The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-22
Ancient Federalism and Modern
Fusion Identical.

ted upon the identity of the modern Flu
sion policy composed of Know Nothings
and Black Republican principles, with
the policy of old fashioned Federalism,
below we give some extracts from an able
article in the Concord " H) Stan
da,d, still further pursuing this subject,
to which we invite the candid attention
of men of all parties:
In October, 1914, a report was made
by Hon. Harrison Gray Otis to the Sen
ate of Massachusetts,, accompanied with
resolutions, which were accepted, and
were in substance as follows Filthy,
That delegates be appointed to confer
with delegates from the other New Eng
land States. Sixthly, that a circular
letter be addressed to the Executive of
each of said States. Seventhly, Directs
the number of delegates, and the place
and time of meeting, aud which, the
blanks being filled up, reads as follows ::
ResoLUcd, That on the 18th of Oct. inst,
this Legislature will by joint ballotelect
t,oelUe persons, to meet such delegates as
may be appointed by the said States,
(northern States,) or either of them, at
Hartford, ii the State of Connecticut,
on the 18th of December next
The convention met on the 18th of
Dec. at Hartford. They organized and
held q session of three weeks. AT this
meeting the schemes which for yeaEs had
been agitating the Federal party, were
brought TO a head. At this convention,
the plans of the party were brought to
light. Here first originated the open
proposition for disunion, as a remedy
for fancied evils. Here first originated
the design to cripple all other sections of
the country, by opposing the admission
manifest the plan to cripple the South
by taking away, if possible, the repre-
sentation of slaves, and allowing no
more slave States. Here first was
brought forward the plan of crippling
the great West, By altering the natur-
alization. laws, that portion of country
being settled by foreign immigrants
Here arose tho desperate attempt to re-
tain tho supremacy of power to New
England, by opposing the. acquisition Of
new territory. Here from this Pan
dora's box flew out all these sectional
and clanuish parties, which it has &C.
cupied all the time aud energies of the
Democratic party ever since to suppress.
From thence all these evils have flown
out, and not eve Hope remained be-
hiud-for its authors.
From the address and resolutions
which were issued by this convention,
the following extracts were made. That
they were prepared for a separation of
the States, unless their wishes were com
piled with, appears from the following
extract from page $50, Dwight's His
tory:
Events may prove that the causes of
our ca,amities are deep and permanent.
They may be found to proceed, not mere
ly from the blindness of prejudice, pride
Of opinion, violence of party spirit, or
the confusion of the times, but they
may be traced to imp'a,ab'e combila-
tiops OF individuals, or Of States, to mo-
nopolize lower and Office, and to trample
without remorse upon the rights and in
tcrests of commercial sections of the
Union. Whenever it shall appear that
these causes are radical and perma-
nent, SEPARATION Iy equitable arrange
1aeHts zriX BE pxcks1e1bIc to anLnIliarec
by constraint, al )ng nom,nal Is,
but real enemies, infamed By mutual
hatred and jealousy, aud inviting. by
intestine divisions, conteml t and aggres
sion from abroad"
This is believed to be the first open
proposition by q responsible body of men
towards a separation of the Union.
On page Sol of Dyight's History is
the following. open expression of MULTI
cation almost 20 years before South
Carolina re-invented it:
"Phat acts of Congress IN violation Of
the Constitution are absolutely void, is
an undeniable position. 1t does not,
however, consist with the respect and
f~orebearance due from o confederatpd
State towards the general government,
to fly to open resistance upon every in
f~ractien of the constitution. The mode
and the energy of the opposition should
always conform to the nature of the vie
~lation, the intention of its authors, the
extent of the injury Inflicted, the deter
mination manifested to prcsist in it, and
the danger of delay. But in cases of de
liberate, dangerous and palpable ~infrac-
tions, OF the constitution, affecting the
sovereignty ola State and liberties of the
people, it is not only the right but the
duty of such a State, to interpose its au-
thority for their protection, in the mani
ner best calculated to secure that end.
Wien emergencies occur qchich are eth
er beyond the reach ofthe judicial tra6at-
mails or too pressing Ia admit Of Tic de-
lag incident TO their forms, States qchich
haze no common atn.pirc, mast be their
~ JUICES, and execute their Oacn DC
c~iSiORS."
Upon page $40 they proceed to the
amendments which in their judgment
appears desirable, and the first point to
which they directed their hostility was
the Stare representation of the South
They say:
This cannot be claimed as a right
Those States are entitled to the slave
representation by a constitutional com
pact it is therefore merely a subject of
agreement, which should be conducted
upon principles of mutual interest and
accommodation, and upon which nc sen
sibility on either side should be permit
ted to exist. It has proved unjust
and unequal in its operation. Had this
effect been foresoen, the privilege would
probably not have been demanded GER
tainly not conceded. Its tendency in
future will be adverse TO that harmony
and mutual confidence which are more
conducive to the happiness and pros