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Show .-30- Conneotiout almost measured up to the example set by Pennsylvania, in opposing the federal embargo on. ocean commerce intended to ward off the impending second war with Great Britain; and in this action the other New England States concurred.71 command of General Bright, which had been called out by Governor Snyder, Feb- ruary 27, 1809. After the United States Marshal had summoned a posse of 2000 men to his aid, bloodshed was averted-by a ruse. The General,and his associates were afterward convicted in a federal court of obstructing federal process, were sentenced to fine and imprisonment, but pardoned by the President of the United States. The Pennsylvania Legislature, after warmly commending Governor Snyder, did resolves "That, as a member of the Federal Union, the Legislature of Penn- sylvania acknowledges the supremacy, and will cheerfully submit to the authority of the general government, as far as that authority is delegated by the consti- tution of the United States. But, whilst they yield toinis authority, when exer- cised within constitutional limits, they trust they will not be considered as acting hostile to the General Government, when, as guardians of State rights, they cannot permit an infringement of those rights, by an unconstitutional exer- cise of power in the United States1 courts0" Ames, State Documents, k5~hl• (Italics added.) 71 ¦¦¦¦'• The northern States indicated their attitude upon the powers of the federal government when Congress passed the Embargo Act of December 22, 1807, 2 Stat* at Lo I4.5I• The legislature of Massachusetts, after much discussion, resolved that the Embargo Act was ". . • in many respects, unjust, oppressive and unconsti- tutional,- and not legally binding on the citizens of this state." It was di- rected by the same resolution that a copy be sent "• . - to the legislatures of such of our sister states as manifest a disposition to concur with us in measures to rescue our common country from impending ruin, and to preserve inviolate the union of the states." Ames, State Documents, 35* (Italics added.) Delaware declared the Embargo Act to be ". . • an invasion of the liberty of the people and the constitutional sovereignty of the State governments." Ames, State Documents, 37. The Governor of Connecticut (Jonathan Trumbull) declined to lend aid in the enforcement of the Embargo Act, which executive action the legislature warmly approved with a declaration "That to preserve the Union, and support the constitution of the United States, it becomes the duty of the Legislatures of the States, in such a crisis of affairs j, vigilantly .to watch over, and vigor- ously to maintain, the powers not delegated to the United States, but reserved to the States respectively, or to ^the people; and .that a due regard to this duty, will not permit this Assembly to assist, or concur in giving effect to the afore- said unconstitutional act, passed to enforce the Embargo." Ames, State Docu- ments, I4.I. o - ¦ ' Rhode Island, oy its legislature, declared; "That the people of this State, as one of* the parties to the Federal compact, have a right to express their sense of any violation of its provisions and that it is the duty of this General Assembly as the organ of their sentiments and the depository of their authority, to interpose for the purpose of protecting them from ruinous inflictions of usurped a^id unconstitutional • power." . Ames, State Documentss I4I4.. Other States were equally rhetorical in protesting decisions of the Supreme Court not relating to waters or navigation. In passing, it may be noted that the legislature of Georgia had thoughfully provided ". . • death by hanging without tfcie benefit of clergy" for any United States Marshal attempting to satisfy ttie judgment of the Supreme Court in Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 Dall* (U.S.) |