USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 24
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252
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
leviate the distress we now suffer, and avert impending calamities, in the best method they think proper." A committee of five was chosen to prepare a respectful memorial to the President of the United States, " expressing our opinion of the present war, and prepare some resolu- tions for the acceptance or non-acceptance of the town." Israel Whiton, M. D., Isaac Morse, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Capt. Joshua Stod- dard, and Col. Woodbury were the committee.
The Memorial and Resolves were read and accepted. Besides send- ing them to President Madison, the town voted to have them printed in the Worcester Spy. Two agents were then chosen to attend a coun- ty Convention called to meet at Worcester, viz : Messrs. Henshaw and Prentice. A committee of safety, viz : Samuel Brown, Israel Whiton, Jacob B. Woodbury, Paul Raymond and James McElwain, was chosen. It was voted that the Memorial and Resolves be signed by the moder- ator, Isaac Morse, and the clerk, Mr. Prentice. A committee of nine was also chosen to circulate the Memorial for signers. The document is not to be found. What were the duties of the " Committee of Safe- ty," we are left to conjecture.
In 1814, March 7, the question came up: Will the town petition the General Court, at their next session, respecting the alarming state of our national affairs ? It was referred to a committee of seven to draft a petition to the General Court, and report at an adjournment of this meeting. Chose Messrs. Henshaw, Morse, Whiton, Prentice, Ez- ra Hyde, Jr., Woodbury and McElwain. It was about this time that a portion of the town was so much exercised about the Minister's preach- ing. The action of the town has been already cited. As Mr. Pillsbury was a republican, or Jeffersonian, and sustained the administration, by vote, and perhaps sometimes mildly in speech, he was, so far forth, ob- noxious to the majority ; but the matter was not pushed, and the excite- ment subsided.
The war, however, continued to agitate the public mind, and accord- ingly, on the 30th of January, 1815, a meeting was called " to take into consideration the calamitous state of our country with regard to the war, and with particular reference to public taxes ; to see if some method can be devised which shall render the same less burden- some to this part of the country by choosing a committee to report what is most expedient to be done, by petition to the General Court or other- wise to act on the same, as may be thought proper."
253
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
During the war, it may here be said, the town met every requisition made upon it by the State, and voted extra pay to all of her soldiers who in any manner rendered service at Boston, or elsewhere near the sea- coast. Gov. Strong had a controversy with the General Government; he maintaining that the militia of any State was under the orders of its constituted authorities, and could not be ordered out of the country by the national government. The town went with the Governor, and gave him an unwavering support, but was ready to maintain the honor of the nation against its foreign foes. Several men from this town, were engaged in the service of the United States. Three men enlisted in the United States service. One was Seth Sargeant. He was under Hull, and became a prisoner at Detroit, in 1812. Another was Joel Hancock, who was wounded in the service. The third was Jonas Bradish, but he did not serve long. Those of the militia who volun- teered when called by the requisition of the President, in 1812, were the following seven of the south company, viz : Serg. Levi Raymond, Corp. Samuel Hartwell, Reuben Vose, Sr., Gideon Balcom, Leavitt Stoddard, Simon Tuttle, Joseph Wyman. The following were mem- bers of the north company : Samuel Sargeant, Jr., Jacob Hale, Jr. These were called to go wherever the government should send them ; but Gov. Strong would not consent to their being taken beyond the bounds of the country.
In 1814, a draft was sent for two men from each company, and a volunteer could not be found. Asaph Brown and Samuel Poland were drafted. Both hired sustitutes ; Samuel Wiley and James Murdock. From the south company, James McElwain and William Brown were drafted. The former hired William Hancock, and the latter hired Simon Tuttle, Jr.
On the 30th day of January, the adjourned meeting was held, and chose Lt. Paul Raymond, Moderator. Chose a committee as follows : Dr. Israel Whiton, Mr. Daniel Henshaw, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, Messrs. Daniel T. Bruce, Samuel Brown, Samuel Noyes and. Jacob Woodbury. The meeting adjourned for one hour, then met and voted to hear the report of the committee.
