The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-06-17


PIummer, Heretofore n senu
tor Of the United States, ass
afterwards Governor Of New
Hampshire, Addressed to JOhl
q. Adams,
EPPINa, N. H, Dec. 90, 1928.
During the long and eventful SET
sion of Congress of 1903 and 1904
I was member of the Senate, an
was at the city Of Washington ever,
day of that session, at different time
and places, several of the Federalists
Senators and Representatives, frou
the New England States. informed m
that they thought it necessary to es
tablish separate government in New
England, and, if It should be fount
practicable, to extend it so far Soutl
as to include Pennsylvania, but in al
events to establish one in New Eng
land. They complained that thu
slaveholding States had acquired, by
means oftheir slaves, q greater increas,
of Representatives in the House thar
was Just and equal; that too great q
potion of the public revenue was raj.
sed in the Northern States, and toe
iauoh of it expended in the Southern
and Western States; and that the ac
QUESTION of Louisiana and the new
States that were formed, and those to
be formed in the West and in the &C.
ded territory, would soon annihilate
the weight and influence of the Nor
thern States in the Government.
Their intention, they said, was to
establish their new Government under
the authority and protection of State
governments. That, having secured
the election of Governor and ma
jority of a Legislature in state in
favor of a separation, the Legislature
should repeal the law authorizing the
people to elect Representatives to
Congress, and the Legislature decline
electing Senators to Congress, and
gradually withdraw the State from
the Union, establish custom house Of
fcers togrant registers and clearances
to vessels, and eventually establish a
Federal government in the Northern
and Eastern States. And that if New
England united in the measure, it
would in due time be effected without
resorting to arms. .
Just before that session of Congress
closed, one af the gentlemen to whom
/ have alluded, informed me that ar
rangements were made to have the next
autumn, select meeting of the lead
ing Federallsts in New England, to
consider and recommend the measures
necessary to form system of govern.
ment for the Northern States, and
that Alexander Hamilton, of New
York, had consented to attend that
meeting.
Soon after my return from Wash-
ington, l adopted the most effectual
means in my power to collect the opin-.
ions of well-informed leading Federal
lists in New Hampshire, upon the sub.
ject. l found some in favor of the
measure, but a great majority of them
decidedly opposed to the project; and
from the partial and limited inquiries
| made in Massachusetts,, the result
appeared to be nearly similar to that
in New Hampshire.
The gentleman, who in the winter of
1903 and 1904, informed me there
was to be meeting of the Federalists,
in the autumn of 1904, at Boston, at
the session of Congress in the winter
of 1904 and 1906, observed to me,
that the death of General Hamilton
had prevented the meeting, but the
project was not, and would not be,
abandoned.
I owe it to you as well as myself, to
state explicitly that in the session of
Congress, in the winter of 1903 and
1904, was myself in favor Of forming
q separate government in New Eng
land; and wrote several confidential
letters to few of my friends and cor
respondents, recommending the meas
ure. But afterwards, in thoroughly
Investigating and maturely considering
the subject, | was fully convinced that
my opinion in favor of separation was
the most erroneous I ever formed upon
political subjects. The only consola-
tion | had, was that my error in opin-
ion had not produced any acts injuri-
Gus to the integrity of the Union
When the same project was revived in
1903 and 1909, during the embargo
and non.intercourse, and afterwards,
during the war of 1872, I used every
effort in my power, both privately and
publicly, to defeat the attempt then
made to establish a separate indepen-
dent government in the Northern
States. "51
You are at liberty to make such use
of this communication as you shall
consider proper. ,a,ge.,.g
Accept the assurance Of my high
respect and esteem, Hs
0saaaHe WILLIAM PLUMER.
During the eexciting canvass of 1928,
between Gen. jackson and John @.
Adams, we recollect publishing the
above letter to show that New Eng
land was never sound on the question
ofthe Union, but was, from her jeal-
ousy Of the growing West and South
West, determined on a senaration. and