USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 57
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" Whereas, Divine Providence has crowned with signal and unparalleled suc- cess every effort which has been made to stay the ravages of intemperance, we are encouraged by the success of the past to make greater effort in future to promote the cause of temperance."
Mr. Isaac Backus, the owner of Foundry works in the north part of the town, was very active in his neighborhood, a vexations litigation to which he was subjected for some statement respecting a liquor-vender, only making him more zealous in the work. Mr. Solomon Payne, who served as president for several years, received an especial vote of thanks for his fidelity and perseverance in discharging the duties of his
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position. Messrs. Frost and White, though much occupied with gen- eral temperance work, were frequently present at the Canterbury meetings. Young men from other towns, Dr. Hutchins, Rev. George Tillotson, John B. Young, George II. Middleton, helped to maintain their tone and interest. The public meetings of the County society were well sustained. Mr. Matthewson was retained as president for several years. Publie sentiment had so advanced in Pomfret that in 1837 more than a hundred voters petitioned the Civil Authority "not to grant license to any person to retail spiritnous liquor the ensuing year." The request was rejected on the ground " that the law imperi- ously requires them to recommend for license a suitable number of proper persons "-four of the Board dissenting from the decision. Measures initiated the following year to amend or repeal the law, and remove as far as possible all means of intoxication, met the approval and support of advanced temperance workers in all the towns. Much indeed had been already accomplished, but it became increasingly evi- dent that the evil was "only stayed" and not suppressed. Men who had acquired an appetite for drink had not been reached. Societies refrained from urging " such persons as had made great proficiency in the Bacchanalian school to join our association, believing that their sense of moral obligation is impaired in proportion to their advance- ment ; consequently will break over all restraint, and injure the cause we would promote." Stop making new drunkards and intemperance will gradually die out-was the favorite theory of the first reformers. Take care of the children, dissuade men from forming the habit of drinking, and as the old drunkards die off we shall have temperance communities. But somehow the process of extermination was less rapid than had been expected, and men who indulged in the permitted wine, beer and cider, sometimes acquired a taste for stronger liquors. After some twelve or fifteen years of earnest effort temperance workers were fain to fall back from their theory, and admit that more stringent methods were needed. Total abstinence from all alcoholic liquor, and the suppression of licensed liquor-selling, was now the rallying ery of the vanguard. At the annual meeting in Canterbury, August, 1836, Andrew T. Judson was chosen president : Isaac Backus, secretary and treasurer. The president, with Reverends King and Whiton, were appointed delegates to the Temperance convention at Hartford. Af- ter hearing their report at the November meeting. the propriety of circulating a pledge of abstinence from all intoxicating drinks was largely discussed, but public sentiment was yet unequal to it. A com- mittee of one in each school district was, however, appointed to obtain signatures to the Constitution, giving liberty to subscribers "to signify their resolution to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks."
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III.
MISS CRANDALL'S SCHOOLS-WHITE AND COLORED). CANTER- BURY IN DANGER. EXCITEMENT. EXPULSION.
