HARTFORD CONVENTION, in the political history of the United States, was an assemblage of delegates from the New England states, at Hartford, Conn., Dee. 15, 1814. This convention was 'proposed by the Massachusetts .legislature, which appointed delegates from that state. The government of the United States, under time presidency of Mr. Madison, declared war against Great Britain in 1812, for injuries to commerce growing out .4 the war with France, and the impressment of American seamen by British men-of-war. Of the two American political parties, the democratic favored France, while the federalists took the part of England. As the war destroyed commerce and the fisheries, the chief interests of New England, which was also federalist in politics, there was a violent opposition. The governors of these states would not allow the militia to leave them, and complained that while their people were taken by conscriptions, their own coasts were left undefended. The ostensible object
of the convention was to devise means of security and 'defense. George Cabot of Massachusetts was elected president, and Theodore Dwight of Connecticut, secretary. It sat 20 days with closed doors, and as it was supposed to be of a treasonable character, it was watched by a military officer of the government. The convention, at rising, proposed certain amendments to the constitution—free population as the basis of repre sentation, a single term for the presidency, to exclude foreigners from office, to limit embargoes to 60 days, and to require a two-thirds vote of congress to admit new states, make war. etc. Though no treasonable act was committed, and no treasonable intention proved, the federalist party, never recovered from the odium of its opposition to the government, and " Hartford Convgntion Federalist " has been to this day a term of reproach.