Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/29

 HAYNE would have cordially united in its support. Sir, the war effected in its progress a union of all parties at the South. But not so in New Eng- land; there, great efforts were made to stir up the minds of the people to oppose it. Nothing was left undone to embarrass the financial oper- ations of the government, to prevent the enlist- ment of troops, to keep back the men and money of New England from the service of the Union — to force the president from his seat. Yes, sir, **the island of Elba! or a halter!" were the alternatives they presented to the ex- cellent and venerable James Madison. Sir, the war was further opposed by openly carrying on illicit trade with the enemy, by per- mitting that enemy to establish herself on the very soil of Massachusetts, and by opening a free trade between Great Britain and Amer- ica with a separate custom-house. Yes, sir, those who can not endure the thought that we should insist on a free trade in time of pro- found peace, could without scruple claim and exercise the right of carrying on a free trade with the enemy in a time of war; and finally, by getting up the renowned ''Hartford Conven- tion, ' ' ^ and preparing the way for an open re- sistance to the government, and a separation of the States. Sir, if I am asked for the proof of those things I fearlessly appeal to contemporary history, to the public documents of the country, 1 Its sessions, held in secret, lasted from December 15, 3814, until January 5, 1815. 19