Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

364 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
uot bound to march in obedience to any authority outside the State,
nor could it be sent by the State outside tlie Territories of the United
States. George Bliss headed the committee which drew up this peti-
tion to the President. In May, 1813, the representatives were
directed to use their influence in favor of a restoration of peace, as
the " people of the Commercial States have no Interest in contending
for the principle that our Flag shall protect British subjects to the
exclusion and injury of our native seamen."
Springfield thus had thrown her lot against the war part3% and
when Gov. Caleb Strong and the Legislature were looking over the
field of western Massachusetts for the best men to represent this
section at the famous Hartford convention, George Bliss, of Spring-
field, was immediately selected. The record of the Blisses upon this
question was all that a federalist governor could have wished. In
August, 1814, when a British fleet was discovered off the New England
coast, and a call for troops had immediateh^ followed. Gen. Jacob
Bliss, of Springfield, started with the old Hampshire militia brigade,
having upon his staff Master George's son George, who served with
the rank of captain. Governor Strong and Law3'er Bliss had l)een
often pitted against each other at the bar, and the}' were both, of
course, stalwart federalists.
We have not to do here with the })roceedings of the secret conven-
tion held in the council chamber of the State-house at Hartford at the
close of the year 1814. We know that " Master " George's son,
having returned from Boston with the troops, drove his father from
Springfield down to Hartford in a chaise to that convention. Mr.
Bliss served upon several important committees, and in a volvime
printed some years later by Theodore Dwight, secretary of the con-
vention, the author took occasion to refer to George Bliss as a lawyer
of extensive learning and " most unshaken independence, both of
principle and conduct." He also said: "No man ever passed
through life with a fairer reputation for integrity, or in a more entire
possession of the confidence of the conmiunity in which he resided."