The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-08
For The Democratic Adrocaie.
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY z

guilty. The accusations charged against the
Hartford Convention by democracy, have
shown to be false, by such facts and circum-
stances as challenge the "AdYocater 10 sue.
eessfully controvert. might stop here, and
in all fairness demand verdict Of 'not
guilty. But will do more than justice de.
mands. will give positive testimony from
TWO OF the most honored men Of whom our
country can boast-Noah Webster and Roger
Minot Sherman. They both testify to facts
within their own knowledge, and surely they
ought to be competent witnesses.
Webster says Flew transactions of the
federalists, during the early periods of our
government, excited SO much the angry pas.
sions OF their oppOsers as the Hartford Con.
yention-so called during the presidency Of |
Mr.. Madison. As was present al the first |
meeting Of the gentlemen who suggested such |
convention; as ! was a member Of the House |
OF Representatives in Massachusetts when the |
resolve was passed for appointing the dele.
gates, advocated that resolve; and further |
as have copies of the documents, which no
other person may have preserved, It seems to
De incumbent on me TO present to the public
the real facts in regard to the origin Of the
measure, which have been vilely falsifed and
misrepresented.
After the war Of 1912 had continued two
years, our public affairs were reduced TO a
deplorable condition. The troops Of the
United States, intended for defending the
seacoast, had been Withdrawn to carry on the
war in Canada; British squadron was sta
toned in the Sound, to prevent the escape of
frigate from the harbor of New London and
TO intercept our coasiing trade; one town in
Maine was in possession of the British forces
the banks south Of New England had all sus.
| pended the payment of specie; our shipping
! Law barhnra IL IL
and perishing; the treasury Of the United
States was exhausted to the last cent; and a
| general gloom was spread over the country.
! In this condition of affairs number Of gen.
temen IN Northampton, in Massachusetts,
after consultation, determined 10 invite some
OF the principal inhabitants Of the three coun.
ties 90 The river formerly composing the old
county OF Hampshire, 10 meet and consider
whether any measures could be taken to ar.
rest the continuance Of the war and provide
for the public safety. In pursuance Of this
determination, circular letter was addressed
to the citizens Of the three counties, request
ing them 10 meet and suggest remedies for
the relief Of their grievances.
Webster continues :-"In compliance with
the request and suggestions in this circular,
many town meetings were held, aud with great
unanimity addresses and memorials were
I ~ " HiNoShtNA W tuN htutThl AOufls
stating the sufierings of the country in eonse.
quenee Of the embargo, the war, and arbitrary
restrictions on our coasting trade, with the
violations Of our constitutional rights, and
requesting the legislature TO take measures
for obtaining redress, either by convention
OF delegates from the Northern and CONNER.
clal States, or by such other measures as the,
should judge to be expedient.
= Governor Strong summoned special meet
ing Of the Legisture in October, in which thu
petitions Of the towns were taken into con
slderation, and a resolve was passed appoint
ing delegates to convention 10 be held il
Hartford.
The measure Of resorting to convention
for the purpose Of arresting the evils Of ba,
administration, reused the jealousy Of the
advocates Of the war, and called forth tn,
bitterest inyectiye. The convention was re
= presented as reasonable combination, orig
mating IN Boston, for the purpose Of dissoly
, ing the Union. But citizens Of Boston hat
no concern in originating the proposal for I
eonYsnuonj II was wholly the project of thi
people in old Hampshire county-as respect
able and patriotic republicans as ever trod tn
soil OF free country.
n The citizens who first assembled in NORTH
, ampton convened under the authority Of th
bH Of rights which declares that the peopl
have right TO meet in a pcaceable manne
5 and consult for the public safety. The cit
zens had the same right then to NEE; in con
/ yention as they have now; the distresses o
the country demanded extraordinary meas
ures for redress; the thought of dissolving III,
Union never entered into the head of any o
the projectors, or of the members Of the Con
/ vention. The gentlemen who composed it
+ for talents and patriotism have never beer
surpassed by any Assembly in the UniteC
States, and beyond q question the appoint
ment of the Hartford Convention had yer,
, favorable effect in fastening the conclusion
/ of treaty Of peace.
, All the reports which have been circulated
respecting the evil designs Of that Convention
know TO be the foulest misrepresentation
Indeed, respecting the views Of the disciples
OF Washington and the supporters of his 20
{ licy, many, and probably most of the people
, Of the United States in this generation, are
, made to believe far more fasehood than truth
| speak Of facts within my own persona
knowledge. We may well say with the proph
et-"Iuth is fallen in the street and equity
cannot enter.n
, This is direct, positive testimony from one
whose yeracity the Advocate will hard
presume to question.
Wonder il Websters Dictionary wont soor
be deemed an incendiary document unfit fol
our schools. The occasion that drew ou
Roger Sherman's testimony, was a trial a
Fairfield, Connecticut, of the State against
certain Whitman Mead.
One Of the articles charged against Mead
as libellous, compared a recent political meet
ing at Hartford, to the Hartford Convention
The prisoner supposng that full develop
ment Of the proceedings Of that convention
would furnish legal yindication Of the article
in question, moved the Court for a subpnni
TO Mr.. Sherman to testify in his behalf Th'
trial took place at Fairfield. Conn, the plae,
Of Mr.. Sherman residence in Jan. 1881, an,
reported in the Fairfield Gazette.
The following is Mr.. Sherman's testimony
under oath
The first question asked was-What was th
nature and object of the Hartford Convention
: Answer was a member Of that conven
, tion. The United States were then at wa
with Great Britain. They had in their fort
and armies 1900 effective men; Of thes
7 about 1900 only were employed in New Eng
land. We had a seacoast of almost 700 mile
to protect and with the exception of thes
1900 men, had the aid of no military fore
! from the United States, &C., &C.
The whole answer is too lengthy 10 inser
: here-it gives general outline Of tho origiI
/ and proceedings Of the convention. The an
swer to the FIRST question concludes in thesi
words There was not, according to m
best recollection single motion, resolution
or subject Of debate, but what appears in tn
printed journal or report
: Second question asked WAS il not q
object Of the Convention to embarrass an
paralyze the government of the United State
in the prosecution Of the war with Grea
Britain7
: Answcr-It was not. Nothing Of the kin,
was done or entertained by tho Convention
or, so far as know or believe, by those b,
whom il was originated. On the contrary ii
principal object was more eiFectual cooper
, alton in that war, as to the defense ofthe Nev
England States.
: Third question asked HAS not that Con
| yention been generally reputed in the Unilet
r States to be treasonabe2
Answef--Much has been said and published
to that effect, but without the least founda
ton. believe know their proceedings per
fectlyi and that every measure, done or pro.
posed, has been published TO the world. No
one act has ever been pointed out, to my
knowledge, as inconsistent with their obliga.
tions to the United States, nor was any such
act ever contemplated by them.
Win the "Advocase attempt to eainsay
this testimony Of two Of our greatest and best
meny Have you any testimony, Mr. "Advo
cate, to break down the evidence Of Noah