The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-13
From the Portland advertiser.
The Hartford Convention.

OF having been, Tor long series OF years, the best
this country. Others may have excited as much
temporary violence Of opposition, but for long
tinued, unmitigated condemnation and deep-seated
and abiding prejudice, which have refused to be
the Hartford convention has borne away the palm
certainly all other public gatherings in this
country. So deep has been the prejudice. that the
popular mind has hitherto refused even to hear or
examine any testimony in explanation of the charges
brought against it. II q treasOnabIe c0nvsa-
tion" ii has often been said and although as often
denied, that denial has passed almost UNDECIDED
with great majority Of the people, and prnci-
pally because politicians and party leaders have
found it for their interest to keep up the idea that
treason did really Turk under its doings and DELHI
erations. And how treason? Because Gao said its
accusers) it took into consideration the subject Of q
dissolution Of the Union! And in what portion Of
the United States has this charge been most dwet
upon? At the South. II was the burden of Mr..
Haynes famous speech, which was SO triumph
antly replied to by Mr.. Webster. And yet south
ern men, not having the fear of the political fate of
the members of the Hartford convention before their
eyes, now talk about disunion and Nashville con-
ventiop with the same freedom that they discuss
the tariff or the Wilmot provso!
The argus, quite recently, in its zeal to excuse
justify the southern dsunionsts revived this old
charge against the Hartford convention. But we
repeat, it is not that the Hartford convention
ever proposed disunion any thing bordering upon
South Carolina notification. The following testi-
mony OF Hon. Roger M. Sherman 4 as pure man
of Independence.) given in the trial of In
the supreme court in Connecticut, is sufficient to
settle this question, and may do something towards
correcting the prejudice Of ignorance upon this
subject
The case which elected the testimony was trial
for libel before the supreme court of Connecticut.
held in Fairfield county The title of the libel snit
was "the State VS.. Whitman Mead |" The libel was
publication attacking certain delegate of Clay
meeting in Hartford in which the defendant COM
pared that meeting to the Hartford convention.
At the trial the defendent deemed it important that
a development Of the whole proceedings should be
made, and accordingly applied for subpoena to
the Hon. h. M. Sherman and the Hon. Calvin God
dard, who were members of it, which the court
granted. From the lateness Of the application, Mr..
Goddard could not be brought into court MIR.
Sherman appeared and gave the testimony below
From the NorsOalk Conn., Gazette.
STATE Hon. R. M. sherman's test-
wHIrmxS MEAD. mony
Question by the Prisoner.--What was the nature
and object Of the Hartford convention2
Anstoer.-I was a member of that convention. 1t
met on the 10th Of December 1914. The United
States was then at war with Great Britain. They
had in their forts and armies twenty seven thou
sand effective mcn--of these about thirteen hun
dred only employed in New England. The
war had been in operation two years and half.
We had sea- coast of almost seven hundred miles
to protect and, with the exception of thirteen hum
dred men, had the aid of no military force from
the United States. By internal taxes, ell others
having become unproductve by reason of the war,
the national Government raised large sums from
the people within our territory. Direct taxation
was the only resource of the State government and
this had been carried to as great extreme in Con-
necticut could be sustained The banks which fur
nished all our currency either withheld their
commodations or stopped payment, and the people
were embarrassed by general sta gnation Of bust
ness. Powerful fleets and armies lay off our coasts
and were making or threatening invasions on all
parts of defenceless board Commodore
Decatur, with his squadron, had taken refuge in
the Connecticut, and attracted powerful concen-
traton of the enemy's forces on borders. Cas-
tine, if mistake not, and some other part of the
territory of Massach had fallen into the hands
of the British. The New England States (under
all these disadvantages) obliged to protect
themselves with their own militia, at their own
pense. The expenses of Connecticut greatly ex-
| cceded her resources. The duration Of the
could not be foreseen, and our credit became
hausted Attempts were made to borrow money,
but without any adequate success. The national
Constitution prohibited the emission of bills of cred
it. In this extremity, while the Legislature in
session at New Haven, in October, 1914, a commu-
nicaton received from the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts, proposing convention of delegates
from the New England States, to consult on the
adoption OF measures for their common safety.
This communication was referred to a joint COM
mittee Of both houses General Henry Champion
and myself were appointed from the upper house;
he was chairman OF the committee. drew the re-
port recommending a compliance with the pro-
posal made by the State of Massachusetts, and
signing the reasons at length. This report was
published by order of the Legislature, and extern
sivcy circulated in the newspapers of this and
other States. Seven delegates were appointed to
represent this State in the convention. As soon
it was organized, Mr.. Otis, delegate from Massa-
chusetts, proposed, after some PREDATORY remarks,
that it should be recommended to our several Le-
gisatures to present petition to the Congress Of
the United States. praying that they scosd consent
that the New England States, many Of them
should agree together for that pWposs, might unite
defending emseipes against the public enemy; that
much Of the national should be collected
in these STATES should be appropriated to that dencs
that lhe amount so appropriated should be credited TO
the United States and that the United States should
agree TO pay tchaeper should BE- expended beyond that
amount. This proposal was approved by the con-
vention. The same views had been stated here be-
fore the meeting of the delegates. By the Consti-
tuition of the United States, no such compact for
mutual defence could be formed without the con-
sent of Congress.
BY thus augmenting our immediate resources,
and obtaining the national guaranty that the ex-
penses of the war, to be increased by the states
thus uniting, should be ultimately paid out of the
national treasury, il was supposed that our credit,
as well as our pecuniary resources, wodld be en-
HANGED. A debate was held in the convention
10 certain amendments 10 the Constitution Of the
United States, to be proposed for adoption by the
State Legislatures. One was, that Congress should
not have the power 10 declare war without the con-
currcnce Of two thirds Of both Houses. | cannot,
from recollection, detail the proposed amendments;
but they appear the printed report Of the
vention, Of which have copy at my office, which
the prisoner may on the trial If be pleases. A
committee, Of whom was ono, appointed by
the convention 10 draw up that report TO present TO
their respective legislatures. The proposal Of Mr..
Otis adopted with little variation. The report
was Immediately printed by order Of the conven-
ton, and was circulated throughout the country.
Among other things, may be seen by the re-
port, il recommended 10 the Legislatures repre-
scented in the convention TO adopt measures TO pro-
tcct the citizens from such conscrptions i'm
pressments as were not authorized by the Consttu-
ton Of the United States. This resolution org-
mated from project Of the then Secretary of War,
which, believe, not adopted by Congress.
The secretary of the convention kept journal OF
their proceedings. This, as understood, was de-
posted by Mr. Cabot, the president, in the Office OF
the Secretary of State OF Massachusetts, and copy
transmitted to Washington and lodged in the Office
of the Secretary Of State of the United States. II
afterwards published in certain newspapers. ]
saw IL in the American Mercury, n newspaper pub
lishcd at Hartford by Mr. Bsbcock. The legisla
lures Of Massachusetts and Connecticut, pursuant
to the recommendation Of the convention, sent a
delegation to Washington TO present their rcspec