Read this address attentively, and you will be struck with the idea that no grievance is mentioned——­not a single evil is pointed out—–­indeed the Convention declare that they must be “excused a detail of the numerous wrongs which have arrived to us under this Government”——­these are their words—–­they are excused indeed—–­yes, they are excused from not polluting their address with falsehoods in this particular—–­full well they knew that no such wrongs existed——­full well they anticipated that a certain detection would follow any such attempt at imposition.  The leaders in this Convention knew full well that there is intelligence enough in Connecticut to meet them on any complaint, and to shew that it is groundless.  They, therefore, prudently decline to be explicit, and yielding to us that the Government is now well administered, they shew a great anxiety for the safety of the “next generation.”  What an astonishing display of philanthropy!!  Bishop and Wolcott are not at ease in their hearts while there is a prospect that even the generations which succeed us, will experience a woe!!

After many remarks directed to the passions, without proposing in specific terms a single provision of their newly projected Constitution, without laying their finger upon a single grievance, without urging a single argument tending to shew that a Constitution does not exist, the address unmakes itself—–­it unmasks the Convention—–­it unmasks these patriotic Delegates, and discovers the true cause of this Jacobinic meeting.  Towards the close of it, speaking of the people, it says, “By their votes will be known their decision.  If a Constitution appears desirable, they will vote for men who are in favor of it.”  Here the Convention speak which all may understand—–­but lest they had not made themselves sufficiently intelligible, they add, “We ask men of all parties to attend punctually at proxies and to continue a contest of votes till the great question whether this state shall have a Constitution be settled finally and forever.”  Now, the plain English of these sentences is this “We who are here assembled in Convention wish the people of Connecticut to vote for such men, in future, for office, as are in favor of a new Constitution—–­we have already declared that we are in favor of such a Constitution—–­pray therefore vote for us and continue” the context “till we succeed and then”—–­yes—–­my fellow-citizens, and then, what will they do?  Why laugh at your folly—–­take all the offices and leave you to take care of yourselves.  If such would not be their conduct then the sun will no more rise in the east.

Gentlemen of the convention pray cease your pretensions to promotion till the people discover your merit.  If you are honest, great and wise you will certainly be noticed and promoted—­if you are pygmy politicians, the mushroom growth of an hour, dressed only with the little brief authority of self created delegates to a self created convention to aggrandise yourselves, then probably you will live with little further notice, and it will only be said hereafter of you that you belonged to an assembly convened at New-Haven on the 29th of August 1804, which sprang up in a day, chose major Judd chairman; and like “Jonah’s Gourd withered in a day.”