Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-09

1 trate our energies and have them at command,
 in order to hold in check those who passionate ly trample upon our constitutional rights, and to overpower those in rebellion against our govern ment.
 1 am of opinion that an efficient military force can soon be raised by continuing to or ganize volunteer regiments having them rendez. vous at once, go into camp, and enter upon a system of drill and discipline. If such a course be deemed proper, the troops should be under pay from the State and whether they are re- tained within it's borders oG enter the service of the general Government, would recommend an increase of wages above what is now allowed Government troops.
 I would also urge, as ofparamount importance 1 the enlistment of troops for term of years, un- less a cessation of hostilities should render fur ther services unnecessary.
 The requisition for troops, from the Secretary of War, did not call for Chaplains. Ihaye, how ever, no hesitation in recommending the appoint ment of one to each reg iment, at the expense of the State; and as many of our adopted citizens connected with the Roman Catholic Church, have manifested their loyalty by uniting with the volunteers, would recommend, also, the ap- pointment of two additional Chaplains of that religious faith, to eaeh brigade.
 Col Samuel Colt of Hartford, on the 25th of April last, offered to the executive his services in promoting the enlistment of Regiment of able bodied men from the State 'sfor the war; and to furnish sufficient number of his revolv ing breech rifles, for their equipment. To this noble proposition, have replied, expressing my high appreciation of the patriotic offer, and assuring him, that the tender of ten companies would at once be accepted, the troops organized into a regiment, the field officers appointed, in harmony with the wishes of the Regiment and the dignity of the Stae and their services placed at the disposal of the General Government.
 So much of the act for the Defence of Liberty as imposes severe penalty on any person who shall, falsely and maliciously, declare that any free person IS slave, or owes service, with in- tent to procure the forcible removal of such free person from the State, as slave, must meet the approval of every frecdom-loring citizen, and should not be removed from our statute book.
 But the second section of the act provides that whenever person shall be charged with having made such declaration, the declaration being acknowledged or proved, such person is to be re- garded as guilty of the falsehood and malice which would expose him to the penalty prescrib ed, unless he can prove his declaration true by two witnesses, or by legal evidence equivalent thereto. thereby reversing the principle which holds every man innocent in law, until his guilt is proved. l therefore recommend modiica- tion of the law go es to conform to this well es tablished principle.
 On the 18th of January, the General Assembly of Virginia, acting upon the ground that, unless the unhappy controversy which then divided the States should be satisfactorily adjusted. a per manent dissolution of the Unlon was inevitable, passed resolution inviting other States to ap- point Commissioners to meet Commissioners from that State, on the 4th day of February, ill the city of Washington, to consider, and if prac- ticable, agree, upon some suitable adjustment.
 The Executive of this State could not discover in the circumstances attending the call, "spe- cial emergency" requiring hlm to convene the General Assembly tor the purpose of referring the subject to that body, especially as the acts of the Convention could be regarded only as ad- visory, and could have no legal ethcacyin rem edying evils then existing But fur the pur-' pose of meeting the suggestion of a sister State in the same patriotic spirit with which the in vitation had been extended; for the purpose of count cracting, also, any effort which might be made, ill the Conventicn, to impair the authority of the general government or to exert an undue influence over either of its department, as well az with sincere desire of embracing every offer ed opportunity which should give any hope of favorable adjustment ot questions in controversy, assumed the responsibility of appointing Roger s Baldwin, Chauncey F. Cleveland, Charles J. McCurdy, James Pratt, Robbins Battell, and Amos s. Treat, Commissioners to represent this State in said Convention. The correspondence between the Executive and the Commissioners, as we'll as journal of the proceedings of the Convention, showing their action upon questions brought before that body, will be transmitted to you.
 As the Convention was held without authority of law, 3ou will judge whether or not it's object, and the circumstances attending the call, were such as to justify an appropriation from the Treasury for remunerating- the Commissioners.
 Reference has been made to the loyalty of the citizens of this State to it's government. Allegi ance is equally due to the National Government. t,b1 1isha t,x,f for their benefit and protection. Under it, we have extended in territory, increased in popu laton, in wealth, and in all which contributes to make a people intelligent, Prosperous and powerful, with rapidity hitherto unknown in the history of our race. We have made treaties with the nations, secured their confidence and command their respect. Our influence extends to the ends of the earth, and there is no land, however remote, in which the cry " / an an American citizen" does not bring protection from insult and oppression. More than seventy years of experience bear testimony to the benefcent influence of our Government, and to its power to reward our industry, and protect our proper ty, our persons and our lives Such Govern ment has claim to the allegiance of its citizens The obligations of loyalty run parallel with pro tection
 Nor should it excite surprise, in a country like this, with such a variety of tastes and pur suits among it's citizens with such diversites of climate and productions, with such encourage ment to enterprise, and such protection to prop erty, that our citizens often differ, widely and strenuOusly, on questions of policy affecting their respective interests. SucL difference is no crime 1t is but the exercise of right guaran- teed to every citizen by the fundamental law of the land. So long as this right is exercised within constitutional limitation, its tenderness are conservative and healthful. But, when op- position to specific measures of policy, cecomes hostility to the Constitution itself, lepudiating its obligations and spurning it's sanctions, it is at once transformed into treason and rebellion Such is secession.
 For years past, there has been growing spir- it of disaffectiOn towards the Government in the southern portion of the union The grievances complained of have their origin in human slave ry; and measures ofpublic policy, whether they related to internal improvements, to the dispo- sition of the public funds, to the collection of the revenues, to the federal courts to territori- al governments, or to foreign diplomacy, were scrutinized with reference to their influence up on this institution Tried by this standard,
 whatever tended to build up, extend and per- petuate the system, was approved; whatever i tended to confne it within it's present limits, and leave it where the fathers and framers of the constitution left it, was pronounced unjust,
 unconstitutional, and aggressive.
 l The position thus taken, and the demands
 made by the extreme South, were regardeds in
 the free North, not only as directly at war with
 the spirit and genius on the government, but as 1 involving gross perversion of the national pow CT, to ends from which humanity resolts and by means for which the constitution furnished no warrant. In this temper of the public mind, it
 was, that the period for another Presidential l election arrived
 1 The questions in issue were represented in the lpersops of the respective candidates and after