USA > Connecticut > Connecticut as a colony and as a state; or, One of the original thirteen, Volume II > Part 18
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Among the contributions to the literature of the eighteenth century were Reverend Ezra Stiles's "The United States ele- vated to Glory," in 1783, and some ten years later "The His- tory of the Judges of Charles II." Dr. Stiles left in manu- script forty-five bound volumes of diaries and writings, which are in Yale College Library.
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There were other poetasters and versifiers in the State, whose compositions were published before the close of the. eighteenth century, but their reputation was only local.
To encourage the literary aspirations of her citizens, the Connecticut legislature in 1783 granted a copyright to the author of any book or pamphlet, for fourteen years with a renewal for the same length of time.
The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences was in- corporated in 1799 by Theodore Dwight and others; the membership was limited to two hundred residents of the State.
With this number of poets and men of letters, Connecticut in the eighteenth century produced but one artist. John Trumbull, the youngest son of Governor Jonathan Trumbull, was born at Lebanon June 6, 1756. While at Harvard he studied books on drawing and painting, and copied some of the old masters. He graduated at seventeen, and his father desired him to become a clergyman, but he resolved to devote his life to art. The breaking out of the Revolution caused him to exchange his pencil for a sword; in the summer of 1775 we find him adjutant of the First Connecticut Regi- ment, stationed at Roxbury, Massachusetts. At the request of Washington he made a drawing of the enemy's fortifi- cations, which so pleased the commander-in-chief that he appointed him an aide-de-camp. He was commissioned major, and on being attached to the northern department of the army, was raised to the rank of colonel. There was some delay of Congress in forwarding his commission, which not being dated to suit Colonel Trumbull, he resigned. On abandoning his military career, he located at Boston, and resumed his art studies. In 1780 he sailed for London to place himself under the tuition of Benjamin West; he was
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arrested as a rebel and thrown into prison, charged with trea- son. He was confined eight months, and then released on bail upon consenting to leave the country. His first original pic- ture, "The Battle of Canna," was completed soon after leav- ing college. After the conclusion of peace in November 1783, he returned to England to continue his studies under West. In 1785 he produced his picture of "Priam bearing back to his palace the body of Hector." The praise it won encouraged him to formulate a plan for a series of historical paintings, of the representative events in the American Revo- lution. The following year he painted his "Battle of Bunker Hill" and "The Death of Montgomery." He produced in 1787 "The Sortie of the Garrison at Gibraltar," for which he received $2,500. Trumbull returned to America in 1789, and painted portraits of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, also heads for his famous rotunda pictures at the National Capital. He was appointed private secretary to John Jay, and returned to England. He afterwards went to Paris and engaged in commerce. For eight years he was a special commissioner to carry out certain specifications in Jay's treaty with Great Britain. He returned to New York in 1804 and resumed his career as an artist, but receiving no encouragement, he sailed for England, where he remained until 1815. Locating in New York the following year, he was commissioned by the United States government to paint "The Signers of the Declaration of Independence," "The Surrender of Burgoyne," "The Surrender of Cornwallis," and "Washington's Surrender of his Commission," which employed him for seven years. He was one of the founders of the American Academy of Fine Arts, and served as its president for nine years. Being unable to dispose of most of his paintings at private sale, he presented them to Yale Col-
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lege, the trustees agreeing to pay him an annuity of $1,000. This collection consisted of fifty-seven pictures, and was named Trumbull Gallery. His autobiography was published in 1841. His death occurred at New York City, Nov. 10, 1843.
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CHAPTER XXI FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND END OF THE CENTURY
T HE Federalist party, for the first few years after the organization of the new government, was not properly a party, but a union of nearly all the intellect and business of the country against anarchy and consequent busi- ness demoralization. The only approach to it in American history since is the union of both parties in the East against the free-silver danger of 1896. Once the worst of the peril was over, parties resumed their natural division; of those who dreaded mob ignorance and shiftiness above all things, and those who dreaded class selfishness above all things. This was fairly accomplished by 1793, and Federalists stood arrayed against Republicans, soon to become Democratic- Republicans; even in 1792 the process was in clear evidence. But Washington was the only possible presidential candidate with both parties, and was unanimously chosen by the electors. John Adams, having the next largest number of votes, became Vice-President.
