The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-08
The Truth of History.

the letter Of Mr.. Wolfe place on the first
page Of this issue.
Mr.. Wolfe thinks that he is entitled to a
verdict Of "not guilty. He is not guilty Of
reasonable utteranees from 1896 to the dis
banding of the Federal party, simply because
he was not alive during those years. and for the
same reason he is not guilty of being shin
ing light of the Hartford Convention. His
ardent endorsement of all the acts of the Fed
eral party, including the Hartford Conven'
ticn, shows that he would have been II fit
compeer of the disunionists of those days, and
no doubt would have exeelled the most ultra
in all reasonable designs
Not guilty, indeed What has he proven?
In the first place he attempted to gather to the
Federal party oil the glory of forming the
constitution and founding the government
That attempt was signal failure. Afer QUE
dissection of his article, in which the ilimsy
and unreliable texture ofhis fabric was shown,
he did not essay to reply.
In defending the Blue Light Federalists, he
quoted only Goodrich in their cause, Good
rich admits that the New England FedSralists
we're opposed to the war, and that during its
progress the opposition became confirmed,
and that blue lights were exhibited at New
London during the blockade Of Decatur's
squadron. lie says, however, in regard to
blue light, that it was generally understood
they were signals thrown up from the British
ships, or perhaps from parties of the enemy
cruising in boats, &C., which is an admission
that he is uncertain and knows little about it,
Decatur was posiiiee in his report Of the
burning Of blue lights by the citizens Of New
England, aud says that all the officers and
men Of his squadron were witnesses to it,
He also rcbukes the citizens OF New Lon.
don, or some of them, for their 'har.
dihood' and "earontery" in affecting to
disbelieve it. Thus we have posiiice tesli-
mony from Commodore Decatur and his Off
GERS and men on one side, aud Goodrich on
the other who is not positive. Our readers
can judge where the preponderance of evil
dence lies. Decatur made his report TO the
United States government, and it is part Of
official history.
Last week, by garbling the address of John
Q. Adams to the Boston Committee, Mr..
Wolfe attempted to deliver the Federasts
from the charge of treason and an attempt to
dissolve the Union, and to make Mr.. Adams
appear as retracting his charges against the
Federal party. We pointed out and laid bare
his absurd deductions, and proved b. the ci.
tations he himself made, the very facts he ut
tempted to disprove.
Mr.. Woie's letter this week, stripped of its
puerilities, irrelevant matter, coarse anec.
dotes, and presumptuous charges Of falsehood
and Misrepresentation against the authorities
we cited, all of whom stand above Mr.. Wolfe
as the sun stands above the earth, consists
of but the evidence Of two gentlemen-Noah
Webster aud Roger NJ. Sherman. Against
the testimony Of these, we have quoted the
words of Adams, Gillet, Gov. Plummer, Gov.
Strong, James Hillhouse, Rufus King, limo
thy Pickering, Uriah Tracy, Gov Gerry, Rev.
Mr.. 0sgood, John Holmes, and others, and
of the Hartford CourdRt, Baltimore Federal
Republican, New York Commercial Adcer.
tiser and other papers, all of which have been
incorporated into history. All these will be
found in Gillet's history of Democracy and
much more, to which we cite Mr.. Wolfe, and
all others disposed to. doubt sae truth of
history, In DR.. Van Evrie's history OF the
civil war, and in Upshur's review of Story,
much more bearing out our positions will be
found. All the facts stated in these works
are based upon documentary evidence, and
there arc no sHppoSiiiORs, beliefs, perhaps or
probabilities INDUCED in. Ia Judge Blacks
letter to Garfield, in the fall Of 1915, Mr..
Wolfe will find much more concerning the
treason of his political ancestors, and how the
New Englanders prosecuted, whipped and sold
into bondage the Quakers, to which religious
denomination we understand he belongs. In
Smucker's life of Jefferson, which paints part
Of Jsiierson's character in sombre colors, he
will find additional evidence to sustain the
proofs we have given.
The major part Of Mr.. Webs,er's state.
ments, as quoted by Mr.. Wolfe, is not Of
much importance, and as we have heretofore
given sufficient evidence to set it aside, further
comment is unnecessary. In passing further
on, what does Mr.. Webster mean when he says
that the people had right, under the bill Of
rights, to meet in a peaceable manner, and
that the disiresses of the country demanded
Extraordinary measures for redress? How
did they expect 10 obtain redress, and from
whom? From England? Mol They were
opposed to war with England. Where else
were they to obtain redress? 1t must have
been from the United States Government.
To obtain that redress Extraordinary meas.
uresi were required. What were these "er
trdordiadry meaaTesf' Peacefully eonsid
erug the state of the country, and petitioning
the government upon its condition, would
not constitute anything extraordinary. Gov.
Strong, says Mr.. Webster, convened the Leg.
islature of Massachusetts to consider the pc
tiions Of the people, and resolution was
passed appointing delegates to a convention
to be held at Hartford. Had Mr. Webster
added the following resolution, which was
offered in the Legislature by Gen. Fessenden,
he would have shown himself to posterity us
fairer man and not as endeayoring 10 cover
up truth by partial statements. Here is the
resolution:
"And therefore be i, resolved, tha, we re-
commend TO his Excelency, Caleb Strong, TO
take the revenue of the State into his own
hands, arm and equip the militia, and declare
us independent OF the Union.'
In that resolution, perhaps, is to be found
the best meaning of Mr.. Webster, when no
alluded TO the distresses Of the country de-
handing extraordinary measures There is
nothing improper or extraordinary in seeking
. discontiuuance Of the war, aud exlraordina
" measures must have meant open hostilies
and withdrawal from the Union, the pro
priety Of which the Federal party had been
urging for sixteen years. notwithstanding
this, however, Mr. Webster says no thought
Of dissolving the Union ever entered the bend
OF any protector of tine Convention or Of INV
member. All the members Of the Conyen.
ton were New England FederaIists, and is Il
probable that they could enter hall without
a thought Of disunion in their heads. when
they had been urging the matter for s;x,oor