The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-24

) ysu, howeyer, for the thoughts which you have
ronssd me on this subject, and rs soon - you can
. No nsn in the United States is or can be more
eeply Impressed with the necessity OF reform In our
70 feat The bad effects Of il more sensby for to che
lefects thereof and want OF power In congress may
sstly be ascribsd tho proionsslon OF sne Iar, and
hsn half the perplextes have experisv 4oed In the
Dourss Of my command and almost the ~hols Of the
1inouties and dstresses OF the army had theis
origin here But still the pref udces 81 some the ds
uiens OF Others and the mere machinery of the
GRITTY. make address and mAnas sment necessary to
Rfys weight to opinions which bat the dos
inss Of those different classes OF men in the held Of
politios.o
ration Of ha views this subject, in letter writ
ten to Genera Lafayette under date Of April the 5h
1883. These his solemn words
ave are now Independent people, and have yet
- learn political tactics We are placed among the
nations Of the earth and have character establish
but how We shall soquit ourselves time must discover
The probability is lat lsaet fear t that local or State
politics will interfere too much with the liberal
reed rom ths mist Of prsiaaio. "O9id do
tate and that shall be guilty many blunders In
tssadng this boundess theatre, before shall have
arrived o. any perfection in this art-in word that
the experience which 10 purchased ct the price of d
oulties and distress viii alone convince us that the
b measured BY continental scals and that sysry de-
parture thererom weakens the Union, and may ulti
nsteiy break the band which holds us together. To
avert these evils, to form constitution that will
give consistency stability and dignity to the Union
and sufficient the great council Of the nation
for general purposes is duty incumbent upon every
man who wishes we'll to his country, and will meet
with aid rs far Is it be endered in the private
walks Of life
Upon the 9TH of January, 1884, he thus writes to
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr:-
.Notwthstan ding the Jealous and contracted tenn
per which 10 prevail in OF the States, yet
cannot but hope and beleve tina. the good sense OF
the people will ultimately get the better of their pre-
JUDGES; and that or der and sound policy. though
they do net come often would wish, will be
produced nom the present unsettled and deranged
state Of public snars indeed am happy to observe,
every day, Several o: the states have anifested
Inclination to invset Congress with more ample
powers most OF the legislatures appear disposed to
do perfect justice; and the Assembly of this Com
monweslth virginia. have just complied with the
acquisitions Of Congress and L an informed, without
will right at last have often prop nesed.
Ny only fear IT, that We shall lose little reputation
In communication addressed 70 Benjamin Harm
SON, then Governor of virginia) of date only few
" That the prospect before is as you Justly OBJ.
fair none deny; but what we shall make
beve ell things will come right at last, but like young
heir. come q little prematurey TO large inheritance,
We shall wanton and run riot until we have brought
our reputation to the brink OF ruin then like him
shall have to sbor With the of opinion when
com PEELED perhaps. to do what pru ience and anon
policy pointed out as plain as any problem in Euclid
The disinclinstion of the individual States to yield
com petent powers TO Congress for the federal govern
mspt their unreasonable jealousy of that body and Of
one another and the deposition which seem. to per-
wade each OF being all wise and all powerful within
our downfa sss nation. This /. as clear to me as
A. b. G; and think We have opposed Great Britain
and have arrived at the present state of peace n
d.penoercy to very little purpose If we cannot
quer our prejudces The powers OF Europe begin
% see this and our newly acquired friends. the
Brsh are already and proiessedly acting up this
groun d; and wisely too II determined 70 PER.
severe In our folly They knor that individual oppo
sisicn to their measures Il; futile sua boast that
not icienty united IS q nation to give gene
raj one Is not the indgnity, slons, OF this decara-
ton while in the very act Of peace making
ana concihstion. sufficient TO stimulate TO vest
of these Unit,d etstesl"
In the month of March. 1855 commissioners who had
been prsvou,iy appointed BY the States OF Virginia
snc Maryland. ~ith view TO the formation of
tate rivers In Msyisnt AID Virginia part Of the
Bay Of Chsssps AXE assembled in Alexandria within
fe~ mile. OF the residences Of Gen Washington. Dur.