The second Electoral College of Connecticut consisted of nine members: Samuel Huntington, John Davenport, Jr., Oliver Wolcott, Thomas Grosvenor, David Austin, Elijah Hubbard, Thomas Seymour, Sylvester Gilbert, and Marvin Wait. Their ballots were cast for the Federalist nominees.
During the second Congress the House of Representatives was presided over by Jonathan Trumbull, whose election to the Speaker's chair was a deserved honor, conferred on him and the State he represented. He continued to hold the posi- tion until he was transferred in 1795 to a seat in the United States Senate.
On the resignation of the first Secretary of the United States Treasury in the early part of 1795, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., who had been auditor of the Treasury ever since its
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organization, was promoted to fill the vacancy. On the 14th of March, 1796, the President sent to the Senate the name of Oliver Ellsworth for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The nomination was immediately confirmed, and Ellsworth was invested with the judicial robes of the court which he was so largely instrumental in creating.
By the end of Washington's second administration, great changes had occurred in the affairs of the country. At home, the public and private credit was restored; the country was at peace, with the exception of the trouble with France; American tonnage had doubled; agricultural products found a ready market; exports had increased from $19,000,000 annually to $56,000,000, and imports in the same proportion.
The election of 1796 showed signs of impending Federal- ist dissolution; but Connecticut still remained stanch in her old allegiance. Her third Electoral College had for mem- bers Oliver Wolcott, Jonathan Trumbull, Jeremiah Wads- worth, Heman Swift, Elizur Goodrich, William Hart, Elias Perkins, Jesse Root, and Jonathan Sturges. These cast their vote for John Adams for President ;* but their ballots were divided for Vice-President. The regular Federalist nominee, Thomas Pinckney, received four, and John Jay five votes. There were eleven votes cast for Oliver Ellsworth, New Hampshire throwing six, Rhode Island four, and Massachu- setts one.
There have been a number of fisticuff and pugilistic
* At this time the ballots were not specifically marked for President and Vice-President, the one who had the highest number being President-which produced the Jefferson-Burr Imbroglio in 1800, there being a tie. But it was understood in voting which candidate was designed to have each office, so that the expression in the text is legitimate.
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encounters in the halls of Congress; in the first breach of decorum a Connecticut legislator took an important part. To the sixth Congress Vermont sent as representative Matthew Lyon, a native of Ireland. He had founded a town, and was engaged in manufacturing and newspaper interests. Lyon in his maiden speech avowed his Anti-Federalist principles, and posed as a leader of the democracy, much to the disgust of his own partisans. During the early part of the session, he made disparaging and insulting remarks about the Connecticut members, asserting that they misrepresented their constitu- ency. He admitted his acquaintance with people of that State, and remarked that he knew they fought well, as he had proven it to his personal satisfaction by encounters with them on their visits to relatives residing in the State he represented. This statement brought forth from Roger Griswold, one of Connecticut's delegation, the jocular remark, "Did you fight them with your wooden sword?" This was an allusion to the dismissal of Lyon from the Green Mountain Boys for cowardice. The belligerent member from Vermont then expressed a desire to remove to Connecticut, and edit a news- paper for the purpose of enlightening her misguided people. To this Griswold retorted, "You couldn't change the opinion of the meanest hostler in the State." Lyon emphatically declared that he could, and that he had serious thoughts of moving into the State, and fighting them on their own ground. Griswold then approached Lyon, and laying his hand on his shoulder, said with a sarcastic air, "If you go, Mr. Lyon, I suppose you will wear your wooden sword."
