The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-20

9Th. That no foreigner thereafter natur-
allied should hold any civil Office under the
United States.
7th. That the same person shall not be
elected President a second time--or two
successive Presidents be taken from the same
State. s, rsref I'D.
The Convention also resolved, that should
the war not be concluded before that time,
to hold another Convention on the third
Thursday of June, 1915, in the city of Bos.
ton, of delegates to be appointed by the
Legislatures of the States of New England,
"with such powers and instructions as the
exigency of crisis so momentous may re.
quire."
A treaty of peace signed December Bird,
1914, and ratified by the President, Febru.
ary 18th, 1915, deprived the Few England
Federalists of the " crisis necessary to JUS.
tify their contemplated secession convention.
1t was therefore prudently abandoned.
The report referred to, of the Hartford
Convention, is circumspect and ingenious
embodiment of treason, deprecating what
is evidently desired which we cannot help
contrasting with the Incorporate and avow-
ed disloyalty, and defiant tone of late
Southern documents of like intent. The
difference is primarily geographical.
The convention agreed to make an
"application" to the general government,
ito be allowed to assume their own 1.-THE
New England States] defences )" and to
appropriate State war taxes to the support
of their own troops. This was only per-
sisting in hostility to the general govern
ment. 1t was the setting up Of disloyal
armed neutrality, to which, the convention
knew, the national government could not
assent.
They made the application" knowing
it would be rejected on purpose to prepare
the people for ulterior proceedings" In
their report they say on this subject:
1t would be inexpedient in this convention
to diminish the hope of a successful issue to
such an application. by recommending on sup
| position of contrary event, ulterior proceed.
| ings. Nor is it indeed within their province.
In state of things SO solemn and trying as
may then arise, the legislatures of the States
| or conventions of the whole people, or dele.
| gates appointed by them for the express pur-
| pose in another convention, must act as such
urgent circumstances may then require.
And again: go.
| When emergencies occur which are either
beyond the reach OF the judicial tribunals, or
too pressing to admit of the delay incident to
their forms, States, which have no common
umpire, must be their own judges and execute
their own decisions.
Such was the dignifed but insidious
phraseology in which the poison of New
England secession was commended to pop
ular sanction.
The enemies of the Union, then as now,
denounced the means necessary to the ma.
tional defence, as violations OF the Constitu-
tion, dangerous to the liberties of the people
and the sovereignty of the States.
The Hartford Convention, embodyipg the
resolves of New England State Legisla-
lures, in its report asserted that:-
"The power Of compelling the militia
and other citizens of the United States, by
forcible draft or conscription, to serve in
the regular armies as proposed in late Of.
6cial letter Of the Secretary Of War, is not
delegated to Congress by the Constitution,
and the exercise of it would be not less
dangerous to their liberties than hostile to
the sovereignty of the States"
1t was the refusal of New England States
to furnish troops for national defence, that
induced this recommendation of the Secre,
tary Of War, thus magnifed into a new
grievance of insuferable proportions.
The Government FASTENED peace, ended
the war, and thereby avoided the dread ex.
pertinent of coercive measures.
il New England has become convinced of
the folly and wickedness Of secession, but
has yet to learn the virtue and wisdom Of
liberation.
From the Hartford Convention dates an
era in the political history Of the United
States; an era which politicians have been
unable to comprehend ; for, as general
rule, party politics, which originate in pres.
eut interests, and prejudices, of class or sec
etion, cultivate the passions and dIstort the
judgment, wholly uniting the mind for inn
partial and contemplative investigation.
Besides, the people Of all classes do not
learn politics as science, from the study Of
history. Their only instructors are calami.
ty, hard times, war, pestilence and famine.