THE advent of the Temperance Reform was cotemporary with another great popular agitation in which Windham County took a very different position, and the town most active and prominent in temperance effort especially signalized itself by its most bitter and determined opposition to the Anti-slavery movement. Canterbury was a very influential town at this period, and was partienlarly noted for the public spirit and high character of its leading men, and its culti- vated and agreeable society. Andrew T. Jndson, State attorney and successful lawyer, Dr. Harris, the skillful surgeon, Esquire Frost. the devoted champion of temperance, Rufus Adams, with his fund of dry humor, George S. White, with his strong character and multifarious knowledge, Luther Paine, John Francis, Thomas and Stephen Coit, Samuel L. Hongh, all solid men interested in public affairs-had their homes at or near Canterbury Green, and gave tone and prominence to the town. Few country towns could boast such social attractions. Dr. Harris was one of the most genial and hospitable of men, and his new model house with its rare appendage of a conservatory and choice flower-garden, was the wonder of all the County. Mrs. Harris had in- herited the social characteristics of her distinguished father, General Moses Cleveland, and received their unnumbered guests with all his ease and heartiness. A handsome new house had been also built by Mr. Judson, in which much company was entertained, although it was said that Mrs. Judson as a Windham lady assumed superiority over her neighbors. Her husband, who liked to rally her upon this weakness, onee called her down to the parlor to receive a Windham visitor, and most blandly presented to her an intrusive frog, which had hopped into the hall. His own taet and courtesy made ample amends for his wife's reputed deficiencies. Pleasant familiar intercourse was maintained among the village residents. All united with uncommon unanimity in plans for village improvement and public benefit, and it was in carrying out one of these projects that they struck upon the rock which foundered them. The school question was one in which Canterbury felt great interest. Her young people sought education at home or abroad, and an unusual number of young girls then growing up in the village families awakened parental soliei- tude. The proposition of Miss Prudence Crandall to open a young ladies' boarding-school at Canterbury Green was received with much favor. A large house left vacant by the death of Esquire Paine was
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secured for her, and in the autumn of 1831 the school was opened under the most favorable auspices. A goodly number of young ladies from the best families in town were enrolled as pupils. Messrs. Judson, Harris, Frost, Adams, Hough, Packer, Kinne, and Rev. Dennis Platt, were constituted a board of visitors, and bore most flattering testimony to the character of the school and the ability of its teacher. The cordiality and friendliness of her reception were gratefully acknowl- edged by Miss Crandall, her relations with pupils and patrons was most agreeable and harmonious, and it seemed likely that this much- needed institution would become permanently established. Circulars were sent out commending it to public patronage, scholars came from neighboring towns and even from distant eities, and everything was going on pleasantly and prosperously when-a crash came. Withont premonition or warning, before the patrons of the school had dreamed of any real danger, a new element had been introduced, a change of base effected, and their daughters dismissed from school to make way for negroes ! Was it strange that the community should flame ont in indignation ? The causes that led to this revolution are thus detailed by Miss Crandall :-
" The reason for changing my school of white pupils for a school for colored pupils is as follows: I had a nice colored girl, now Mrs. Charles Ilarris, as help in my family; and her intended husband regularly received The Liberator. The girl took the paper from the office and loaned it to me. In that the condition of the colored people both slaves and free was truth- fully portrayed, the double-dealing and manifest deception of the Coloniza- tion Society were faithfully exposed, and the question of Immediate Emanci- pation of the millions of slaves in the United States boldly advocated. Having been taught from early childhood the sin of Slavery, my sympathies were greatly aroused. Sarah Harris, a respectable young woman and a member of the church (now Mrs. Fairweather, and sister to the before- named intended husband), called often to see her friend Marcia, my family assistant. In some of her calls I ascertained that she wished to attend my school and board at her own father's house at some little distance from the village. I allowed her to enter as one of my pupils. By this act I gave great offence. The wife of an Episcopal clergyman who lived in the village told me that if I continued that colored girl in my school it could not be sustained. I replied to her, That it might sink, then, for I should not turn her out ! I very soon found that some of my school would leave not to return if the colored girl was retained. Under these circumstances I made up my mind that if it were possible I would teach colored girls exclusively. I made the attempt, and the result is before the public."*
Before acting upon this decision, Miss Crandall consulted with lead- ing Abolitionists in Boston and New York, who gladly pledged their cooperation and assistance. Had she also consulted her generous friends and patrons in Canterbury, or even given them notice of her intentions, they would have had less ground of complaint, but their in- dignation when the proposed change in the complexion of the school was sud lenly announced to them was greatly hightened by what they
* Private Letter, May 15, 1869.