These taunts infuriated Lyon into spitting in his tor- mentor's face. A commotion ensued in the House, and a motion was made to expel Lyon, but it was defeated; his party friends coming to his assistance. The indignity rankled
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in Griswold's spirit, though the disgrace was entirely Lyon's ; and he soon afterwards attacked Lyon while he was occupy- ing his seat in the House, beating him over his head with a cane, Lyon seized a pair of tongs lying near the fire-place, and a disgraceful combat ensued.
Griswold seems to have been the most expert fighter; he landed a violent blow on Lyon's face, which felled him to the ground; he then beat him shamefully, and dragged him around by his legs, until the Speaker stopped the outrageous affair by a call to order. Unsuccessful attempts were made to expel both members; but they were not even censured. The only reason for this undignified personal affair becoming historical is, that it was the first Congressional pugilistic bat- tle.
The attempt of Genet of France to drag the United States into the fray with the foes of the French Republic, and make it a point of vantage for fitting out privateers for the Directory, discredited for the time the sympathizers with France. Even Jefferson was forced to disavow his feather- headed friend; but the Federalists were well understood in France to be the real authors of his suppression. Hence when they carried the election of 1796, the French Directory issued a decree granting the war ships of that nation the right to annihilate American commerce in European waters, and all Americans found serving on hostile armed vessels were to be treated as pirates. The Hamilton wing of the Federalists were glad of the opportunity at once to deal a blow at the hated French democracy, and to strengthen their own politi- ical position by a foreign war. They pushed forward the building of a strong navy, and carried on naval operations in the West Indies. They also passed an Alien Law, pri- marily to exclude foreign journalists who were galling them
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by acrid and foul-mouthed attacks. This was accompanied by a Sedition Law, to close their opponents' mouths at home. Their efforts against France were helped by the exposure of the corruption of the Directory, which sought to obtain bribes from the American envoys to sign a treaty of peace. Presi- dents Adams was incensed into declaring that he would send no other representatives to Paris till he was assured of the good faith of the Directory; and it seemed that open war was inevitable. But he received private assurances that they were in a better mood, and somewhat frightened over the unlucky results of their attempted "graft"; and he was a patriot first and a party man afterwards, which can hardly be said of some of the other wing. Knowing that the other fac- tion would oppose any attempt to come to terms with France, as depriving the party of its political capital, he sent over an envoy without consulting his Cabinet. The result was a furi- ous break within the party ranks, Hamilton denouncing Adams without stint, and the two factions hating each other worse than either did the Republicans. This is usually held to have defeated the party in 1800; but an analysis of the vote shows that the result was probably inevitable in any case.
Connecticut's presidential electors were Jonathan Trum- bull, Jonathan Ingersoll, John Treadwell, Tapping Reeve, Jesse Root, Matthew Griswold, Jonathan Sturges, J. O. Mosely, and Stephen M. Mitchell. The vote of the State was cast for John Adams for President, and Charles C. Pinckney for Vice-President. The retiring President had retained Oliver Wolcott, Jr., as head of the Secretary of the Treasury ; on his resignation in the latter part of 1800, Sam- uel Dexter was appointed his successor. The vacancy thus
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caused in the Cabinet was filled by the selection of Roger Griswold as Secretary of War.
At the opening of the nineteenth century, the Governor's chair was filled by Jonathan the second son of Connecticut's great war Governor. He was born at Lebanon, March 26, 1740. Entering Yale College at fifteen, he early exhibited large scholarly ability. After his graduation he settled in his native town, and soon afterwards became a member of the General Assembly. He was connected with that body at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. He joined the Amer- ican forces and was appointed Paymaster-General of the northern department of the Continental army. He held this position until he became Alexander Hamilton's successor as private secretary and chief of staff to Washington, serving until the close of the war. He held various political offices, which have been previously mentioned; and resigned from the United States Senate in 1796 to accept the position of Deputy-Governor of his native State. Upon the death of Governor Wolcott he became Governor ad interim.
