Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/34

 22 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Says the Federal Republican: " One step more and the union of these States is severed "

All this was a matter of general notoriety at the time.

Thomas Jefferson writes to Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts: "What, then, does this English faction with you mean? They count on British aid. They would separate from their friends, who alone furnish employments for their navigation, to unite with their only rival for that employment."

A great deal of mouthy patriotism for the Union has emanated from New England for many years past, and their genuine enthu- siasm for "The Old Flag and an Appropriation" has never been doubted; but how Crin they explain away the fact that they were on the point of betraying their country and deserting to the enemy in 1814?

NEW ENGLAND'S SPIRIT.

We must turn for a time from the political to the military history of the war of 1812, which is interwoven with and illustrates the po- litical status of the times and the temper of New England.

Massachusetts and Connecticut refused to furnish troops to fight the battles of the Union, while the troops of New York refused to leave the State and follow their generals to the invasion of the ene- my's country, Canada.

Governor Chittenden, of Vermont, issued his proclamation re- calling the Vermont militia from serving against the British. In the Massachusetts Senate resolutions were introduced expressing the readiness of Massachusetts to aid with her whole power the Governor of Vermont, who deservedly was threatened with prose- cution for having held back the troops which his country needed in time of war.

"The Legislature of Massachusetts forbade the use of the jails to confine British prisoners of war and ordered the jailors to re- lease them."

It may be noted that while New England refused to furnish troops, and the rest of the North was lukewarm, the South Caro- lina generals, Wade Hampton, the grandfather of our own immor- tal Hampton, and General Ralph Izard were battling on the Cana- dian frontier, a thousand miles from their State, to protect the homes of New York and New England, the apathy of whose men, however, made the efforts of the South Carolina generals almost unavailing.