Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-02-25

Hartford Convention Blue Light q
Federalism. of lS1A, I'm Perfect {
Harmony with the Anti-War
Democracy Ofthe Present Day.
To Tie Editor ofthe Belmont Chronicle. ,
Sin: 1t has been well said that names
change, but principles never" In thcwar
Of the Revolution there was in this country
q considerable party which not only sympa-
thized with the mother country, but in va
rious ways gave aid and comfort to the en-
emy. These were called Tories. They an
noyed Gen, Washington greatly in the pros
ecution Of the war for Independence, and
doubtless added largely tot cost sndlengthst !
of the war. But our independence was
finally achieved, without the aid or sympa+
thy Of the Tories, and the name Tory be-
came deservedly term of reproach When
peace was established and the machinery Of
an independent republican form Of Govern
ment put in motion, there existed no party
! poor enough to voluntarily adopt and per
petuate the name Of Tory; but the princi-
pie still lived. .s ......... -. ..r..s's.gI
When war was declared in 1872 against
Great Britain, there was q formidable party,
in the United States, known as the Federal
party, which had violently opposed the Ad-
ministration of Mr.. Madison up to the time
war was declared, and the majority of that
party continued its opposition to all the war
I. measures OF the Government from the time
war was declared until peace was finally de-
clared between the two countries. This
opposition became formidable only in those
States where the Anti War Federal party
we're in the ascendant, which was specially
the case in the New England States. {. .
On the 10th of April, 1872, o short time
before the formal declaration OF war; Con-
gress passed an act, OF which the following
, are extracts: 80. sL!c .
BE 1t enacted, DC, That the President
of the United States be, and he Is hereby
authorized to require Of the Executives OF
4 the several States and Territories, to take
: effectual measures to organize, arm, and
equip according to law, aud hold in readi.
ness to march in a moments warning, their
> respective proportonsof one hundred thous-
l and militia, officers included, 10 be app0r'
= toned by the President OF the United States,
, from the latest militia returns in the De-
partment of War; and in cases whore such
returns have not been made, by such other
Il data as he shall ju.ge equitable, ..t,... ...
Q THAT the President of the United States
v be, and he is hereby authorized to call into
actual service any part, or the whole. OF
said detachment, in all the exigencies pro.
+ vided by the Constitution. .t- gG1
It This act Of Congress- with the action OF
/. the President thereon, in calling out the
!, militia in defense of the country, brought
- out that general opposition of the Anti War
II Federal party which finally eliminated in
b tho proceedings of the Hartford Convention.
The Governors of Massachusetts and Con
necticut steadily persisted 10 their refusal to
'f respond favorably to the call of the Presi'
dent for their States proportion of the l0O
900 militia. Caleb Strong, Governor oI
II Massachusetts, said he did not consider
!. the call made by the President of the United
10 States, through Con Dearborn, as ,carrant
10 ed by the Constitution, and therefore did moi
detach tho men agreeably to his requisi
"a ton. " ......... l.....rr ..t.. ...
N Gov. Griswold, of Connecticut, convened
d the Legislature, in August, 1872 which, il
If an elaborate report, made by u Committe'
d appointed for tho purpose, declare tina
d they believe it to be the deliberate an,
he solemn sense of the people OF the State
,d that the ,cGr tcds unnecessary. +" And win,
"a up by Offering the following resolution
n Wnlcn was nNOl)tcu. ... ...'I l..r 1t
Resolrcd, That the conduct of his ex
J. ccllency, tho Governor, in refusing to orde
v the militia of the State iuto the service o
is Secretary Of War and Major. Gen. Dearborn
IN meets with the entire appreciation Of thi
.. Assembly. That the plan Of wal
W fare adopted by the Administration OF tn
Fy National Government is not otconformabe t
is the spirit OF the Constitution Of the Uuite
- States. ...... ... ....l ..
.. This concerted plan of opposition was pc,
sistently kept up, and the Admnistratio
n violently assailed in every effort it made t
b., raise either men or money to prosecute tn
IL war. Not content with assaiiing the acI
~ OF the Administration as unconstitutinu,
and void, but tho declaration OF war itse
:, as unconstitutional, despotic, unuecessar!
" ruinous and fraudulent, That war wa
-, declared, not for the avowed purpose Of il
~ % authors; but for the purpose of conquest
~ for the invasion OF Canada, &c. Opposltio
- to the war was thus kept up until, on tn
as Massachusetts passed the following resoll
ton: HA'i vas"
"Resolued, That twelve persons be al
O.. pointed as delegates from this Common
10 wealth, to meet and confer with delegate
NJ from the other New England States, or an
y, N other, upon the subject of their publ
III grievances and concerns; and upon the be-
n. means of preserving our resources; and {
=. defence against the enemy; and to deul'
i. and suggest for adoption By Their respecti,
ID States such measure, as they may deem e,
40 pedient; and also to take measures, it the
Il shall think proper, .tor procuring a coarei
l of tion of delegates from all the United State
70 "a IN order 10 rerise Me Constellation MereQf an
a more effectually to secure the support an
n attachment of all the people, by placing a
a, upon basis Of fair representation, r,s
"a This resolution eyentpated in the Assem-
y, ~ bling Of the noted Hartford Convention
y y which met at Hartford, Connecticut, De,
!. 49, 1914, and was composed Of twepty-si
N delegates, representing the States of Ma:
ii sachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode lslanc
=. New Hampshire, and Vermont The bus
y ness Of the convention was transacted wit
~ closed doors, and with entire secrecy for th
k,. a IL. IL. cn. =,