Governor Trumbull was first elected by the people as chief executive officer of the State in 1798, and continued to fill the position by re-elections for twelve terms. This length of service exceeded that of any occupant since his father. He also proved himself capable of retaining the confidence of his fellow-citizens, transmitted to him from his father. Gover- nor Trumbull's death ocurred at Lebanon, Aug. 7, 1809.
The population of the Commonwealth in 1800 was 251,- 002, which was a trifle over fifty persons to a square mile. In the number of her inhabitants, Connecticut was the eighth State in the Union; within her confines there was a little less than five per cent. of the entire population of the United States. The inhabitants, exclusive of the 5,330 free but
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untaxed persons, and 95 1 slaves, consisted of 121,193 white males, and 123,528 white females. Of these, there were 37,946 males and 35,736 females under ten years of age; 19,408 males and 18,2 10 females between the age of ten and sixteen years; 21,603 males and 23,561 females between sixteen and twenty-six; 23,180 males and 25,186 females between the ages of twenty-six and forty-five; and 18,976 males and 20,820 females over forty-five years of age.
The most populous town in the State was Stonington, the least so was Union. The inhabitants were chiefly of Eng- lish descent, though there were a few Scotch and Irish people.
Connecticut, in proportion to her size, was one of the most thickly populated States in the Union. It was laid out in small farms, ranging in extent from fifty to four hundred acres each. The State was crossed with innumerable high- ways. A traveler, even in the most unsettled parts, could not pass over two or three miles without striking a habitation.
It was a model of good husbandry, the industry of the peo- ple being exemplified in the abundant production of the neces- saries and conveniences of life. The citizens were of a law- abiding disposition, but were great litigants, seeking the redress of the courts for most trifling disputes. This was simply turning the pertinacious defense of individual right into legal channels, instead of the personal brawls or mob-fights of earlier English times. In the thirteenth century, two men who fell out broke each other's heads, or got huge groups of supporters to fight their battles; in the eighteenth they went to law. The habit sup- ported a number of lawyers, though the leading attorney of the Commonwealth did not earn over $2,000 a year. Polit- ical strife did not rage with as much violence as in the other New England States; public proceedings were conducted
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with more calmness. The clergy, as the aristocratic body, acted as a balance-wheel to the democratic State government, and checked an overbearing spirit of republicanism.
Hartford and New Haven were the chief centres of the State, though hardly to be called cities in the modern term. They had less than four thousand population each; their mail and traffic were transported by semi-weekly stages. Each had a few shops stocked with miscellaneous merchan- dise, and were engaged in foreign commerce; though New Haven had the advantage over Hartford, whose trade was mainly confined to West India rum and molasses.
New Haven, with her Long Wharf, which was finished in 1802, sent ships all over the world. The richest cargo imported in the eighteenth century was valued at a quarter of a million, the duties being nearly $70,000. Increasing wealth refined and humanized New Haven as other places. The town paupers were no longer sold at auction; poultry and cattle were forbidden on her green; a modern cemetery was begun, and an attempt was made to obtain a permanent supply of water.
Hartford, as the head of navigation and consequent dis- tributing point for the Connecticut Valley, had early drawn to itself a very able body of wholesale merchants, whose wealth was bequeathed and formed a notable mass of general refinement and predisposition to culture. From the nature of its early settlement, also, it had a strongly intellectual atmos- phere. As early as 1774, a notice appeared in the Connec- ticut "Courant," advocating the establishment of a public library similar to one organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin; and in 1799 The Hartford Library Company was incorporated.
The first evidence of the evolution of a State from a wil-
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derness up to civilization, is the perfecting of the external and internal intercourse among the people. Connecticut and Penn- sylvania were the pioneers in the improving of highways. In 1791-92 a turnpike leading from Norwich to New London was opened; in the period between 1795-1800 there were no less than seventeen turnpike companies incorporated, their franchises intersecting the State in every direction, bringing the inhabitants into close communion, and opening the mar- kets of contiguous States to the Commonwealth.
