Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-16


The present generation is but little and many
the last generation Of Southern statesmen alive choose
10 forget that there occasion when calico
forth great deal of notice of this pretenson oil the g
of State to secede from the Union, aud mat Tue pre-
vang sentiment of the South then branded u as iou
treason.
The Hartford Convention after much preliminary an
nouucement in the Legislatures OF New England otaes
met in December 1914 to devise plans LOT tne security
and defence of those States in the war with Great brtan
sna h easurss as were not repugnan to their Fede-
raj allegations as members of the Union Their ultimate
purpoe was suspected by their political enemies, and,
whether Justly or not popular belief of the South
that notwithstanding the restriction they had set upon
their action their design in certain contingencies,
m recommend the retirement of their States from the
Union The members of that Convention have vehementy
denied this charge but far as the South was concerned
utterly without effect Every man, woman and child OF
the South who capable OF receiving an impression
from the topics of the day. heard the subject alluded to in
conversation read OF il in the papers only as scheme
to dissolve the Unon-a project of secession II was at
that time the word secession itself frat became IA
milar term of political vocabulary. Before that
date Mr. Jefferson called it SESSION.; and, by the by
under that name pronounced it to be an unlawful and
foolish notion Whether therefore, the Hartford Conven
ton was sapdered or not-as believe it wasby this i'm
and Dixons line brought up the opportunity for the
preston Of Southern opinion the question of secession
Now am sure am correct when say that the imputed
purpose of the Convention denounced from end of
the Southern States to the other with peculiar bitterness
as a purpose to commit monstrous treason. They who
remember the events of that day know that every leading
man in those States who made this supposed design of
cesson theme for speech from any forum, that the
general of popular opinion in educated society," the
Of the multitude which repeats the passwords OF the
day. and the whole flow of editorial comment in the most
authentic presses all united in common note of censure
upon il az treason.
More recently in 1850 and 1851, when South Carolina,
in her vgant outlook opportunity to strike another
blow at the Union thought she had found IN the admis-
sion of California and had summoned the indictments Of
the South to attempt at secession every remem-
bers how her avore scheme of crushing out nation
ay failed for want Of cooperation from her sister States
The manly opposition of loyal minority within her
borders and still more, the calm good of those to
whom she appealed outside of her borders defeated her
charitable design The people of Mississippi met in Con-
yenton and adjourned their deliberations with sober re-
solution against the doctrine OF right OF secession Geor
ola discussed it, through the press and the hustngs by
her abest opponents of constitutional law and set her seal
of condemnation upon it 1t found strength with which
il was able shake the faith Of the people in their convic
ton of right to be regarded nation 10 that de-
feat there nothing TO be admired than the IN
sncve reco Of the from the nsidous teachings
of ambitious politicians who sought seduce them
this treason against the Government nothing sgn
can Of the perception of the danger and disgrace
of this principle Of dsunon than the dextey with which
of the present oFaces of secession then hrked the
responsibility Of appearing as it's advocates.
In the Border States it had at that date foothod
If in in
the rare aud scattered of few super subtle
tremsts on the theory Of State rights Even with them
was rather speculation than practical principle. Ma
ryand might have had handful OF such men, but nobody
heard Of them Kentucky and Missouri could boast of
few Virginia, notwithstanding her passion for political
metaphysics, though little demonstratye than the
Others gave further countenance to this heresy than
the grandoquence Of few of her country squres shed
upon it when nduging their endemic procvity towards
the oracuar at the monthly meetings Of the county courts
the Solons of great State which they had SEEN within
their days. dwndlng down from star Of the first to
of fifth magnitude il the armament Of the Uniona
very natural experience breed thoughts Of discomfort
and separation.
IL all this long period from the date OF the Constitution
until that o the Inauguration Of this civil war during which
the fundamental ideas Of Government acquiring
soEdy through that process Of nduraton by which forms
respect of the people the nationality Of the Union
every day growing to be universally accepted fact
With the exception of few sporadic instances OF dissent
the mind OF the country settling down upon the
yicon that the integrity Of the Union secured by the
organic law aud could not lawfully be broken by any
Of proceeding known 10 the Constitution implied from
the conditions under which it into existence; in
short that nothing but rebellion and successful revolution
could overthrow it, This conviction grew up stale Of
peace which afforded leisure for calm and studious debe
ration state Of peace attended with such occasional per-
turbatons served to bring the question into prominent
notice and to invite careful consideration its and
Incidents and yet free from that passion which apt to
cloud the Judgment Of the country No national problem
could be settled in circumstances proptous TO ts
true solution.
How does happen after such experience with such
result that all at once the year 1861 should find the
question not only thrown into the wind but the almost
universal judgment Of the country absolutely reversed
throughout whole section of the South embracing
eight nine States and some four OF five millions of
citixens2
II would be very absurd to say that this change sprsng
out Of thorough study Of the history Of the Govern
men deeper insight into the philosophy Of the Con-
sttuton The year 1861 brought tornado OF violent
elements do not think with more careful elaboration
in such storm brought fierce ambitions into play con
spaces the clash Of the frenzy party rage these
not the companions Of patient research or wise con-
the superiorsI hope their amour propre will not be