WILL SEAL THEIR DOOM FOREVER! Independent of the jani Lynn, they might, with half the trouble, have rigors of the law, to use the forcible language of obtained the names of one thousand fishermen to & FISHER AMES, “Scorn would smite, and blust, and petition that they (the petition-makers) should be wither, like lighting, the knaves that thus mislead and transported to Halifax, as will be experimentally abuse a virtuous and unsuspecting people." shewn if ever the faction goes from talking to deeds. The meanness that marked the proceedings of Again, a quantity of specie had been detained at these infuriated men, has been unrivalled except by New York, see volume V. page 380 No great injury the depravity of their political character. One of their had resulted, nor was a loss to be apprehended. "But topics was, like Benedict Arnold, to charge others the thing was managed so, that the bank should apply with being under the affluence of France, while they to the legislature for relief and protection; several themselves eulogized the enemy of their country hard resolves were passed, which the governor was Weak minded men!-did they expect to blind the directed to communicate to the president of the people to their attachments, by attributing to the United States. [Note F.] The bank could as well innocent a like offence? Thus, sometimes, a culprit have done this; and the effect, as to the restoration by crying "stop thief," may have saved himself; of the money, would have been the same; but the but more generally the reverse, as in the present purpose was to make a noise—one hundred and thirty instance, has been the case. To fill the clamor and thousand dollars in specie, which the people of Mas cheat the public feeling, they manufactured peti-sachusetts were to be "robbed" of, was a weighty tions and remonstrances, as in a mill by wholesale, item in the general uproar. Thus they went on, breathing blood and slaughter, and sent them to the foaming and fretting until they wound themselves (falsely called) leaders of their "peace party” in up with the filaments of their own disgrace, and many of the little towns of the state; where, by any sunk into nothing. Yox et præterea nikil. sort of chicanery, they might assume the form of a It is, however, an act of justice to the impotency document, and be "returned from whence they of this faction to make the record, that even when came," as the "VOICE OF THE YEOMANRY! For a the paroxism was at its heighth, no one feared for sample of this part of the machinery, see note D. the health of Massachusetts. Many believed and But sometimes, with all their cunning and address, hoped,that these violent spasms were the shakings off they failed. [See E.] For more than a week, three of a disease that had long infected the body politic; or four newspapers in Boston were employed to and, if it were not so, there was a remedy at hand inform the fishermen how badly they were off; to that would have been applied at a moment's warnconvince them that they were actually starving! ing, with surest efficacy. I mean in the physical The honest fellows had not supposed their condition strength of the people of the state, which is sound and was quite so desperate; but, as "every body said it," wholesome. they felt their own ribs, and, mayhap, began to think As, in the statistical tables I design to expose the they were not quite so fat as they used to be. Well, hollowness of the pretension of certain men at Bos being thus dufy and truly prepared, the nex: busi-ton (and in some of the little towns, of 4 or 500 ness was to initiate them into a part of the plan. souls each) as being the guardians of commerce, this They were waited upon, by some very generous and simple fact is stated for the present: In the year 1805 feeling gentlemen, with a remonstrance ready drawn (a term selected as one of the greatest commercial up, and forty-two of them were induced to sign it-activity) the mighty trading town of Boston exported this was presented in triumph to the legislature of $2,544,503 worth of domestic produce and manu Massachusetts, and called "THE VOICE OF THE FISH- facture, one third of which, by a reasonable calcula ERMEN!" If the persons who took so much pains to tion, was received from the Chesapeake, white, in 'get these signatures, had proceeded to Marblehead the same period, the anti-commercial city of Baltį. more sent off to the like ports and places, the value The wretched shifts of the faction, in regard to of about three millions and a quarter. It is admitted, this "remonstrance" from the fishermen, must be however, that Boston had a greater tonnage than further exposed. They were grossly cheated out of Baltimore; but a large portion of it was employed their signatures by men in whom they confided. On in coasting to supply the foreign trade, and a part of discovering the extent of the deception, thirty-seven the latter was of the kind that Holand, to her ever of them addressed the following to the president of lasting infamy, pursued, even to the trampling of the