"TO THE HON. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMON- WEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, IN GENERAL COURT ASSEMBLED :
The inhabitants of the town of Winchendon in legal town meeting assem- bled, would briefly and respectfully represent that we are sensibly impressed
254
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
with the evils of the present disastrous war ; and having in vain sought relief from those who were the authors of our calamity, now apply to the legislature of . ourown Commonwealth, with pride and confidence in their wisdom, firmness and ability to take such means as they may see fit to adopt. And we would avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our hearty approbation of the proceed- ings of the New England Convention at Hartford. The moderation, wisdom and firmness expressed in that important State paper. are calculated to satisfy the high expectations excited by the appointment of snch experienced, well- tried and distinguished patriots to so important and arduous a trust. We deem it unnecessary for the people to point out to their more enlightened represen- tatives the various calamities arising from this war by the enormous and unex- pled profusion of money, the appointment of innumerable unskillful and un- principled officers civii and military, which infects all parts of our country,, nor the imbecility and ill success in which the war is conducted, the impolicy in- justice or wickedness, of our rulers in first declaring it, or its bancful effects on the morals of the community, as all these are well known to all classes of people.
But as the representatives of so large and respectable a body of people as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, collectively, must be supposed to have some influence with our national legislature, it is hoped some method may by their wisdom be devised, which shall in some measure relieve the people from the insupportable burden of Government Taxes, much of which is borne by the poorer classes of people. And whatever measures may be adopted, consist- ent with their duty as citizens, they pledge themselves to support."
" Voted that the report be signed by the Moderator and Clerk, and forward- ed to the Legislature."
Speaking of the war, Dr. Whiton says : " A powerful British arma- ment appeared on the coast of New England, August, 1814, and after the seizure of some places in Maine, threatened the towns on the east- ern coast of Massachusetts. A good deal of alarm was felt for the city of Boston, and large draughts of militia were marched from the interior to the vicinity of the capital, for its protection .- With various fluctua- tions of disaster and success, by sea and land, the war continued from 1812 to the.beginning of 1815. The news of peace, February, 1815, threw the country into almost a delirium of joy. In cities and villages men went round with glad hearts and elastic steps to congratulate their neighbors. When the news arrived in the night, the firing of cannon, the ringing of bells, and the loud shouts in the streets, Peace, Peace, aroused the sleepers from their beds to join in the general joy ! In this
1
255
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
place, where the war had been from the first, unpopular, there was a hearty participation in the public cxultation."
In 1820 there was an animated canvass for Representative. The first ballot resulted in no choice.
Eph'm Murdock, Esq., had 5 votes, SECOND BALLOT.
Mr. Amasa Whitney, 1 Mr. Murdock, 1 vote.
Mr. Thomas Greenwood, 13
Mr. Greenwood, 11 votes.
Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 63 66 Mr. Henshaw, 58 «
Horatio G.Newcomb, Esq.65 66 Mr. Newcomb, 74 "
SECTION 3 .- CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 1820.
At a meeting held on the 21st of August, of this year, the question which came down from the General Court was: " Is it expedient that delegates be chosen to meet in convention for the purpose of revising or altering the Constitution of Government of this Commonwealth?" The town voted with the following result : for said measure, 23; against, 82.
A majority of the people, however, throughout the Commonwealth voted in favor of holding the proposed Convention, and the election of delegates took place on the 16th of October. The vote in this town was as follows :
For Ephraim Murdock, Esq., 1 vote.
" Lieut. Isaac Morse, - 4 votes.
" Horatio G. Newcomb, Esq., 21 "
" Samuel Prentiss, Esq., -74 4
On the 29th of the following April, the vote was taken on the Amend- ments approved by the Convention. This town voted in favor of all but three of the fourteen submitted to the people. These three-the 1st, 2d and 10th, were rejected by the State, as were also the 5th and Oth. The articles adopted are those numbered from 1 to 9 in the Amendments.
The 10th Amendment to the State Constitution was rejected on the 11th of May, 1831, by the following vote : yeas, 34 ; nays, 36.
In 1833, November 11, the Amendment of the third article of the Bill of Rights, was voted upon by the town. It is now numbered as Amendment XI, and relates to public worship. The vote was : yeas, 144 ; nays, 0. The people of Winchendon felt a deep interest in this
256
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
subject, being firm friends of religious freedom. In 1831, they had petitioned the Legislature to make this Amendment.
SECTION 4 .- POLITICAL PARTIES.
