Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-01-23
Hen. Roger MinStt Sherman.

guished member of the Bar and in 1910 was cho-
sen Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut,
which station he resigned in May, 1S42. on ac-
count of i'll health. He was nephew Of ROGER
Sherman, who signed the Declaration of Indepen-
dence.
MIR. Sherman continued the practice Of law for
forty-three years. and was, beyond a doubt, en-
gagged In as great number of causes as any other
lawyer in Connecticut during the present century
In causes of Importance, he was frequently called
to practice in the courts of other States In 1914,
he became member Of the Upper House of the
Connecticut Legislature, and he occupied that
seat, by annual election, until 1918. This body
of men, in those days, comprised persons of the
highest responsibility for character and talents
and among them all Mr. Sherman was distinguish.
ed for ability, integrity, independence, and thor
ough knowledge of the policy and interests of the
State. Many of the Connecticut statutes relative
to the administration of justice, which are now in
operation, were drawn up and caused to be passed
through the Legislature by him.
In the same year NSl4), Mr. Sherman was ap-
pointed, by the Legislature, delegate to the eel
ebrated Hartford Contention Ofhis proceedings
as member of that Convention, it is sufficient 10
say that, although one of the youngest of the as
senlbly, he maintained his high reputation for
learning, judgment and eoquence: and of the
Convention itself. it can hardly be inappropriate
here to cite what MIR Sherman said on trial in
which the character and objects Of that assembage
were in question, and on which trial Mr. Sherman
testified, under OATH as witness
no Al 80
1914. The United States were then at war with
Great Britain. They had in their forts and armies
twenty seven thousand effective men, of whom on
ly about thirteen hundred were employed in New
England, although we had sea-coast to protect
of nearly seven hundred miles. By internal taxes,
all others having become unproductive by reason
of the war, the general government raised large
sums from the people within our territory Direct
taxation, in the meantime, was the only resource
of the State Governments and this, in Connect
cut, had already been carried to as great an extent
as the inhabitants could bear. The banks, which
furnished all our currency, either withheld their
accommodation or stopped payment, and the peo-
pie were embarrassed by general stagnation of
business Powerful fleets and armies lay off our
parts of our defenceess sea board. In this emer-
gency, the New England States were compelled
TO protect themselves by their own militia, at their
own expense. The duration of the could not
be foreseen. Attempts were made to borrow mo-
ney, without adequate success; and the national
constitution prohibited the emission of bills of
credit. At this crisis, while the Connecticut Le-
in, in
munication was received from the Legislature Of
Massachusetts, proposing convention of dele
gates from the New Eng land States, to consult OF
the adoption of measures for the common safety.
Such convention was soon agreed upon, and the
delegates met as already stated. MIR. Gus, from
Massachusetts,, proposed that it should be recon-
mended to the several New England Legislatures
to present petition to Congress. praying that
body to permit the New England States to unite
in defending themselves against the common ene-
my that so much of the national revenue as should
be collected in those States should be appropria-
ted to that defence that the amount so apProprla-
ted should be credited to the United States; and
that the United States should agree to pay what
ever was expended beyond that amount. This
proposal was approved by the Convention. Sub
sequently, debate took place to certain amend
en,s to the Constitution of the United States, to
be proposed by the State Legislatures. One was,
that Congress should not have power hereafter to
declare war; without the concurrence oftwo thirds
of both Houses 1t was also recommended 10 the
several Legislatures represented in the Conven-
ton, to adopt measures for the protection OF their
citizens from such conscription or mpressment
as was not authorised by the Constitution OF the
United States. This movement was caused by
project laid before Congress by the Secretary OF
War, which, believe was not adopted. The Le-
gislatures of Massachusetts and Connecticut, pur-
suant to the recommendation of the Convention,
sent delegation to Washington, TO lay their peii-
tons before Congress; but on their arrival they
found peace had been concluded by the Treaty of
Ghent, and further proceedings became unneces-
sary. This is an outline OF tie origin and pro-
ceelines of tile Hartford Convention. 1t was no
part OF the purposes OF tdal Convention to embar-