cross at Japan. I mean the "carrying trade," To his excellency, James Madison, president of the branch of commerce, that, though it may have en United States. riched a few, has advantaged the agricultural inte The petition of the subscribers, fishermen of Bos-rest in a very remote degree, if in any; been preju ton and its vicinity, humbly sheweth, That many of dicial to the manufacturing; and more than all, the them have, inadvertently and without due reflection, the United States signed a petition to the legislature of Massachusetts, families; they are doubtless well known to your expraying for relief from the restrictions imposed cellency. All they ask for is liberty to proceed with upon them by the "act laying an embargo on all ships their empty vessels and necessary fishing apparatus, and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United under such restrictions and limitations as your e States." They have since learnt, that therein they cellency shall judge expedient, to the fishing ground were most grossly imposed upon and deceived by in Boston bay, for the purpose of fishing for the designing individuals. For, had the legislature Boston market. granted their prayer, and any one man availed him. If they had not, heretofore, (except in the instance self of the circumstance, it would have involved this alluded to) demeaned themselves as good citizens, state, and perhaps the nation, in civil war; it would quietly and peaceably pursuing their innocent and have raised the state standard against that of the necessary avocation; if they had not rigidly obeye union, and brought upon us all the horror of civil the laws; uniformly respected the constituted auth commotion: consequences which they now contem-rities of their country, and been constantly attached plate with horror, and deprecate as the greatest of to the union of the states; they would not now appea evils. They ask no indulgence incompatible with before the father of the American people. But they the great national objects contemplated by the em-confidently appeal to the officers of the customs, and bargo law. They trust it would be wholly super-all those citizens who have witnessed their conduct Buous to describe their necessities, or those of their for its uniformity in the above recited particulára fruitful source of our collisions with Europe, and of that it has been constitutionally declared by the go the present war. Look at the memorial of these vernment-that circumstance renders it the duty traders to congress in 1806, and contrast it with of every reul federalist to exert all the means in his their conduct now! The inconsistency and want of power to prosecute the present war with vigor and honesty, is shameful. But the very spirit of this effect-I rejoice that in the just prosecution of this rade is so completely Dutch--so mean and grovel war, two of my boys, as members of the company of ling, that, though the war may have originated in Petersburg Volunteers, have already fought the batthe stand taken to protect it, it would "sell powder tles of their country, and old as I am, permit me, Mr.. to the enemy," (as the Dutch merchants did) that editor, to assure you, that in this war, even I shall he might crush it, if money were to be made by it. again be prepared whenever the occasion may require Such is the patriotism of these "friends of com-it, to render to my beloved country every service erce." It may be just, notwithstanding, to say, that which may be in my power. it is rather the lawyers than the merchants of NewW. BENTLEY, England, that raised the great clamor for "trade!" a Virginia federalist." I am well aware that for making these remarks Colonel Bentley, says the editor of the Enquirer some men will denounce me a partizan. "Speak of who addressed the above, served as an officer through me as I am" and report me fairly. I AM A PARTIZAN the revolutionary war-afterwards was called from IN FAVOR OF THE CONSTITUTION. I am a "federalist, the ranks to the command of the regiment of militia for I have reprehended the antifederal conduct of in Powhatan-was also elected from the same counthe faction. I am a "Washingtonian," for I have followed his great precept, and "frowned indignantly afterwards was unsolicited] appointed by presity six years successively a member of the legislature upon the enemies of union. I am a “republican," dent Adams commandant of a regiment. hoping and trusting that our glorious institutions may prevail and flourish, in defiance of the secret service money of princes, and the intrigues of ambition, when kingdoms and principalities shall be Feb. 10th, 1814. (B.) Commonwealth of Massachusetts. wrapt in general ruin. Let the policy or impolicy of An act declaratory of the true intent and meaning of the measures of government be questioned as they may-it is right they should be, because, if evil, there is a simple and sure remedy, in the freedom of suffrage, to change the course of proceeding; but I beseech all who love their country, never to suffer the propriety of dissolving the union to be a subject of argument. an act entitled "An act to provide for the safe keeping of all prisoners committed under the au thority of the United States in the several goals within this commonwealth." Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That nothing contained in an act I have only to add, that too much has been done entitled "An act to provide for the safe-keeping all to conciliate this British faction. I have always con- prisoners committed under the authority of the Unisidered every attempt to please them like the sacrifi-ted States, in the several goals within this commonces of certain indian nations to propitiate the good wealth," shall be so construed as to authorise the . will of the evil spirit. I am proud of the ground that keepers of the said goals to take custody of, and was taken; nothing has been conceded-every thing keep within said goals, any prisoners committed by they attempted has failed, by the good sense of the any other authority than the judicial authority of the people; and they, of "big swelling words," are put United States. up "as objects for scorn to point her slowly moving finger at." Believing that this sheet may be preserved long after the head that dictates its conten's shall be cold, 1 subscribe this article with with my name, that my children and friends may refer to it, and be assured of my federal principles. Baltimore, March, 1814. (A) H. NILES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER. And whereas several prisoners of war have been committed to goals within this commonwealth, under the executive authority of the United States. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the keepers of the said goals are hereby authorised and required to discharge from said goals all such prisoners of war, after the expiration of thirty days from the passing of this act, unless they shall sooner be discharged by the authority of the United States. TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN PHILIPS, President of the Senate. Having perused in your paper of this day, an ex- Feb. 7th, 1814-Approved, (C.) CALEB STRONG, MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE. tract from "the Yankee," under the head of "Synopsis of speeches in the Massachusetts legislature"and having also read in the same paper a piece dated Boston, Jan. 28, under the head of "grand rebel cau. cus," I feel myself as a federalists who fought the In the House of Representatives, February 4, 1814, revolutionary battles of my country, imperiously The memorial of the town of Deerfield, and secalled on to disavow the infamous principles advo-veral other towns, against the existing war and emcated in those speeches, and by that caucus. bargo-Read and committed to Messrs. Lloyd, of No member of the Massachusetts legislature, or of Boston, Mills, of Northampton, and Howard, of the Boston caucus, who advocates the existence of Newburyport, with such as the hon. senate may join, British influence, or who is willing to rebel against to consider and report.-Sent up for concurrence. the government or constitution of his own country, deserves to be dignitied with the name of federalist. As a true member of the genuine old Washington TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker In Senate, Feb. 4, 1814. school, I abhor such men, and detest their principles, and Allen are joined. and do hereby most solemnly protest against both. As to the present war which is complained of, I will add-that whether I might have approved the de JOHN PHILIPS, President./ THE committee of both houses, to whom were claration of it or not, is immaterial; it is sufficient/referred the memorials and remonstrances from the towns of Deerfield, Gerry, Newbedford, North- their numerous memorials from all quarters of the ampton, Southampton, Westhampton, Newbury, commonwealth, appear to despair of obtaining reNewburyport, Northyarmouth, Hatfield, Brookfield, dress from that government, which was established Buckstown, Machias, Castine, Brunswick, Hadley," TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE." They see, Athol, Goldsborough, South-Hadley, Ellsworth, that the voice of the New-England states, whose Brewster, Goshen, Ipswich, Rowley, Belfast, Whate-interests are common, is lost in the national councils; ly, Warwick, Belchertown, Dartmouth, Chester- that the spirit of accommodation and regard to mufield, Ashfield, Wendell, Shelburne, New-Salem tual safety and advantage, which produced the conand Beverly, together with the petition of sundry stitution and governed its early administration, have inhabitants of the towns of Plymouth and Penobscot, been sacrificed to the bitterness of party, and to the and the report of the committee of the hon. house aggrandizement of one section of the union, at the on the petition of sundry fishermen, inhabitants of expense of another. Boston, have had the same under consideration, and; ask leave respectfully to report— These opinions are not confined to the maritime That there exists in all parts of the