The State was visited at various times during the eight- eenth century, with earthquakes, violent storms, drouths, and epidemics; which to the God-fearing inhabitants prognosti- cated the Angel Gabriel's trumpet proclaiming the Day of Judgment. The most farcical of these has been perpetuated by a drollery entitled "Lawyers and Bullfrogs," better known as "The Frogs of Windham." The incident took place one dark and dismal night in July 1758. The inhabitants of the town of Windham were aroused at midnight by a terrific noise, resembling the yells and screeches of Indians; the alarmed people, not taking time to garb themselves, rushed from their dwellings; the valiant males armed to defend themselves against spiritual or earthly foes. Forming in bat- tle array, the army advanced eastward, and making a recon- noissance, found the noise proceeded not from the heavens above, but from an adjacent pond; thus appeased, the valor- ous warriors retired. The rising sun disclosed the cause of the disturbance. The pond, on account of a severe drought, was reduced to a small stream running through its centre; the bullfrogs that had populated the watery area of the pond, owing to the scarcity of the water, had fought for the pos- session of this stream. Their battle cries had resembled in
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sound the names of Dyer and Elderkin, two prominent attor- neys of the town; hence the title adopted by the poetaster.
We read of storms when the hailstones were as large as goose eggs, and fell in such abundance that banks were formed five and six inches deep; (they still fall in every other town except where the reader of the account is located;) of earthquakes by which fissures several inches wide were made in the ground; chimneys toppled, walls thrown down, or rocks misplaced. Such shocks were perceptible in Boston and New York. Add the suffocating summer of 1798, when an epidemic of yellow fever raged in New London, and which was followed by one of the severest winters known to the oldest inhabitants; the dark day of 1780, when the fowls went to roost at noon, and candles were lighted during the day, causing the House of Representatives to adjourn; all these to the religion-tinctured souls presaged another blast from Gabriel's trumpet.
The close of the eighteenth century fairly corresponds with that of the exclusive dominance of country simplicity and Puritan habits and restrictions. Cities were growing, towns were advancing in wealth and knowledge, habits were becoming sophisticated, people were beginning to have time to play; amusements multiplied, and dancing, instru- mental music, even card-playing ceased to be wholly barred out. The last remnants of the old fashion of "bundling"- much misunderstood, and always a resort of necessity from unheated houses-went out altogether. When there was but one warm room in the house, the kitchen with the great open fire, couples who wished to court apart from the rest of the family had no chance save by utilizing the girl's chamber, where they lounged on the bed with the coverlet drawn over them for warmth. This caused much less mischief than
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might have been supposed : all wished to marry, and mostly could marry early; the records do not show that there were any worse results than with the modern apparatus of cha- perons and duennas. And all usual customs seem natural and proper; the youth of both sexes were loth to give up the endearing privacy, and the mothers loth to shame their own past; the younger generation rebelled against the change, and even some of the elder had no great zeal for it. This feeling has been rendered in verse by a colonial poet :
"It shan't be so; they rage and storm, And country girls in clusters swarm, And fly and buzz like angry bees, And vow they'll bundle when they please. Some mothers too will plead their cause, And give their daughters great applause, And tell them 'tis no sin nor shame, For we, your mothers, did the same."
But it had always disappeared in any locality soon after the introduction of civilized comforts, and at this time it lin- gered only in the more primitive districts; and the mockery of the outside world made it shortly impossible even there.
The pack horse and stage coach were to become relics of the past; to be superseded by the slow-moving canal boats and the rampant iron horse.
The hamlets, clustered around the village green, were to extend their boundaries, impelled by the advancing tide of manufactures, which were to make Connecticut's name familiar with the world. Ancient barbarities were to be con- demned; human bondage gradually abolished; the branding
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of criminals, the auctioning of the poor, the execution for legal offenses, were all to be modified.
Connecticut, in a word, was to keep pace with the van- guard of the modern world in humanity, refinement, and intel- lectual progress.
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