during the American war of independence. That the United States was on
the very verge of destruction is evident from the fact that during the
continuance of the war, the general government of the United States and
the States governments were at variance. There was an apprehension that
the affairs of the general government were mismanaged, and, to many, it
appeared that a crisis was forming, which, unless seasonably provided
against, would involve the country in ruin. That apprehension
particularly prevailed throughout New England. Indeed, Massachusetts
proposed that measures should be taken for procuring a convention of
delegates from all the United States to revise the constitution, and
more effectually to secure the support and attachment of all the
people, by placing all upon the basis of fair representation. Such a
convention actually did meet at Hartford. After a session of three
weeks, a report in which several alterations of the federal
constitution were suggested, was adopted. Representatives and direct
taxes were to be apportioned to the number of free persons; no new
State was to be admitted into the Union without the concurrence of
two-thirds of both houses; Congress was not to have the power of laying
an embargo for more than sixty days; Congress was not to interdict
commercial intercourse, without the concurrence of two-thirds of both
houses; war was not to be declared without the concurrence of a similar
majority; no person to be thereafter naturalised was to be eligible as
a member of the Senate or House of Representatives, or hold any civil
office under the authority of the United States; and no person was to
be twice elected to the presidency, nor was the President to be elected
from the same State two terms in succession. The report was a direct
censure of the government, who with the alliance of France only
contemplated to annex Canada to the United States. It was so
understood. The Hartford convention was looked upon by the democrats of
the Union as a treasonable combination of ambitious individuals, who
sought to sever the Union, and were only prevented from doing so by the
somewhat unexpected conclusion of peace, which disembarrassed the
administration, and swept away all grounds upon which to prosecute
their designs. But the positive truth was that the public mind was
excited to a pitch bordering on insurrection by the situation of the
country. The war had been singularly disastrous; the recruiting