Page:Papers of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, v9.djvu/28

14 Here was the same error on which Jefferson Davis founded his first inaugural message to the Confederate Congress in 1862.

In the call of Massachusetts for the Convention, as issued, the objects proposed were to deliberate on the dangers to which the Eastern section of the Union was exposed by the war; to devise, if practicable, means of security and defence, "not repugnant to their obligations as members of the Union," and to inquire whether the Constitution of the "nation" could not be improved by amendments on the initiative of these States, or through a new Constitutional Convention, either of all the States, as provided by the Constitution, or, if that mode of proceeding should be deemed impracticable, of such as should approve of holding it. That to secure such a convention as the Constitution provides for would be impracticable was the opinion of the committee on whose report the resolution was adopted.

Both the resolution and the call were promptly referred by the General Assembly of Connecticut to a special committee. Its report was drafted by Roger Minott Sherman (though not the chairman) and recommended that Connecticut send delegates, as requested. The paper was moderate in tone. Connecticut has never been inclined to move in the field either of law or philosophy as rapidly or as uncompromisingly as Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts delegates to the Hartford Convention were appointed by the terms of the resolution to "confer with delegates from the other New England States, or any other, upon the subject of their public grievances and concerns; and upon the best means of preserving our resources; and of defence against the enemy; and to devise and suggest for adoption by those respective States such measures as they may deem expedient; and also to take measures, if they shall think it proper, for procuring a convention of delegates from all the United States in order to revise the Constitution thereof, and more effectually to secure the support and attachment of all the people, by placing all upon the basis of fair representation."