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

Again, in letter to Alexander Hamilton, in the year
1853, only short time subsequent to the signing OF the
! treaty OF peace with Great Britain. he says;
Il rejoice exceedingly that there is an end TO
wanare and that such field is opening view
wiii with wisdom direct the cultivation of il, make
great respectable, and happy people bur il be
improved by other than politics. and unreaso-
able eaouses and prejudcas, requires the second
our enemies, and those European powers who may be
jealoas OF greatness in unio dissolve the conedea
tioh, But TO obtain this, although til. way
remely plain, is not so easy,
my wish 10 the union Of these States established
my mi'e in pointing out The defects Of The
constitutions are equally great All my private letters have
eeed with these sentiments and whenever this topic has
been the subject OF conversation have .ndeavored diff
me might be productive of the wished-lor end, appear
To arogae than belongs depends much upon
people, that is easy TO decide shall be obliged
you, However, for the thoughts which have promi
ns on this subject and as soon as you can make con
mo in The United States is or be deeply
federation than myself No man, perhaps has el The bad
effects oi it sensby for to the defects hereof and
lousatloa of war and consequently the expenses
easoned by it, More than hall the perpexes have ex-
peencod IN the course OF my command and almost the
whole of the difficulties and desses OF the army, have
,s osn n,S mere h n, s ns % o. sGe e
make address and management necessary to give weight
TO opnons which combat the doclr'nes OF those d
ferent classes OF men in the field OF politics"
He was, if possible still more emphatic in the decla
ration OF his views upon this subject in letter written
to General Lafayette under the date OF April 5, l7s3
These are his solemn words
I'VE an independent peopl.. and hav yet to
learn political tactics We are placed among the nations
OF the ears and have character establish but how
we shall acquii ourselves time must discover The proba
blly is (at least fear w that local or State politics will
of which wisdom and foresight freed from the
mist OF preiudce, would dictate and that we shall be
before shall arrived any in this
in word. that the experience which purchased at the
price OF difficulties and distress will alone convince that
4
ured by continental scale and that every departure
herelrom weakens the Union, and may ultimately break
the which holds us ,oge,het To avert these evs,o
form new constitution that III give consistency stabi
y, and dignity the Union. and sufficient powers the
grea, counc OF the nation for general pupo.eisa duty
ncumben, upon every wishes well country,
and wi meet with aud as far It can be rendered in
the private walks OF lie."
Upon the 9th of January 1854 he thus writes TO Jona-
than TIumbull, jr.
notwithstanding The jealous and contracted temper
which prevail Ia of the States yet cannot
bur hope aud believe the good Of the people will
and sound policy, though they do moi
would wish, viii be produced from the present unsettled
observe political disposition actually neiora-
ting every day Several OF the States have manifested
most OF the legislatures appeal disposed to do petecl
Justice; aud the assembly Of this Commonwealth tVr'
and, am informed. without, dissenting voice Every.
thing my dear TrumbuI, will right at last, as we
have often prophesied My only lear IL that shall lose
little reputation first"
In communication addressed to Benjamin Harrison,
Chen Governor Of Virgnia OF a date only few days
later, he said:
fair deny but what use we shall make of II
@ @ ba not @ SS. a, 9ssse ss all
little prematurely 10 large Inheritance We shall wanton
brink Of ruin aud then, like him, shall labor
the current OF opinion, when compelled perhaps TO do
what prsdence and common policy pointed out, as plain
as any problem in Euclid, in The i,s instance.
The dncnaon OF the individual States TO yield com
pctent powers Congress for the their
jealousy of that body and of another and
the disposition which seems TO peyde each OF being all
wise and alt powerful within ITSELF will, If urefe Is not
change the system, be downfall as nation THIS IL
as clear A. B, C and mink we have opposed Great
Britain aud have arrived at the present state OF peace and
independence to very ,ite purpose We cannot conquer
our own Pfeudlees The powers Of Eorofs oeSn 70 see
ready and proessed rctng upon this ground aud wisely
too II determined 10 perevefe folly. Tney
know that individual opposition TO their measures is lute
and boast that not sufficiently united Ne nation To
araton while We are IN tbe very act OF peace maknS and
concation, sufficient to stimulate US to vest more eSten-
rdvqure IN the sovereign OF these United
Sualesr'
In the month OF March, 1855, commissioners who had
been previously appointed by the States OF Virginia and
MARYLAND, with a TO the formation oil a commercial
compact reference TO the navigation OF certain rivers In
Maryland and Virginia, and part of the bay OF Chesa-
peake assembled IN Alexandra within lew miles OF
the residence OF General Washington. During visit
which they paid Mount Vernon, they agreed, under
this advice OF Their yeneated host TO propose TO their
respective the appointment OF other commits
sioners with power 10 make coD)ont arrangements, TO
which the assent OF Congress was to be solicited, for
maintaining naval force in the Chesapeake, and 10
tahlish tan OF duties imports, TO which the laws OF
both States should conform" When these propositions
received the assent OF the legislature OF Virginia, an ad
d,onal resolution passed, directing that which re.
speced the duties imports TO be communicated TO all
the States OF the Union, who invited to send depu
ties to the meeting -(See Marshslrs Washingtonl
Thus originated the convention which assembled at
Annapolis September, l7s6, out o the proceedings OF
which arose that magnificent scheme of government
which afterwards maured and melhodized by those
sages who composed the federal convention OF Philade
phla and over the deliberations OF which Wasbingo
himself i. known 10 have presided. For several years
previous the assembling of this memorable body. the
condition of public affairs had been truly alarming and
many of the most Wise and sagacous statesmen IN the
republic inclined almost TO despair OF much longer
continuance OF the federal Union. General Washington
appears have been very active support OF the call OF
general convention Of the States, looking TO its
cation aordng the only ground OF rational hope for
the ultimate formation of such a government as alone
could the country from that anarchy and confusion
which already beginning to prevail really
onishng observe the number OF his letters addressed
to influential men in different parts OF the Union about
th. period, all evincing the painful socude which he
felt regard to the state OF things then existing and the
confident hope which he cherished that the republic
would yet be saved from menaced ruin by the timely es
tabliehmen of government OF sufficient energy to en-
force its decrecs seems that for various reasons
he had not in the first instance calculated participating
personally the proceedings Of the convention but he
friends whose counseIs he could well disregard In
answer to a letter from MIR Jay received about this time,
urging him to refuse the aid Of his and charac
ter to the grand movement in progress, he said !:
(" Your sentiments, that affairs drawing rapidly to
CRISIS, accord with my What the will be, is
correct, have probably bad good opinion
man in forming our confederation. Experience has