common diately affected, and whose inhabitants have daily borders of the state, whose interests are more immewealth, a fear, and in many parts a settled belief, before their eyes perishing ships, deserted warethat the course of foreign and domestic policy pur-houses, and starving mechanics and labourers; but sued by the government of the United States for se-are loudly responded from the interior, where the peoveral years past, has its foundation in a deliberate in-ple generously sympathize in the present distress of tention to impair, if not to destroy that free spirit their brethren upon the seacoast, and wisely foresee and exercise of commerce, which, aided by the hain their ruin their own approaching wretchedness. bits, manners, and institutions of our ancestors, and the blessings of Divine Providence, have been the Various are the forms, in which these sentiments principle source of the freedom, wealth and general but the tone and spirit, in all, are the same. They and feelings have been expressed to the legislature; prosperity of this recently happy and flourishing all discover an ardent attachment to the union of people. That this belief appears to be not more the result these states, as the true source of security and happiof the late measures of government, which are com ness to all, and a reverence for the national constituplained of as oppressive, in their nature, and repug-insure that union, and establish that happiness: but tion, as calculated in its spirit and principles to nant to the principles of the national compact, than of an intelligent survey of the general system intro-they are all stamped with the melancholy conviction, duced by the late, and pursued by the present ad-hat the basis of that union has been destroyed by a ministration, in opposition to the declared wishes, practical neglect of its principles; and that the dut and frequent remonstrances of this section of the ability of that constitution has been endangered by union, which seems to be the devoted victim of via perversion and abuse of its powers. Many of the sionary and destructive experiments. The people, in memorialists have called to mind the times and circumstances which led to the adoption of the national It may gratify a laudable curiosity to be inform-constitution, and the motives which prevailed upon ed of the population of these towns. The amount them, or upon their fathers to consent to it. They of those enumerated below is Of Belfast, Brewster and Ellsworth(supposed) Sundry inhabitants of Plymouth and Penob scot, say The "fishermen of Boston" But of these 37 have recanted 42 37 Amount carried out for the "voice of the fishermen" That 58,303 remember that they had a state constitution, founded upon the principles of civil liberty, and calculated 4,000 to enforce them; that they enjoyed the freedom of the seas, of external and internal commerce; that 500 they were subject to no restraint, but for the common good; that their enterprize was unshackled, and that their rulers were devoted to their happiness, or immediately replaced by those who were. they then had no fear of being interrupted in their 5 navigation, or their fisheries, of being oppressed by intolerable exactions, or of being tauntingly directed Grand total population- 62,805 to the forest, as the proper scene of their industry The items are taken from Morse, for I have not the and enterprize. But they were told, and they be census of 1810 at hand; but it is presumed the po-lieved, that these privileges, though great, were pulation has not increased-the whole population of transient; that the conflicting interests of the other Massachusetts is 700,745, and petitions in the name states would produce embarrassments to their com of one eleventh of the people were smuggled to the merce; that the jealousy and cupidity of foreign legislature. nations rendered a more perfect union necessary for The amount of those supposed to have remonstrat-their defence; and that a national government world ed, is about half equal to the population of the cities alone secure them against domestic dissentions.--of New-York or Philadelphia, and about one fourth Believing all this the memorialists say, they cheermore than the population of Baltimore. What an fully surrendered a portion of the sovereignty of the uproar can a few talking men make! state, and committed it to hands, which they trusted would always use it for the great purposes, for which it was demanded. And it was so used for the first 724 twelve years of its administration; its principles were developed, and found to be benign. Commerce, 773 the life of Massachusetts, flourished under its av. 1,33 spices; wealth accumulated in our cities, and diffused itself over the country. Every farm in the 2,046 commonwealth trebled its value-and owed this va1,741 lue to the freedom, extension and security of com776 merce, under the constitution, administered accord1.949 ing to the principles of Washington. This constitu tion then became the object of love veeration and 53,303 hope, to the