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deemed an inexcusable breach of good faith in one they had so en- couraged and befriended. As soon as the young ladies took to their several homes the news of their dismissal to make room "for young ladies and little misses of color," Messrs. Rufus Adams, Frost, Fenner and Harris visited Miss Crandall and endeavored to persuade her "to give up her project so far as Canterbury was concerned." but found all argument and persuasion useless. Having made up her mind to this step from a clear conviction of her duty to the colored race, nothing could change her. The people of Canterbury saw to their supreme horror and consternation that this popular school in which they had taken so much pride was to be superseded by something so anomalous and phenomenal that it could hardly be comprehended. A publie meeting of citizens was at once called and the previous visitors delegated to convey their sentiments and wishes to Miss Crandall. They found her as before, firm as a rock. Esquire Frost, as spokesman of the committee, " in a most kind and affecting manner " labored to convince her of the impropriety and injustice of the proposed measure, and delicately hinted at the danger that might ensue from "these ley- eling principles and intermarriage between the whites and blacks." " Moses had a black wife," bluntly replied the lady, opening to the prophetic eye dark visions of forthcoming amalgamation and disorder. Reports of these unsatisfactory interviews increased the pervading ex- citement to actual frenzy. The people of the town with searce an exception were united in horrified antipathy to the colored school and a determination to prevent its opening. South of Dixie's line, Judge Lynch would probably soon have settled the matter, but this Connecti- cut town knew no better way to accomplish its purpose than by the familiar ageney of a town-meeting hastily summoned. "to devise and adopt such measures as would effectually avert the nuisance, or speedily abate it if it should be brought into the village." This meeting was held March 9, 1833. It was a very memorable occasion. Reports of the proceedings in Canterbury, now noised far and wide, brought many from other towns to the scene of action. Mr. Samnel J. May, who drove over with Mr. Benson from Brooklyn to aid and support Miss Crandall, found the village in furious excitement, and was warned of personal danger. but the lady who had excited all this commotion was still "resolved and tranquil." By the advice of Mr. May and Arnold Buffum-agent of the Anti-slavery Society who had also come to the resene-Miss Crandall consented to remove her school to some less public part of the town if her opponents would take her house and cease to molest her. Armed with this proposal and power to negotiate a compromise, Messrs. May and Buffum repaired to the meeting-house at the hour appointed, and with difficulty made their way through the
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crowded aisle to a seat near the moderator. A strange spectacle greeted them-the great house filled to its utmost capacity with hund- reds of anxious, angry citizens intent to devise some scheme of escape from the erushing calamity of "a school of nigger girls." The " pro- digious descent of devils " recorded by Cotton Mather could not have inspired more preternatural dread and horror. After the reading of the warning by the moderator, Judge Adams offered the following resolutions :--
" WHEREAS, it hath been publicly announced that a school is to be opened in this town, on the first Monday of April next, using the language of the adver- tisement, 'for young ladies and little misses of color,' or in other words for the people of color, the obvious tendency of which would be to collect within the town of Canterbury large numbers of persons from other States whose characters and habits might be various and unknown to us, thereby rendering insecure the persons, property and reputations of our citizens. Under such circumstances our silence might be construed into an approbation of the project ;
Thereupon. Resolved, That the locality of a school for the people of color at any place within the limits of this town, for the admission of persons of for- eign jurisdiction, meets with our unqualified disapprobation, and it is to be understood, that the inhabitants of Canterbury protest against it in the most earnest manner.
Resolved, That a committee be now appointed, to be composed of the Civil Authority and Selectmen, who shall make known to the person contemplating the establishment of said school, the sentiments and objections entertained by this meeting in reference to said school-pointing out to her the injurious effects and incalculable evils resulting from such an establishment within this town, and persuade her to abandon the project."
