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

out BY stating that they had iVO i'l'es % -"
coast to protect The fact is that The BRUSH
declared our coas, only from the Mississippi
10 the north end of Long Island to be IN q
state Of siege, ieaciag Neic Bagiiad epen' ana
Amerieaa sessels carrying British permits 20
sail and trade. were captured by the Amer
can navy.
Mr.. Sherman then states that us best as ne
can recolect, thepablishedjou eout@lns"'i
the motions, resolutions, subjects OF debate
6c. of the Hartford Convention. lie must
have had n remarkable memory to have reeoi'
leeted all the proceedings of that body seven
teen years after, but that may so Tor VIVA. II
is worth, especially as Mr.. Webster says 'hal
he had copies Of documents that perhaps no
other member preserved, and consequently
not published in the journal
Mr.. Sherman says the principal object oil
the convention ''was a more etecfudi co,ope'
ration in The rdr, az to the defense OF tue
New England States" Mr. sherman Il must
be observed, was under oath IN court OF
Justice. lie says the object Of the convention
was to prosecute the war, whereas Mr. WEB
star, Mr.. wolfes other witness, says 1t met
'sto consider whether any measures could DC
taken to arrest The continuance Of Tie car.
Either Mr.. Webster or Mr., Sherman must be
mistaken. Their discrepancies cannot be
harmonizcd, aud Mr. Wolfe is unfortunate,
for the strength of his position, in not selec'
ting two members as witnesses whose slate
menls more nearly Tailed.
We return to Mr.. Websters testimony
again, TO illustrate his iuaccuracy lie says
"the appointment, Of the Hartford Convention
had very favorable effect in Fastening the
conclusion of treaty of peace The Mas
sachusetts Legislature proposed the conven
ton on October s, Isli, according TO Good
rich, and it met December 10th, following
The treaty commissioners met at Client in
August, 1914, two months before the appoint
ment of the Hartford Convention, and as sail
vessels were the only means Of ocean travel
in those days, our commissioners must have
lel this country two months previous to their
assembling at Client, or about June, 1914.
Tho treaty OF peace was signed on December
Il, The day before the meeting of the Hartford
Convention. The reader and Mr.. Wolfe can
see how much there is in Webster statement,
that the appointment Of the Hartford Con
yention hastened peace.
But, for the sake of argument, let rs admit
that it had. In what way did it hasten peace?
MI ,....b ia,.,,aa Nnts
England Federalists, who had previously OPP.
posed the war, had met to engage in and pros.
ecutc it, us stated by Mr.. Sherman? or, did
the United States press peace because the
convention met to arrest the continuance of
the war, as Mr.. Webster asserts? lf the lat.
ter as the Federalsts had done nothing for
the defence Of the country before, or but lit
tie, which was forced from them, did they not
fear separation from the Union Of the New
England States and n civil war? The FEEDER.
alists had opposed war upon Great Britain,
and to arrest it, separation from the
Union, and to become neutral territory, was
the only means Of public safety" from the
British
The contradictions Of Mr.. Webster and Mr.
Sherman, on the objects and aims Of the
Hartford Convention, and their own conflict
ing statements, susiains the points made by
Mr.. Gillet, that the Journal was meagre in
details and that the members never agreed
Mr.. Wolfe denies these assertions, and brands
Mr.. GiIlet MS man unworthy OF belief in
party matters, and he himself sus,ains Gillst
in citing the testimony of Webster aud Sher.
man.
Mr. Wolfe next proceeds to justify the OPP.
position of The New England Federalists to
the war oflsI2. Jefferson Democracy made
hatred of England its chief stock in trade, Z"
says Mr.. Wolfe. Admit it, and does that in
itself Justify the Federalisis in turning against
their country? Mr.. Wolfe here admits what
we charge-that New England was friendly to
England-and that friendship was manifested
in displaying signals during the war to the
British squadron of New London.
The reyerses Of the federal arms during the
first part of the war, is further advanced as
justification. Hull, a revolutionary he.o, who
rendered invaluable aid in securing the indie
pendeuce Of his country, is condemned for a
surrender at Detroit Hull, at the time, was
old and inirm, but his patriotism would not
let him remain in the quiet of his home while
the enemy was on his soil, and he FASTENED to
arms. His failure was unfortunate, but he
would rather fail in the service than TO be
skulking around New England, denouneing
the war and giving friendly signals TO the en-.
envy of his country.
We care not to waste space in following
Mr.. Wolfe further in the conduct Of the war.
for it has no bearing upon the subject matter.
Besides, the failures Of several Of the Gener.
ais of the army had nothing TO do with New
England treason, and history is full of nc.
counts Of reyersss TO soldiers, in all ages,
whose ability, honesty and patriotism is un.
questioned. Our own civil war furnishes
many such incidents.
Mr.. Wolfe claims that the Federal Marty
built the navy, and arrogutes to tho Federal
party all the honor Of our naval victories,
which were important and decisive. Mr..
Webster, so triumphantly quoted by Mr..
Wolfe, says 'our New England shipping lay
in our harhors, embargoed, dismantled and
perishing.H Now is Mr.. Wolfe or Mr.. Web.
ster correct Does Mr. Wolfe contradict his
chosen oracle d? Mr.. Webster says that their
shipping was dismdntied and perishiag. New
England refused to loan money to the gov.
erment, and some Of tho Federal leaders and
Federal papers, declared ii picked for New
Englanders to advance a cent to prosecute the
war. Besides, the Democrats held the gov.
eminent then and for twelve years previous,
and the navy, IN chief part, was buih by and
under the direction of the Democrats.
Mr.. Wolfe intimates that the treaty Of
Client was dishOnorable. That it was dis.
honorable, he, perhaps, stands alone in the
opinion. Ridpalh says it was absurd, = but
his language preceding and following thu,
declaration, shows that ''absurdi does no,
accurately convey his meaning. In speaking
OF the treaty Of peace, in the paragraph pre-.
ceding the one quoted by Mr.. Wolfe. he
says both nations had long desired such a
/ raaf.lf.ff hat a L..