memorialists. They o adit for the Deerfield Gerry' Newbedford Northampton Southampton Westhampton Newbury Newbusy port North Yarmouth Hatfield Brookfield Baekstown Machias Castine Brunswick Hadley Atho 1878 Goldsborough 4,361 Goshen 2,190 Ipswick 983 Rowley 756 Whatley 4,076 Warwick 809 Chesterfield 3,284 Ashfield 665 New Salem 1,809 Beverly 1,073 993 379 801 3,305 1,878 2,660 737 3,881 blessings it had given vencrated it for the security whose avarice has contributed largely to the war, it afforded to those blessings: and hoped and be- now desolating the country. But the memorialists lieved, that into whose hands soever it should fall, have not stopped in their complaints at this most units sacred principles would perpetuate its privileges happy and disastrous war; nor at those miseries to posterity. It was thus that the union became the which, in the unprepared state in, which it was rallying word against all discontents and jealousies, waged were its legitimate effects, But they comand that the people saw with apparent indifference, plain also of the war waged upon themselves, the power pass from the hands of those who loved, upon the very people whose blood and treasure are to those who dreaded the principles of Washington; to be wasted against the declared enemy of the nabeing assured it was to the constitution, and not to tion. They had hoped, from a view of the conduct hose who administered it,, that they were indebted of most nations at war, that the privations and misfor their multiplied blessings. But they soon saw, fortunes incident to such a state, would be compenthat the same compact which had raised them to sated by increased protection from their own governsuch an eminence of prosperty, might, in the hands ment; that, if the usual outlets of commerce were of its enemies reduce them to despondency and dis- shut, new ones would be opened; that the trade tress. A system, at first cautiously developed, and with neutral nations would be indulged and encougradually put in practice, but since boldly and ra- raged; that the means would be supplied them by pidly hastening, to its execution, has dissolved the a provident government to meet the exactions and fair fabric of their hope and expectations; and has contributions, necessary to defray an enormous and brought their minds to the melancholy conviction, continually increasing expense. Instead of this, they that with the best frame of government which the find that, in proportion as the demands of governworld ever saw, they and their children are doomed ment multiply, the means of complying with them to see and to feel abuses, privations and oppressions, are cut off, until their shore fishery and coasting which the worst governments have scarcely ever in- trade, the poor remnant which had been left them dicted without being overthrown. of their once flourishing commerce, are prohibited The memorialists have then enumerated the causes by an act more unfeeling and odious than the Boston which have brought them to this unhappy conviction. port bill, which roused the colonies into indepenThey have seen a power grow up in the southern and dence. western sections of the union; by the admission and This act is denounced by all the memorialists in multiplication of states, not contemplated by the the warmest and most energetic language, as a gross parties to the constitution, and not warranted by its and palpable violation of the principles of the conprinciples; and they forsee an almost infinite pro-stitution; and they express decidedly their opinion Fression in this system of creation, which threatens that it cannot be submitted to without a pusillanieventually to reduce the voice of New-England, once mous surrender of those rights and liberties which Bowerful and effectual in the national councils, to their ancestors brought to these shores, which they the feeble expression of colonial complaints, unat- fought and bled to maintain, and which, we, their tended to and disregarded, descendants, ought to be ready to defend at the same expense and hazard, or forfeit the character of freemen. They have seen this strange and spurious power become the mere organ of executive detrees, and reay to register every edict, which issues from the noWith such a display of grievances, sufferings and inal head of the republic, with as much alacrity apprehensions before them couched in terms of afas the obsequious parliaments of an unrestrained fecting eloquence, and breathing a spirit of firmness despot. They've seen at first an ill-concealed, but and resolution to procure by some means competent at last an open and undisguised jealousy of the relief, your committee cannot but be forcibly imyealth and power of the commercial states, opera- pressed. They believe in the existence of those ing in continual, efforts to embarrass and destroy grievances, and in the causes to which they have that commerce, which is their life and support. been ascribed. They believe that this war, so ferThey have seen this spirit exhibit itself, in fomenting tile in