Messrs. Adams and Judson supported these resolutions with great earnestness and vehemence, filling their hearers "with the appre- hension that a dire calamity was impending over them; that Miss Crandall was the anthor or instrument of it: that there were powerful conspirators engaged with her in the plot ; and that the people of Can- terbury should be roused by every consideration of self-preservation as well as self-respect to prevent the accomplishment of the design." Others with much warmth urged the resolutions ; but Mr. George S. White, who alone attempted to oppose them, was frequently interrupted by calls to order, and his proposal to assist in the purchase of Miss Crandall's house received no attention. Messrs. May and Buffum then stepped forward with Miss Crandall's letter, authorizing them to speak and aet in her behalf, whereupon Mr. Judson broke forth with greater violence than before, accusing them of insulting the town by this inter- ference, while other excited citizens gathered around them, and with "fists doubled in their faces" poured out tirades of wrath against Miss Crandall and her accompliees, threatening the ntmost pen- alty of the law if they dared to open their lips, if not a more immediate vengeance. Thus effectually silenced the gentlemen sat down, and the resolutions were presented and passed by unanimous
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vote. but the instant of adjournment Mr. May sprang upon his seat and besought the audience to listen to a plain statement of the eireum- stances that had led Miss Crandall to take this step, and the true character of the proposed school. Mr. Buffum followed with a few impressive words upon the great question at issne and might have gained a hearing but the more violent leaders drove the people from the meeting-house with cries of " out." "out," and the society com- mittee ordered the speakers to leave and closed the doors against them.
Five days after this meeting a formidable array of town officers presented the Resolutions " in a formal and becoming manner," and earnestly besought Miss Crandall to relinquish her scheme. " responsi- ble individuals offering and urging upon her the sum she had paid for the house upon condition that she would abandon the proposed school." This she positively declined though willing to remove to a less public location, and went on her way making preparation for her pupils, "with a firmness of design and a decision of action worthy the holiest cause." On the appointed day the school actually began. Some ten or twelve quiet. harmless little colored girls or young ladies, from the very best colored families in the Northern cities, had found their way to Canterbury, and were receiving instruction from Miss Crandall. If the Canterbury people had quietly accepted the situation and left them in peace the difficulty would soon have ended. Even if the children had remained they would have given them little annoyance. Twenty Indian lads were received into Plainfield Academy a few years later, and few outside the village ever heard of them. But such submission at that date was entirely out of the question. The sudden outburst of the Abolition movement and the unscrupulous audacity of its leaders had frightened people out of their senses. The Crandall school was an outgrowth of Abolitionism. At a later town meeting it was placed on record. " That the establishment or rendezvous falsely denominated a school was designed by its projectors as the theatre, as the place to promulgate their disgusting doctrines of amalgamation, and their pernicious sentiments of subverting the Union. Their pupils were to have been congregated here from all quarters under the false pretence of educating them. but really to "SCATTER FIRE-BRANDS, arrows and death among brethren of our own blood." With such suspicions and apprehensions it is not surprising that the people of Canterbury should use their utmost endeavors to suppress and crush out this obnoxious institution, especially, when to terror of Abolition aim and effort was added a sense of personal injury and a very natural desire "to have their own way." "Every argumentative effort " having failed them. they were forced to resort to other meas-
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ures. The oft-read lesson in the spelling-book came home with peculiar emphasis-" When neither words nor grass would answer they were forced to try what virtue there was in stones." If these stones could have been thrown by lawful authority they would have much preferred it, but the legal State armory was wholly inadequate to the occasion, legislation in Connecticut having hitherto always aimed to build up schools and protect women and children. The old pauper and vagrant law was however pressed into service and a warrant served upon Ann Eliza Hammond of Providence, warning her out of town unless her maintenance was guaranteed, "to be whipped on the naked body not exceeding ten stripes " in default of satisfaction or departure. Meanwhile Andrew T. Judson, William Lester, Chester Lyon, Rufus Adams, Solomon Paine, Andrew Harris, Ashael Bacon, George S. White, Daniel Packer and Isaac Backus, were appointed agents by the towr to draw up and circulate a petition to be laid before the General Assembly, "deprecating the evil conse- quences of bringing from other States and other towns people of color for any purpose, and more especially for the