The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-11-06

members ana omCefb were hilOWou w uo
present. All that ttheworld knew ot its
doings was Historyp. published by
its Secretary, Theodore Dwight, long the
editor of an an ti.Democratic paper, to
parry, if possible, tine opprobrium
brought upon its members-tha it's OBJ
ect was treason In the shape of disuInion,
and to "give aid and comfort to tile en-
envy" there is now, as there was none
then, no doubt. The delegates were ap'
pointed by the Legislatures of the New
England States--the Governors ofiwhich
refused to allow their militia to defend
the frontier from invasion if outside
their limits-who had refused the use of
their prisons to hold British prisoners,
and who, in every shape and form, had
sought TO render success of American
arms impossible. The Legislature of
Massachusetts, had appointed delegates
of the secession stamp, at the head of
which was Harrison Gray 0tis FEEDER
alism had swept the State, and from the
proceedings of the Legislature and the
speeches of members it was evident that
the intention was, in the language of the
biographer of Mr.. Jefferson, Ito compel
the National Government to submit to
the dictation of New England Federal.
lists, or to establish an Eastern Confeder'
acy, These designs were substantially
ayowed on legislative floors, by the press
and from the pulpit"
In Connecticut, by decided vote, the
Governor was authorized in case OF
draft to fill the ranks of the army: ITO
call special session of the Legislature
to protect the people-it denounced the
war as criminal in its object, and as, un-
der the circumstances, violation of the
political compact between the Govern
ment and the people" Goodrich and
Hillhouse, leading secessionists, with
five others, were appointed delegates.
The published proceedings of the Con-
vention proposed numerous changes in
the Federal Constitution, prominent
among them to prevent naturalization
and the formation of new States in the
West. Commissioners from the Con.
Vention, viz: Harrison Gray Otis, VIM.
Sullivan and Thomas H. Perkins, of.
Massachusetts, and Calvin Goddard and
Nathaniel Terry, of Connecticut-were
sent to Washington to demand redress
at the hands of the General Govern
ment. The Commissioners, or ENJOYS
as they were called, were en- route to
Washington when the news of General
Jackson's brilliant victory at New Or
leans and of the treaty of peace met
them. This bursted the Federal North
ern Confederacy and made it's actors
subjects of derision. The Democratic
papers offered rewards for the delegates,
who, the advertisement said, it was
feared had drowned themselves. They
never presented their credentials from
the Federal Government of New Eng
land to that of the United States. The
whole fabric of the Northern Confeder.
aCy was blown into thin air.
The annexation of Texas was another
fruitful source of New England bluster
about dissolving the Union. 1t was held
that the admission itself bursted the
UnioD-for 30, if mistake not, the Mas
sachusetts Legislature resolved.
The last move in secession, by the par;
ty opposed to the Democracy, occurred
on the election of Lincoln to the Presi.
denCy. 1t started not this time in New
England, but in the South, They knew
their friends in the North would aid
them and they were not disappointed.
After the firing on Fort Sumter, Mr..
Chase's organ in Ohio, then edited by
Captain HURT, who was subsequently
dismissed from the army for disreputa.
BILE practices, and Henry Cooke, brother
of Jay Cooke, who for his services was
made Governor of the District of Colum-
bia, proclaimed in an editorial, believed
at the time to be written by Salmon P.
Chase, that the "Creators of the Union
had soWn the seeds of its inevitable
death at its creation" and that "politi
clans and dotards may gable and weep
tears of imbeCility over the breaking up
ofan.unnatural compact, but treason, JUS
tice and humanity will gladly accept it
as one of those cheering evidences that |
is working good to the crea-
lures of the earth through the process
Of events ~ The same journal fearful
that South Carolina would not seCede,
proposed to get up petitions to drive her
out of the Union. After portion of
the Southern States had passed ordi-
nances of secession and had taken and
leld forts and other property belonging
% the United States, Congress, composed
If Republican majority in both Houses,
refused the urgent appeal of President
Buchanan for power, by law, to repos.
Jess them. So strong were the present
eaders in sympathy with Southern Sc.
that "let the Union Slide"
10 was proclaimed by one of their trust
ID speakers, became a common watch
vord of their party.
Thus have | traced secession through
he administration of Washington down
o the time when it was not practically
ried to be carried into effect. 1t never
vas Democratic, always was a Federal
oCtrine. Born of New England, cher
shed by the old Federal leaders, and by
hem transmitted to their SONS, it origi,
ated in the dislike of politicians to be
n a minority. The men who first threat
ned it were of that class who would
ather reign in hell than serve in heaven,
nd when threatened by their descend.