Ing visit which they paid to Mount vernon, they
agreed under the advice OF their venerated host
propose their respective governments tue appoint
nent OF other commissioners, with power TO make
joint arrangements TO which the assent Of Congress
~ss br solicited for msinta mag naval force in the
Che,stssss, ana TO establish tariff Of duties on i'm
ports 10 ~hich the laws OF both states shoud couform
WHEN there proportions received the Of the
Leg stature OF virginia an additional resolution
passed directing that which respected the duties on
iu posts TO b. communicated to all the State. Of the
Upiep -ho in vissd to send dsputie. the set
iny -fs~e NAr.hsll's Washington
Tbus originated the convention which assembled at
AbBs oils In septs mber 1850 out OF the proceedings
81 whtrh arot- that magnificent scheme OF govern.
msnt which va afterwards matured and msthoii,ed
b. ttos- who posed the federal convention
o. philsdelphis and over the deliberations OF which
~sfhrgfrD himself is known 20 have presided. For
several years previous 70 the assembling OF this
rahl- body the condition OF public affairs had been
truly alarming and many u the most Wise ard .sya
eous stst-sm-n In the republic were inclined almost
to despair Of much longer eontin uauce OF the
,-dsra Union. General wa.hington appear. TO have
been very sctive In support Of the call OF general
eenv.btiop OF tn. States looking 20 it's convocation
AZ sordipg the only ground OF rational hope for the
uitimste formation OF such government alone
Q ulo the country fram that anarchy and con-
fusion which we're already beginning to prevail II Is
resy stonnhins 70 ooserv. the number OF his letters
20 influential men in different pats OF the
Union about th. period all evnciny the painful sol
cuds which he slt In regard 20 tie state OF things
then existing and the con hdent hope which he chs.
rhhed that the republic would yet BE- saved from me.
bacedrpi by the timely establishment Of q govern
mspt Of suei.nt energy enforce its own decree. I
that for various reason. b.. nsf not in he sfs
insrane. calculated on ticpsting p.rsonsy ia the
preceding. Of the convention; bat he finally in
duesd 20 do 90 by the earnest psrsussfon frin5s
vhs,s coub.elr n could not vel disregard IL an
svsr 70 letter from Mr. Jay, received sbout this
character 20 th- Ersn5 movement 10 progress b aid
= Your snfusns, that our affairs ar. drawing rapid
y 70 cri.is, accord rth ny sbai the
vent will oe. i also beyond the reach q ny
,r.,Ight W. have errors TO corrsc. r.
lave probably had too good an o2iuicn Of
.riepce has taught that men gill not ADOPT and 4
AIRY into sxscutton the best czcula ed for
hsr osn good without the Intervention Of o-rcvs 4
ton sithout lodging .om.whers q poser wnieh will 4
'srvsAs the Whole Usiop, In a. energetic q.
he Authority q the state governments extends
he several Stais. To b. fearful Of investing Congress
90 that body 10 uish ample authortiss for
'.topai purpesss appsar' - me the very climax Of
Fcpu'ag absurdtiy snd ma1ue.. Could Congress
xsrt them for the dstrimsht Of the people without
rJurirg thsmsevss In an equal greater propor.
ion Ar not their intsrests inseparably eonnsst-
q With those 81 their constitusDts3 By the 70. Il
alton OF appointment. must they not minge fire. Il
Isnty With the mss Of citizens IL Il not \
stfer 70 be spprehsnded II they we're possess
a ~ the powers before dsscrbsd that ths in
ivieusi members uould be Induced 70 them, on L
nsny oceasiCns very timtdy and n,f csciousiy. for
ar Of lositg their popularity and futnr. election
W must taR- human nature as 80 hnd H. p.rfectio
al. Boz 70 the share Of mortals Many ofC9inio1 Il
hat Congr~ss have too frequently made use Of tn
applicant hua ole tone Of reqastion In slcstionI
. NJ staiss when they had tight To their i'm
srial dignity and eommsp1 obsdience Re that as 10
bay rsGsisiuons perfect Bullty where thirteen
oysrign iBdsps Bdsnt disunited State in On
alb - discufsing. aud Refining com plying vita
hem - their option Requisitocs are aotuay little
-ttsr han jett ard bye word throughout the laad
ytu tell the Legislatures they have VIOLATED tn