The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-27

that Congress have 100 eguenly made use Of the cup
States, when tSsy had srhs 10 exert DER imperial dig
nuy and command obedience Be that as u may telui
sIons hre perfect nuliy where thirteen Sovereign IN
dependent, dsuni,ed States the habit Of DISCUSSING
nnu refusing or complying with them, al 'hfia op1,
byword throughout the land II you tell the es'siales
thsy have violated the OF peace and invaded tne
lace What, lhen. is 10 be done Things go in
the same train forever lismuch TO be feared as you o.
these instances will have their minds prepared for
any klnd o. revolution whatever We are apt 70 run RON
irons contingencies would b. the par, OF wisdom and pa
t''a',s%. a wn., ,.,on,..,. e ,a,,. =. o,n,b,e Of
prodaelnE' am told that even respectable characters
From thinking proceeds speaking; thence acting is
often bu single step But how rrevocsble aud iremen-
predictions What rnmph for ,hs advocates Of
10 lind that ofgoverninK and thst
and apqSSsd
be taken in time TO avert the consequences we have
but much apprehen1!
Retired as am from the world, frankly acknowlsdge
happily e, assisted ss in bns"s the ship port and
Ing been fairly discharged my business 10 emOak
Nor could il be expected that my sentiments an! opin
ions would have much weight on the mnds OF my country
men they have been neglected, though given last
legacy in the solemn had then, perhaps,
claims public attention consider self having
none at present"
When the governor of Virginia (Mr Randolph) notified
General Washington OF his appointment as one OF the
delegates from Virginia to the federal convention he took
the liberty of addressing hlm mus:
"By the enclosed you win readily discover that the
assembly alarmed the which threaten the
United States. What enemies have loretold seems to
be Fastening TO It's accomp shnent aud cannot frus
traed by Jealous, and steady union
among the friends of The federal government To you
need not press our present dangers The neicency OF
Congress you oen felt your official character the
increasing iangpor OF our associated republics you hourly
and dissolution would be, know. 10 you source OF
| the deepest modification
= freely, hen, you the unanimous ap.
poineni Of the general assembly TO the convention at
Philadelphia for the gloomy prospect sill admits one ray
of hope that those who began carried and consum-
mated the revolutions can yet rescue America from the I'M
pending rum "
It was certainly have been expected that in body
constituted was the federal convention much contrare-
ty of opinion and conflict OF sentiment would display
themselves No fact better ascertaned than that the
plan Of government finally agreed upon not in all Its
parts satisfactory TO ALL even O. the members OF lhe con-
vention but, taken as whole. as a comprehensive
scheme OF compromise and settlement, calculated to ter
inmate existing disorders allay sectional discomfort and
the country from the horrors of civil war; was re.
gaded by most OF those who had taken part its orma-
ton entitled, if their cordial and unqualified
approval al least to their prompt and peaceful acques
cence in its various PROVISIONS Such was precisely the
view OF Washington; and in his official letter,
milng the constitution 10 the respective States, he
spoke Of the plan Of government agreed upon as the
and concession which the peculiarly OF their political
situation rendered indispensable" He added:
That it will the full aud entire appreciation OF
doubtless consider ha lad her in,eres,s been alone
suited the consequsnces might have been dsa
cepons could reasonably have been expected hope
and believe hiatt may omo,s The lasting hun wea5s ,6d
happiness, is our most ardent wish"
In OF his letters, written after the close
OF his conventional laboTs, he said
There things in the form, will readily
aoknow edge, which did, and persuaded
will, obtain my cordial appreciation but did then
cede. aud do firmly believe, that in the aggregate 1t
is the best constitution that be obtained this epoch
and that ih dsoluon attracts choice and is the
only alternative
ua said
cit appears little short Of miracle that the dele
gates many States different from each other in
ia forming system OF national government 20 little liable
well founded objections Nor am yet such an enthu
sastic partial undlscrminane aumifer OF as not to
defects
Although General Washington thus proessed not to be
an enthusiastic admirer Of the constitution and evidently
entertained the opinion that was in several respects
less defective, yet, believing that It's ultimate ra
icaiion by the States was matter OF vital Importance
TO the nation, he not only acquesced in II cheerully and
promptly himself. but became OF It's most jealous
and unrng advocates as very large number OF letters
addressed TO public IN different parts OF the Union
most concusvey prove will, with your permission,
read few extracts from or two OF the letters re-
erred to- in order 10 place this matter beyond all dispute
| confess that am the disposed TO offer testimony
on this subject, because there at time mpres
sion prevailing TO extent that General Washington
himself was at heart hostile 10 our system OF govern
ment Ia letter to Mr. Madison, dated March ., l7Ss,
reieuiHg TO the ratification OF the constitution by
Massachusetts, be thus writes;
TIL, decision OF Masacbu, is, It's con
conitsnts is sevefe stroke TO the opponents OF the
decision those States which have before and such
lik follow will have erul
minds OF m who not more Influenced by passion,
and resentment ihan they by candor, modcra
and judg nent. OF the former description however, am
sorry say there are too many and among them
ould hazard everything rather than Ia II ia their
position, have the ssgaciy of their representations i'm
peached by the Issue
Again, in a letter to Gen. Knox. he says;
Under the circumstances enumerated in letters
favorable decision which has taken place IN that State
ardly have been expected Nothing less
GOOD sense sound reasoning, and temper
supporters of the could have carried the ques
ton Il will be influential the eqpvocal States
In the two which are next to convene-New Hampshire
and Maylsnd-here be doubt If It's adoption, and
in South Carolina but le which will make nine States
without dssenten The force OF this Is hardly
be resisted by local sophsry Candor and prudence
there characters among who would hazard
everything rather than their opposition. leave
OF the the chance OF proving the
aacy of their predictions, by which their sagsciy and
foresight might be impeached'
In letter to Thomas Johnson, of Maryland, he says
,An adjournment OF your convention, if attempted,
period than the son OF the question in this State
will be tantsmount the rejection of the constitution
have good for this opnion and am told II Is the
blow which the leading characters OF the opposition In the
State have mcdtaed If shall be found that direct
attack is not likely succeed in yours this be true, IL
be much deprecated and guarded against The
posponenen in New Hampshire although II had no ref
TO tho convention OF this State but proceeded Alto
gether from the local OF It's acribed
by the opposition here complaisance towards Virginia.
and great made OF H. An similar 10 this in Mary
land would have the tendency imagnabe Tor inde
cisiop there would certainly have considerable influence
ceie Virginia. and submits the question almost wholly to
the determination OF the latter The prde the State is