Excerpt

THE Delegates from the Legislatures of the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode-Island, and from the Counties of Grafton and Cheshire in the State of New Hampshire and the county of Windham in the State of Vermont, assembled in Convention, beg leave to report the following result of their conference.;

THE Convention is deeply impressed with a sense of the arduous nature of the commission which they were appointed to execute, of devising the means of defence against dangers, and of relief from oppressions proceeding from the act of their own Government, without violating constitutional principles, or disappointing the hopes of a suffering and injured people . . . But when abuses, reduced to system and accumulated through a course of years, have pervaded every department of Government, and spread corruption through every region of the State; when these are clothed with the forms of law, and enforced by an Executive whose will is their source, no summary means of relief can be applied without recourse to direct and open resistance. This experiment, even when justifiable, cannot fail to be painful to the good citizen; and the success of the effort will be no security against the danger of the example . . . Necessity alone can sanction a resort to this measure; and it should never be extended in duration or degree beyond the exigency, until the people, not merely in the fervour of sudden excitement, but after full deliberation, are determined to change the Constitution.

It is a truth not to be concealed, that a sentiment prevails to no inconsiderable extent, that [the Madison] Administration have given such constructions to that instrument, and practised so many abuses under colour of its authority, that the time for a change is at hand . . .

The Constitution of the United States, under the auspices of a wise and virtuous Administration, proved itself competent to all the objects of national prosperity, comprehended in the views of its framers. No parallel can be found in history, of a transition so rapid as that of the United States from the lowest depression to the highest felicity—from the condition of weak and disjointed republicks, to that of a great, united, and prosperous nation.

Although this high state of publick happiness has undergone a miserable and afflicting reverse, through the prevalence of a weak and profligate policy, yet the, evils and afflictions which have thus been induced upon the country, are not peculiar to any form of Government. The lust and caprice of power, the corruption of patronage, the oppression of the weaker interests of the community by the stronger, heavy taxes, wasteful expenditures, and unjust and ruinous wars, are the natural offspring of bad Administrations . . . The fierce passions which have convulsed the nations of Europe, have passed the Ocean, and finding their way to the bosoms of our citizens, have afforded to Administration the means of perverting publick opinion . . . and the increase of their adherents.

. . . Finally, if the Union be destined to dissolution, by reason of the multiplied abuses of bad administrations, it should, if possible, be the work of peaceable times, and deliberate consent.—Some new form of confederacy should be substituted among those States, which shall intend to maintain a federal relation to each other.—Events may prove that the causes of our calamities are deep and permanent. They may be found to proceed, not merely from the blindness of prejudice, pride of opinion, violence of party spirit, or the confusion of the times; but they may be traced to implacable combinations of individuals, or of States, to monopolize power and office, and to trample without remorse upon the rights and interests of commercial sections of the Union . . .

Under these impressions, the Convention have proceeded to confer and deliberate upon the alarming state of publick affairs, especially as affecting the interests of the people who have appointed them for this purpose, . . .

The power of compelling the militia and other citizens of the United States, by a forcible draft or conscription to serve in the regular armies, as proposed in a late official letter of the Secretary of War, is not delegated to Congress by the Constitution, and the exercise of it would be not less dangerous to their liberties, than hostile to the sovereignty of the States . . . and nothing more can be wanting to a Government, possessing the power thus claimed, to enable it to usurp the entire control of the militia . . . and to convert it by impressment into a standing army.

. . . The law authorizing the enlistment of minors and apprentices into the armies of the United States, without the consent of parents and guardians, is also repugnant to the spirit of the Constitution . . . It impairs the salutary control and influence of the parent over his child—the master over his servant—the guardian over his ward—and thus destroys the most important relations in society, so that . . . the power of the Executive over all the effective male population of the United States is made complete.

. . . THEREFORE RESOLVED—

THAT it be and hereby is recommended to the Legislatures of the several States represented in this Convention, to adopt all such measures as may be necessary effectually to protect the citizens of said States from the operation and effects of all acts which have been or may be passed by the Congress of the United States . . .

Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the said Legislatures, to authorize an immediate and earnest application to be made of the Government of the United States, . . . whereby the said States may, separately or in Concert, be empowered to assume upon themselves the defence of their territory . . .

Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is, recommended to the Legislatures of the aforesaid States, to pass laws . . . authorizing the Governours or Commanders in Chief of their militia to make detachments . . . and to cause the same to be well armed, equipped and disciplined, and held in readiness . . .

Resolved, That the following amendments of the Constitution of the United States, be recommended to the States represented as aforesaid, to be proposed by them for adoption by the State Legislatures . . .

Review:

1. Why are the Federalists writing this arguing to abolish the Constitution? What reasons are given for not taking this course?

2. How does this document ensure the ability of individual states to assert their interests? What interests to they feel are violated?

3. How does this limit the power and influence of the office of the president?