calamities, and so threatening in its conseand enlarging subjects of dispute actually arising quences, has been waged with the worst possible Between rival nations, especially in a state of almost views and carried on in the worst possible manner; universal war, in difficulties thrown in the way of forming a union of wickedness and weakness, which adjustment with the greatest commercial nation on defies for a parallel the annals of the world. We the globe; in deceptive pretences to conciliate; in believe also, that its worst effects are yet to come; the adoption of the system of exclusion, maintained that loan upon loan, tax upon tax, and exaction upby her great enemy, and in submitting to the nume-on exaction, must be imposed until the comforts of rous injuries and contumelies of that great enemy. the present and the hopes of the rising generation They have seen it also, in the various measures of are destroyed. An impoverished people, will be an restriction, practised towards our own people, in enslaved people. An army of sixty thousand men non-intercourse and non-importation acts, in an em- become veteran by the time the war is ended, may be bargo, apparently intended to be perpetual, and the instrument, as in former times, of destroying abandoned only when the distress of the people ma- even the forms of liberty; and will be as easy to Aifested itself in violence, against this self-destroying establish a president for life, by their arms, as it has system. But above all, they have seen in a war, which been for four years by intrigue. We tremble for the for its actual causes, circumstances and consequen-liberties of our country! We think it the duty of ces, cannot be paralleled in the history of any nation, the present generation to stand between the next which has not been given up to the councils of weak and despotism. and profigate rulers. The committee are of opinion that the late act The memorialists see in this deplorable descent laying an embargo is unconstitutional, and void in from national greatness, a determination to harrass divers of its provisions; not upon the narrow ground and annihilate that spirit of commerce, which has that the constitution has expressly prohibited suck ever been the handmaid of civil and religious liber-acts, but upon the more broad and liberal ground ty, and to break the free spirit of this people, by that the people never gave a power to congress to depriving them of their usual employments, and enact them. thus forcing the sons of commerce to populate and A direct prohibition would have weakened the nrich the western wilderness, for the benefit of those argument against them, because it would have indi cated an apprehension, that such power might be, hostility to the union, the result of oppression, usurped. which will eventually terminate in its downfal, than A power to regulate commerce is abused when for the wise and good, of those states, which deem employed to destroy it; and a manifest and volun- themselves oppressed, to assemble with delegated tary abuse of power sanctions the right of resistance, authority, and to propose, urge, and even insist upon as much as a direct and palpable usurpation. The such explicit declarations of power, or restriction, Sovereignty reserved to the states, was reserved to as will prevent the most hardy from any future protect the citizens from acts of violence by the attempts to oppress, under the color of the constiUnited States, as well as for purposes of domestic tution. This was the mode proposed by Mr. Madison regulation. We spurn the idea that the free, sove-in answer to objections made, as to the tendency of reign and independent state of Massachusetts is the general government, to usurp upon that of the reduced to a mere municipal corporation, without states. And though he at a former period led the power to protect its people, and to defend them from legislature of Virginia into an opposition, without oppression, from whatever quarter it comes. When any justifiable cause; yet it may be supposed that ever the national compact is violated, and the citi- he and all others who understand the principles of zens of this state are oppressed by cruel and unau- our concurrent sovereignty, will acknowledge the thorized law, this legislature is bound to interpose fitness and propriety of their asserting rights, which its power, and wrest from the oppressor his victim. no people can ever relinquish. This is the spirit of our union, and thus has it But although the committee are convinced of the been explained by the very man, who now sets at right, all think the legislature ought to vindicate it, defiance all the principles of his early political life. of acting in concert with other states, in order to The question, then, is not a question of power or produce a powerful, and if possible an irresistable right with this legislature, but of TIME AND EXPE- claim for such alterations, as will tend to preserve DIENCY. The committee have deemed it to be their the union, and restore violated privileges, yet they duty to stifle their feelings of indignation at the have considered that there are reasons which render strides of despotism, which are visible under the it inexpedient at the present moment to exercise this guise of liberty, and the forms of law, that they may power. Some of these reasons your committee dispassionately consider the various modes of relief, would suggest, that the memorialists may know which have been suggested by some, or all of the that their pressing appeals are not postponed from memorialists, and report to the legislature the result any insensibility to them on the part of the legisla of their deliberations. Three courses have been ture. The committee would here express their hope suggested by the memorialists. 