will prevail, and trust faithful history will
do justice TO their memories and more even
their children and warmest admirers cannot de-
sire will not repeat the names of the sur
vivors. They are men, in word, distinguish
ed prc-eminently for integrity, patriotism, ia
Tents, and practical usefulness. How must the
| charge OF traitors to their country sound where
these men are known, and honored, and respect
ed by all from whom respect is desired! God
grant they may long live TO bless our common
country, and largely share in its prosperity
am not surprised that strange feelings came
over my colleague while speaking which led to
strange contradictions. He alternately praised
and denounced. He repeatedly affirmed that he
spoke of them politically. | suppose he intend
ed to say they were only traitors and enemies TO
their country politically. He has even pronoun-
ced a eulogy upon one of those distinguished
individuas-the Hon. Thomas H. Perkins
He has informed us that " his heart is full ofbene-
Violence and philanthropy he has contribu-
ted most generously to many charitable institu-