The majority of the town were attached to the Federal party from the inauguration of Washington to the breaking up of old parties in the days of President Monroe. The vote of this town was given for Washington, the elder Adams, Pinckney and Rufus King, and against Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, until the second election of the latter in 1820, when almost all opposition ceased. It was called the " era of good feeling," a time of halcyon calm in politics. But as a very fair, warm day in winter, is called a " weather-breeder," and is sure to be followed by a storm, so in this time of political quiet, the elements for a furious agitation which was to convulse the whole country, were gathering. The first outbreak of this tempest was felt in 1824, when five candidates for the presidency were before the people, viz : Adams, Jackson, Crawford, Clay and Calhoun. Neither having received a ma- jority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives elected Mr. Adams. Then the storm swelled into a tempest, which raged all through the administration of Mr. Adams. The nature of the opposition, as well as its violence, was expressed by one of the leaders of the Jackson par- ty, in the well-remembered sentiment that the " administration of Mr. Adams should be overthrown if he were as pure as the angels of God." This town voted for Mr. Adams, in 1824, by a slight vote, there being but little opposition to overcome. At the next election, in 1828, the lines were drawn closer, and all the votes cast, 82, were for John Quincy Adams. The vote for Governor was, for Levi Lincoln, 87, and for Marcus Morton, 2. The next year Morton had 4 votes ; and in 1830 he had 38 to 110 for Lincoln. In 1831, the Anti-Masonic party had gathered considerable strength in several of the Northern States, includ- ing Massachusetts. The vote in this town for Governor, was, For Samuel Lathrop, Anti-Masonic, 76.
" Levi Lincoln, Whig, 49.
" Marcus Morton, Democrat, 33.
In the Presidential election in the year 1832, the town voted as follows : For Henry Clay, Whig, 85 votes.
" Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 64 “
257
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
For William Wirt, Anti-Masonic, 38 votes.
In the State election, the vote was
For Levi Lincoln, 73 "
" Marcus Morton, 43 "
" Samuel Lathrop, 65 «
The next year, the votes for Governor were as follows :
For John Davis, 52 "
" John Quincy Adams, 57 “
" Marcus Morton, 48 “
In 1836, on amending the Constitution relating to the General Court, the Amendment known as the 12th, was voted upon by the town as follows : yeas, 150; nays, 3. In November, the town went with the State in support of the Whig candidate for the Presidency.
It is not necessary to give minutely the political state of the town, from year to year. On a subsequent page the facts relating to State and National elections will be presented in tabular form. A brief space will be given to the rise and progress of the Anti-Slavery party, under its different names. Here it is enough to record that the vote for Mr. Morton was, in 1838, 117 against 165 for Mr. Everett, and in 1839, 181 for Morton to 158 for Everett. This was the culmination of his vote. The next year the town went for John Davis, 202; Marcus Morton, 153. In 1843, he had the same vote as Gov. Briggs, that is, 160; when Samuel E. Sewall had 16 votes.
SECTION 5 .- THE SURPLUS REVENUE.
The income of the United States Treasury, from various sources, but principally from Customs, during the last term of Gen. Jackson's administration, was far beyond the expenditures of the government. This surplus revenue, as it was called, to the amount of about $37,000, 000, was distributed equally among the several States, with the proviso that it should be paid back when demanded by the national government. The Legislature of Massachusetts distributed the portion of this money which fell to the Commonwealth, among the cities and towns, according to population. The amount which came to this town was $3,729.
The question came up at a meeting held on the 1st of May, 1837, as to what action the town would take in relation to the matter ; where- upon it was voted,
" That this town agrees to receive from the Treasurer and Receiver
17
258
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
General of the Commonwealth, its proportion of the Surplus Revenue of the United States, in deposit, and will comply with the terms of the several acts passed by the Legislature of the Commonwealth concern- ing the deposit of the Surplus Revenue.
" Voted, that Isaac Morse, Esq., be the Agent of the town for the purpose of receiving from the Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth, this town's proportion of the said Treasurer's deposit.
Voted, that Isaac Morse, Esq., Agent as aforesaid, be and he hereby is authorized to sign a certificate of deposit for the sums of money he may receive from time to time from the said Treasurer and Receiver General of this Com- monwealth, binding the town, in its corporate capacity, for the repayment to said Treasurer, of the money so deposited with this town, and any and every part thereof, whenever the same shall be required by said Treasurer and Re- ceiver General, to be by bim refunded to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States."
