1815_Hartford Convention U.S. History Resources

JANUARY 1815 Report and Resolutions of the Hartford Convention

As we have seen, it was the Federalists who were most strongly opposed to Jefferson's original embargo and the that followed it. In December of 1814, delegates from the New England states met in Hartford to forge a regional plan of opposition to the war. Though there were some who called for New England's from the Union, the moderates prevailed. Their final report only hints at secession, though it does recommend a series of seven amendments to the Constitution to protect New England from what residents believed were attacks on its sovereignty and prosperity.

THEREFORE RESOLVED— and conformable to their constitutions, and to That it be and hereby is recommended to the cause the same to be well armed, equipped and legislatures of the several states represented in disciplined, and held in readiness for service; this Convention, to adopt all such measures as and upon the request of the governor of either may be necessary effectually to protect the of the other states to employ the whole of such citizens of said states from the operation and detachment or corps, as well as the regular effects of all acts which have been or may be forces of the state, or such part thereof as may passed by the Congress of the United States, be required and can be spared consistently which shall contain provisions, subjecting the with the safety of the state, in assisting the militia or other citizens to forcible drafts, state, making such request to repel any conscriptions, or impressments, not authorised invasion thereof which shall be made or by the constitution of the United States. attempted by the public enemy.

Resolved, That it be and hereby is rec- Resolved, That the following amendments of ommended to the said Legislatures, to au- the constitution of the United States be thorize an immediate and earnest application recommended to the states represented as to be made to the government of the United aforesaid, to be proposed by them for adoption States, requesting their consent to some by the state legislatures, and in such cases as arrangement, whereby the said states may, may be deemed expedient by a convention separately or in concert, be empowered to chosen by the people of each state.... assume upon themselves the defence of their territory against the enemy; and a reasonable First. Representatives and direct taxes shall be portion of the taxes, collected within said apportioned among the several states which states, may be paid into the respective may be included within this Union, according treasuries thereof, and appropriated to the to their respective numbers of free persons, payment of the balance due said states, and to including those bound to serve for a term of the future defence of the same. The amount so years, and excluding Indians not taxed, and all paid into the said treasuries to be credited, and other persons. the disbursements made as aforesaid to be charged to the United States. Second. No new state shall be admitted into the Union by Congress, in virtue of the power Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, granted by the constitution, without the recommended to the legislatures of the concurrence of two thirds of both houses. aforesaid states, to pass laws (where it has not already been done) authorizing the governors Third. Congress shall not have power to lay or commanders-in-chief of their militia to any embargo on the ships or vessels of the make detachments from the same, or to form citizens of the United States, in the ports or voluntary corps, as shall be most convenient

1 1815_Hartford Convention U.S. History Resources harbours thereof, for more than sixty days. Seventh. The same person shall not be elected president of the United States a second time; Fourth. Congress shall not have power, nor shall the President be elected from the without the concurrence of two thirds of both same state two terms in succession. houses, to interdict the commercial intercourse between the United States and any foreign Resolved, That if the application of these states nation or the dependencies thereof. to the government of the United States, recommended in a foregoing resolution, Fifth. Congress shall not make or declare war, should be unsuccessful and peace should not or authorize acts of hostility against any be concluded, and the defence of these states foreign nation, without the concurrence of two should be neglected, as it has been since the thirds of both houses, except such acts of commencement of the war, it will, in the hostility be in defence of the territories of the opinion of this convention, be expedient for United States when actually invaded. the legislatures of the several states to appoint delegates to another convention, to meet at Sixth. No person who shall hereafter be ... with such powers and instructions as naturalized, shall be eligible as a member of the exigency of a crisis so momentous may the senate or house of representatives of the require. United States, nor capable of holding any civil office under the authority of the United States.

QUESTIONS

1. What do you think would have happened to the nation and its government had the recommendations of the Hartford Convention been adopted? 2. Explain how each of the seven proposed amendments would have benefited New England and protected it from what residents believed to be the growing influence of the South and the West.

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