Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/504

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490 HARTFORD CONVENTION HARTLEY ed out, however, the dangers impending over New England from the alleged usurpations of the general government and from the foreign enemy. In the power over the militia claimed for the general government ; in the filling up of the ranks of the regular army by conscription ; in authorizing the enlistment of minors without the consent of their parents or guardians, thus invalidating contracts, the report maintained that the federal constitution had been disre- garded in a way that demanded from the indi- vidual states firm and decided opposition. The convention recommended to the legislatures of the states for which it spoke the adoption of such measures as might be necessary effectu- ally to protect their citizens from the operation of the acts passed by congress containing provi- sions subjecting the militia and other persons to forcible drafts, conscriptions, or impress- ments not authorized by the constitution of the United States. It recommended also an immediate application to the federal govern- ment by the New England states for author- ity to combine their forces for their defence against the British, and to appropriate for the same purpose a reasonable amount of the taxes levied upon them. Finally, it proposed sev- eral amendments to the federal constitution, among which were : basing representation on free population; making the president in- eligible for a second term; disqualifying per- sons of foreign birth to hold office; limiting embargoes to 60 days ; requiring a two-thirds vote in congress to admit new states, to inter- dict commercial intercourse, to declare war, or to authorize hostilities, except in cases of inva- sion. These questions had arisen during the hostilities with Great Britain, and the news of the negotiation of the treaty of peace at Ghent, which arrived soon after the adjournment of the convention, put a practical stop to their discussion. Congress, however, which was then in session, settled some of them by an act regulating the employment of state troops by the federal government in a satisfactory manner. The holding of the Hartford con- vention and its supposed treasonable designs caused a great outcry from the democratic party, and excited much alarm and apprehen- sion at Washington. The government station- ed Major Jessup, a Kentucky officer of distinc- tion, at Hartford with a regiment of troops to repress any sudden outbreak; but after the most careful investigation, this officer reported to his superiors at Washington that the con- ventipn would confine itself to complaints, re- monstrances, and an address to the people, and that there was no reason to apprehend any treasonable action. The state depart- ment, however, had a correspondent who pre- tended to be in the confidence of the late Brit- ish consul at Boston, and to have learned from him or from his papers the existence of a com- mittee of New England royalists, who intend- ed to establish the kingdom of New England with the duke of Kent as its sovereign. The chief clerk of the state department was sent to Boston to investigate this matter, but could discover no trace of the pretended committee. The imputation of treasonable designs to the Hartford convention continued until a recent period, and resulted in excluding from po- litical power in the nation almost every man implicated in its doings. It was also one of the chief causes which destroyed the federal party. It is now, however, almost universally conceded that the Hartford convention was guiltless of any designs which could justly be considered treasonable. See " History of the Hartford Convention," by Theodore D wight (Boston, 1833). HARTLEPOOL, a town, parliamentary borough, and seaport of Durham, England, on a small peninsula N. of the estuary of the Tees, 17 m. S. E. of Durham, with which it is connected by railway; pop. in 1871, 39,969. The penin- sula or headland, on which stands the old town, partially encloses a fine harbor which is safe and easy of access. The newer portion of the town, called West Hartlepool, is on the oppo- site or S. side of the harbor, which is about a mile wide. The old town was rechartered in 1850, and has since been greatly improved. It contains three churches, including the ancient parish church of St. Hilda, and three dissent- ing chapels, a fine new borough hall, a large market, a mechanics' institute, a theatre, and water works. There are iron mills, puddling furnaces, founderies, ship yards, and breweries ; the fisheries are considerable ; and there is a large commerce, principally in exporting coal and importing timber. West Hartlepool, which owes its existence to its fine docks, has wholly grown up since the first one was constructed, in 1847. It is well paved, lighted with gas, has large water works, and contains six church- es and chapels, a theatre, town hall, mechanics' institute, and market house. There are large ship yards, founderies, locomotive works, saw mills, and brick yards, and 76 acres of dockage and three miles of quays. The harbor is de- fended by fortifications and has two light- houses. The parliamentary borough, consti- tuted in 1867, is called the Hartlepools. HARTLEY. I. David, an English philosopher, born in Armley, Yorkshire, Aug. 30, 1705, died in Bath, Aug. 25, 1757. He was edu- cated at Jesus college, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow, was destined to the church, but had scruples about subscribing the XXXIX. articles, and therefore studied medicine, which he practised with success at London, Bath, and other places. All records agree in extolling his personal character. His society was sought by the most distinguished literary men of his time. At the age of 25 he began the composi- tion of his great work, "Observations on Man, his Frame, his Duty, and his Expectations," which was published after a labor of 18 years (2 vols., London, l748-'9). His theory of sensa- tion, grounded on an anatomical inspection of the nervous system, is historically curious as