Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-25

LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

Assembly. Whether it is warlikc or peaceful,
seems to be a matter Of doubt, and regarding
which the public mind is much divided. Much
will depend upon its complexion, both in Eu.
rope and in this country. If it should he dc.
cidedly warlikc, it will lead to a stampede in
European securities, and seriously affect the
prospect Of general commerce. On the con.
trary, should it prove to be decidedly pacific.
public confidenc. will be treasured, followed
by an improvement in stocks and in staple ar.
ticlcs of trade.
We SC. by the London Athennum, that the
act of throwing open the State Paper office TO
literary research, is rapidly developing its be.
neficial fruits.
An interesting volume has just been is.
sued from the London press, entitled Cor
respondence of Charles, First Marquis Corn
wallis-Edited, with Notes, BY Charles Ross.
The position which his Lordship occupied
in this country during the Revolutions
~ war, gives an interest to n work OF
this kind, on this side, it would not otherwise,
probably, possess. The compiler of the work,
It seems, is the son of Gen. Ross. who, for ma.
nv years. acted as Aid dc Camp to the Mar
quis, who was twice Governor General of In.
da. NJ my Of the letters relate to the agency
which his LordShip bore in bringing about the
Irish union, while representing the Crown in
that country, as well as to the part borne BY
Lord Castlereigh in the same transaction. They
throw u great deal Of light on the history Of
the rebellion in 1898, and upon the political
movements, secret and otherwise, which result
ed in the union, and about which many docu-
nents, it is said, have been lost, including those
of Lord Plunkct, destroyed by fire, as well as
those belonging to Lord Castlercigh, which.
strange enough, were forwarded to India, it
was said. for compilation, and lost on the vOy-
age. The letters, of course, abound with the
history of events in India during his Lord.
ships administration in that empire. We have
always considered that Lord CORVALLIS was
the ablcst General the British Government ev
cr sent to America, and traditions Of his JUS
ticc and hu nanity were current in the States
he invaded long after the termination Of the
war. Had he been made Commanderin-Chicf
and supported by a large army and ample re-
sources, our contest might have experienced a
very different termination.
There has also recently appeared in London,
an original and hitherto unpublished work,
illustrative Of Sir Peter Paul Rubens, as an
artist and diplomatist, compiled from the State
paper office, with an appendix, regarding the
Arundelian collection, compiled and edited by
w. Noel Salisbury. The work possesses inte-
rest. as it contributes to shed light upon the
English court Of King Charles. who knighted
the painter, and upon the state Of the fine arts
of his time.
Regarding past events in our W political
history, so far as the private character Of those
concerned in them was concerned, and who
have passed from existence, we should speak
with respectful reserve; but so far as their pub
lie acts were developed and understood, the
truth Of history should be vindicatcd. Has
the aim and objects of the Hartford Convention
ever been fully made known: We are aware
that after the late war its members and pro-
motcrs generally, disavowcd the reasonable
disunion designs attributed to it. And no
doubt while some Of its supporters were not in
its secrets, and were sincere in their political
views, many Of its principal leaders in after
life sincerely repented Of their folly, and were
anxiouS to conceal and to oblitera:c from pub
lie memory, all knowledge of their real designs.
We have recently come to the knowledge Of
facts which prove beyond the shadow OF a
doubt to orr mind. that the real platform Of the
Hartford Convcntionis,s, was comprised in Il
simple sentence, that is, stop tie mdr, or dis
solre tile Cnion." Many documents sustaining
this point, may, like those relating to the Irish
Union, have mystcriously disappeared. Yet
there arc living witnesses TO the truth OF the
fact stated. During the late war with Great
Britain, there was n large and influential COM
mercial house in this city, at the head Of
which was a strong Federali>t, violently opposed
to the war. The house had commercial CON-
%nections in Europe, and particularly in Holland.
They also correspondent freely with the leading
Federalisis in New England. Among their other
correspondents was Harrison Gray Otis, and
who made no bones in telling them that
the "nar must be STOPPED or the Union u.s.
soieed;" and he, with other leaders Of the Hart.
ford Convention, made known TO tho mercan-
tile firm alluded to, that the Convention would
act in accordance with this declaration. The
excitement rIn high, and the country seemed
TO be rapidly approaching a fearful crisis.
One day the New York commercial finn,
whom We will call, nomimaHy, NJ. NJ. c. IL Co.,
received al imperative order from their cor
respondents in Holland, NJ. P. h. Il Co. TO
invest 5000, 900 in United States loans. This
was unexpected and received with surprise.
4 consultation of the firm was Immediately
held. Tho senior partners were fcderallsts,
and in the secrets OF the party, and firmly be-
licved, that unless the war was speedily ter.
minated, the Union would DC dissolved. At
this council, a gentleman belonging to the
firm, and who represented the junior mcm-
Der Of the house, was present. The qucs-
ton discussed was, whether they could in
good faith, with the private knowledge
they possessed regarding the impending dan
ger to the Union-of which their corrcspon-
dents were isnorant-make the required in
-... -. lo,n.2 t.Enr' cni1
one of them, III we should make the invest
ment, and the Hartford Convention should ct.
feet its declared purpose Of stopping the war
OF of dissolving the Union, we should probably
receive and deserve their censure." Another
member adduccd the purport of a letter re-
ceivcd from Harrison Gray Otis, as going to
show the hazard the country was in, and the
uncertainty in the safety Of such an investment.
On referring to the letter Of their correspond.
ent, they found tile order to be Imperative and
unqualified. They, therefore, eventually made
up their minds to make the investment. The
only party who considered the Hartford Con-
ventionists as madmcn, and that they did not
dare to carry out their reasonable designs, was
the Junior member of the house, and who still
lives in New York, honored and respected by
all who know him-a nan whose character for
truth and integrity is spotless. lie is now
somewhat advanced in years, but Of a vigorous
frame and active mind. 1t is from his lips that
we received the foregoing facts.
We have no doubt, if in the private cor
rcspondcncc of the house, which remained in
the custody Of the senior partners-all OF whom
have since died-could be obtained, that it
would throw a flood of light on the doinSs and
aims of the Hartford Convention, and do much
towards vindicating the truth Of history We
have no doubt that the fulmlnations from
the f.nstical portion of the New England pull
pits, largely contributed to get up the disatfec-
ton against the Union, and to encourage the
Hartford conspiracy.
The Rev. Mr.. Cheerer held forth, on slavery,
aglin, last Sunday evening, but from the fire.
quency Of his repctitions and tautology, 1t is
apparent, that, like most monomanlacS, he Is
.l.::.- ~, h.bb,. ro,,d in q CIRCLE One mr.