purpose of dis- seminating the principles and doctrines opposed to the benevolent colonizing system." and praying it to enact laws to prevent this evil. Inhabitants of other towns were also requested to prefer "petitions for the same landable object." While waiting for legal power to break up the school, Canterbury did its best to make scholars and teacher uncomfortable. Non-intercourse and Embargo Aets were put in successful operation. Dealers in all sorts of wares and produce agreed to sell nothing to Miss Crandall, the stage-driver declined to carry her pupils, and neighbors refused a pail of fresh water, even though they knew that their own sons had filled her well with stable refuse. Boys and rowdies were allowed unchecked if not openly encouraged to exercise their utmost ingenuity in mischievous annoy- ance, throwing real stones and rotton eggs at the windows and following the school with hoots and horns if it ventured to appear in the street. Not only was Miss Crandall herself assailed with threats of coming vengeance and ejection, but her father in the south part of the town was insulted and threatened. "When lawyers, courts and jurors are leagued against you," said one to him, "it will be easy to raise a MOB and tear down your house." Poor Mr. Crandall, the meekest of non-resistant Quakers, was greatly terrified by these warlike demonstrations and besought his daughter "to give up her school, sell her property and relieve Canterbury from their imagined destruction," but that high-spirited woman very kindly but positively declined to follow his suggestions. The calmness and fortitude with which she met this furious onslaught astonished her friends and
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exasperated her enemies. Iler chief ally and supporter, Mr. May, always found her firm and tranquil, prepared for any emergency. Her father and an old Quaker brought them fresh water. Packerville dealers furnished household supplies, and a colored driver from Nor- wich took the school-girls back and forth, and accommodated Abolition visitors.
As soon as possible Canterbury's petition was brought before the Legislature. It was a difficult and delicate matter to legislate but Connecticut was equal to it. Public opinion strongly favored the petitioners. That peculiar rabies which had transformed the genial, jovial gentlemen of Canterbury into malicious persecutors was not confined to that town. " We should not want a nigger school on our common," was the universal sentiment and expression of every town in Windham County. Many towns in all parts of the State had seconded Canterbury's request and would have opposed the establish- ment of such a school with equal bitterness. Slavery was the unsolved problem in American destiny. The Abolitionist was the fuse thrown among combustibles and the great mass of the people shrank with dread from the inevitable explosion. The Legislators of Connecticut were fully persuaded of the necessity of closing this pernicious school, but did not see exactly how to accomplish it. Ninety years before when asked by the standing clergy and churches to devise some means for keeping out irregular preachers and itinerants, their predecessors had enacted that a minister from out of the State preaching without the invitation of a stated minister or society should be sent like a vagrant by warrant out of the bounds of the Colony, but the civiliza- tion of the nineteenth century eschewed this process as too summary and preferred to levy a tribute from the offender's pocket. After suitable discussion and deliberation it was enacted, "That no person should set up a school or educational institution for the instruction of colored persons who were not inhabitants of the State, nor instruct in such a school nor harbor or board any colored person instructed in such a school, without the consent in writing first obtained of a majority of the civil anthority and selectmen in the town in which such school is situated under penalty of a fine of a hundred dollars for the first offence ; two hundred for the second, and so double for every subsequent offence of which such person should be convicted." In vain did poor Mr. Crandall humbly entreat the Assembly, to remember these self-evident truths, that all mankind are created free and equal, and implore them "not to grant the prayer of any petition, nor pass any act that will curtail or destroy any of the rights of the free people of this State or other States whether they are white or black." "Mr. Crandall," said Mr. Judson afterwards, " when you sent your printed paper to the
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General Assembly, you did not injure us; it helped very much in getting the bill through. When they received it every man clinched his fist, and the chairman of the committee sat down and doubled the penalty. Members of the Legislature said to me-' If this law does not answer your purpose, let us know, and next year we will make you one that will.'"
The receipt of the legislative devise for the relief of Canterbury was welcomed in that town by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon, and every demonstration of popular delight and triumph. A more orderly and systematic opposition was now enforced against the school. The new dispensation was thus promulgated in Mr. Crandall's household by two of the leading citizens :-
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