The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-05

by acts Of hostility towards the government dis
tinguished by an insarrcctcn got up by the social,
istc and dogmatic spirits Of that day. Arelaxa-
ton Of manners-a free use Of iuxuries-a decay of
trade with scarcity OF noney--say the historians
OF that dsytogether with the difficulties in obtain
mgpayments among individuals, suPerimposed upon
heavy State debt, raised the spirit ofsedition The
very towns now conspicuous for their action in the
ant-slavery system Of tactics Northampton, Wor-
cester Hatfield, Greenfield and the likc-were then
agtated with the mad-caps Of that day They had
their Worcester convcnsion, with delegates from
fifty towns; and their next step was to bring an
armed force into the Geld. The Governor issued
proclamation against the front Of rebellon-but it
showed itself Anedpar Of from three to eleven
hundred persons appeared in the field, and Daniel
Shays even took his post in the courthouse at
prngfed-another locality celebrated for its anti
slavery tendencies at the present hour. Subsc-
quenty, the insurgents attempted to interfere with
the judicial courts and they were only put down by
army of four thousand brought against them.
Happily. there little blood spilled in g Shays'.
death for participating in the scenes Of the scditon
lists, and hundred and ninety persons
pardoned under commission instituted to restore
another hot-bcd of anti-slavery error-the mob, at
the same period took the whole General Assembly
prisoners, and held them in that condition for seve
raj hours, because, in answer to petition, that
body did not deem it advisable to pass law for the
establishment Of a paper money system. In this
case, eight persons indicted for treason, and
were punished, but not capitally convicted-the
power Of the government having been exhibited
sufficiently in their conviction.
TWAS upon these and similar difficulties, between
the hasty minority of that day.and the government,
that the devoted to the general veal and pros
perity of the country, deemed expcdient to amend
the constitution. 1t was perceived that the power
of the federal government was inefficient. An
energetic system Of national government was pro-
posed; and, in l7S7, the country held the great
Philadelphia convention, from which sprang the
first President, Washington, and that system of
government which has since contributed to the ee-
walton and prosperity Of the United States.
Thus, it may be said, and with historical truth,
that the very government under which We exist
was framed Gr the purpose Of controlling the law
less spirits Of the land, who, like those of Boston in
February last, set up and establish their own doc
trines of expedency, right and government for
guidance, in opposition to the long established
principles and the constitutional regulations whlcn
have sprung from the will of the majority, by
whom We, as people, have consented to be govern
ed. The question is, therefore, whether or not We
are to maintain the fundamental ideas Of the fedc-
raj compact-whether or not we to submit to
the power of our own making-whether or not We
to sustain that power, and to show that we re-
spect the country and its institutions more than the
rhapsodies of fanatics and political mountebnnks'
On the conviction the acquitta of those arraign-
ed at Boston will the question be decided