1. That the legislature should remonstrate to Congress against the general course of its measures, and particularly against the embargo act. that the people of this commonwealth, injured and oppressed as they have been, will as far as possible restrain their feelings of indignation, and patiently wait for the effectual interposition of the state go 2. That laws should be passed, tending directly to vernment for their relief; and the committee doubt secure the citizens of this commonwealth in their not that the real friends of peace will continue conpersons, and property and rights; and providing scientiously to refrain from affording any voluntary punishments for all such as should violate them. aid or encouragement to this most disastrous war. 3. That delegates should immediately be appointed The committee entertain no doubt that the senti by the legislature to meet delegates from such other ments and feelings expressed in the numerous me states as shall elect any, for the purpose of devising morials and remonstrances, which have been comproper measures to procure the united efforts of the mitted to them, are the genuine voice of a vast ma commercial states, to obtain such amendments or jority of the citizens of this commonwealth. But explanations of the constitution, as will secure them the representatives who are soon to be returned for from future evils. the next general court, will come from the people, With respect to the first, the committee cannot still more fully possessed of their views and wishes recommend it. as to the all-important subject of obtaining by fur It has been again and again resorted to, and with ther compact engrafted into the present constitution, no other effect than to increase the evils complained a permanent security against future abuses of power; of; and to subject to unjust reproaches and insinu- and of seeking effectual redress for the grievances ations, a body, which ought never to be a suppliant and oppressions now endured. They will also asto any power on earth. semble, better acquainted with the wishes and disWith respect to the second, as far as it relates to position of other states, suffering alike with this, to acts of violence in the seizure of persons and property act in co-operation for these essential objects. In on land, without the formalities required by the con- addition to this, some among our constituents institution of this state, we believe that the provisions dulge a hope of success from the negociation reof our state and national constitutions, as well as the cently entered into for the professed purpose of regreat principles of the common law are so plain, storing peace to our distracted and divided country. that no act of the legislature can afford any addi- Ardently desiring peace, they are disposed to altional security. And as to the prohibition of our low the government some time longer to prove its fisheries and coasting trade, the committee cannot, sincerity, and to retrace its steps; but the commitat this distressing juncture, recommend a remedy tee are constrained to say, that for themselves they to be relied on so inadequate as would be afforded can have no belief that peace is approaching. They by the enaction of penal laws. do not see it in the vast armaments which are prepar On the subject of a convention, the committee ing, the vast expence accruing, the demands for observe, that they entertain no doubt of the right of Canada made in one quarter, and for Florida in anothe legislature to invite other states to a convention, ther. They do not see it in the late appointment of and to join it themselves, for the great purposes of envoys, one of whom was the most prominent author consulting for the general good, and of procuring and adviser of the war, and the other a submissive amendments to the constitution, whenever they find agent in producing it. They do not see it in the that the practical construction given to it by the more recent addition of a man to the mission who rulers, for the time being, is contrary to its true was supposed to be the secret controler of the formspirit and injurious to their immediate constituents. er mission, and vested with powers to impede its We know of no surer or better way to prevent that pacific course. But above all the committee are in |