Link to Online Textbook Link to the Boisterous Sea of Liberty Link to Historic Court Cases Link to Historic Newspapers Link to Landmark Documents Link to Classroom Handouts Link to Lesson Plans Link to Resource Guides ink to E-lectures Link to Film Trailers Link to Flash Movies Link to Multimedia Exhibits Link to Ethnic America Link to Materials for Teachers Link to eXplorations Link to Learning Modules Link to Interactive Timeline Link to Games Database Link to A House Divided Link to America's Reconstruction Link to Virtual Exhibitions Link to Current Controversies Link to Ethnic America Link to Film and History Link to Historiography Link to Private Life Link to Science and Technology Link to the Reference Room Link to Writing Guides Link to Biographies Link to Book Talks Link to Chronologies Link to the Encyclopedia Link to Glossaries Link to the History Profession Link to Historical Images Link to Historical Maps Link to eXplorations Link to Do History through... Link to Multimedia Link to Historical Music Link to Museums & Archives Link to Historic Music Link to Historic Speeches Link to Historical Websites Link to Social History section

 
Back to documents list

Here is the full entry for your selection:

Gilder Lehrman Document Number:  GLC 5280

Title:  James Monroe to an unknown recipient

Author: James  Monroe

Year: 1815

Type of document:  letter

Quotation:  "The proceedings at Hartford have excited much anxiety"

Annotation: 

Many Federalists believed that the War of 1812 was fought to aid Napoleon in his struggle against Britain. Some opposed the war by refusing to pay taxes, boycotting war loans, and refusing to furnish troops. In December 1814, delegates from New England gathered in Hartford, Connecticut, where they recommended a series of constitutional amendments to restrict Congress' power to wage war, regulate commerce, and admit new states. The delegates also supported a one-term presidency (to break the grip of Virginians on the office) and abolition of the Three-Fifths Compromise, and talked of seceding if they did not get their way. In this message, Madison's Secretary of State, James Monroe, expresses concern over the Hartford Convention and fear that New England Federalists might seize the federal armory at Springfield, Massachusetts.

Full Text:  

Confidential

...The proceedings at Hartford have excited much anxiety, as likely to embarrass the measures of the Government, and by the countenance they have afforded the enemy to prolong the war, if they should not lead into worse consequences. General Swartout has been authorised to take measures, in case they should be necessary, for the security of the arms at Springfield [Massachusetts].... I trust that any evil which may be contemplated, however great, will be defeated.

 

This site was updated on 07-Jun-11.

Link to Ask the Hyperhistorian Link to Send Us Comments Link to Search & Site Map