Though provision was thus carefully made for the repayment of the funds deposited, there was probably no expectation on the part of Con- gress, in depositing, or the States in receiving the deposits, that the money would ever be called for by the nation. Some of the States dis- tributed the money so that the people received it, and used it in pay- ing their own personal expenses. Some of the towns and cities, in certain States, created funds for educational or other useful purposes. This town took the following action, on motion of Mr. Elisha Gregory, viz :
" Voted, that the Treasurer of said town on receipt of the town's proportion of the Surplus Revenue, pay the debts now owing by said town, and the res- idue, if any, to let to individuals, in small sums, say not less than $100, nor more than $500, to any one man, for one year, interest annually, 'and in case the interest is not paid within twenty days of the time it may fall due, the principal shall be called for."
In 1842 there was a close vote for Representative to the General Court. Henry Greenwood had 164 votes; Levi Parks, 162; and Moses Hancock, 1.
SECTION 6 .- CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
In 1840, another Amendment to the Constitution, now marked XIII, came before the people for consideration. It also related to the Gen- eral Court, like the preceding one, and on the second of April, this town voted in its favor, yeas, 48 ; nays, 2.
259
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
In 1852, on the 7th of May, an Act was passed, calling upon the people to vote upon the question of calling a Constitutional Convention. A majority of the people having voted in favor of the proposed Conven- tion, the election of delegates took place on the 7th of March, 1853. Rev. A. P. Marvin was chosen delegate from this town. The action of the Convention was submitted to the people for approval or rejection, on the 14th of November. This town voted in favor of all the proposed eight Amendments, by large majorities, but they were rejected by the State. Several Amendments substantially like some of those rejected in 1853, were ratified in subsequent years, but it will not be necessary to give a circumstantial statement in respect to them.
It may not be improper to mention that one proposition which was submitted to the Convention by the delegate from this town, and which was withdrawn by the mover, to save it from anticipated defeat, was brought up in the General Court in 1856 and 1857, and ratified by the people May 1st, 1857. It is the Amendment numbered XX, and is in these words :
" No person shall have the right to vote, or be eligible to office under the Constitution of this Commonwealth, who shall not be able to read the Con- stitution in the English language, and write his name : provided, however, that the provisions of this Amendment shall not apply to any person prevented by a physical disability from complying with its requisitions, nor to any person who now has the right to vote, nor to any persons who shall be sixty years of age, or upwards at the time this Amendment shall take effect."
SECTION 7 .- THE PARTY OF FREEDOM.
It was stated, on a former page, that space would be reserved for a brief account of the rise and progress of the party which was distinct- ively known as opposed, not only to the extension, but the existence of slavery. Nothing will be said in a partisan spirit, nor will it be implied that there were not many in the old parties who were sincerely opposed to human bondage. But the political history of the town cannot be giv- en, without showing how the voters acted in reference to the question of slavery. In the autumn of 1840, two votes were given in this town for James G. Birney, the candidate of the Liberty party for the office of President of the United States. One of these votes was given by Dr. Alvah Godding, the other, probably, by the late Mr. David Poland. For other candidates, about 350 votes were cast at the same election.
260
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
In 1842, Samuel E. Sewall had nine votes for the office of Gover- nor. Mr. Luke Rice had by this time, if not before, joined the little band. In 1844, the vote for Mr. Birney, for President, had increased to 43, and for Mr. Sewall, for Governor, to 41. The author was set- tled in the beginning of this year, and records with pleasure that he belonged to this vanguard of freedom. The whole vote for President was 361. In 1845, Mr. Sewall had 45 votes ; the next year, 59 ; and the next, 71 ; while the votes of the other parties had decreased. Thus, in 1847, Mr. Briggs had 122 votes ; Mr. Cushing, 98 ; and Mr. Sew- all, 71.
The year 1848 witnessed a most exciting struggle. Gen. Taylor was the candidate of the Whig party ; Gen. Cass, of the Democratic party, and Mr. Van Buren, by a great political blunder on the part of the friends of freedom, of the Free-Soil party. If the right man had been set up, by the Free-Soilers, their vote in Massachusetts would have been much larger than it was. There was no confidence in Mr. Van Buren as an anti-slavery man. He was brought forward by those who wished to defeat Gen. Cass, in revenge for his desertion of Mr. Van Buren, four years previously. But as he had been discarded by his party on account of his known hostility to the acquisition of Texas as a slave- holding state, he was voted for by many as the least of three evils. The vote in this town was as follows : Gen. Taylor had 98 votes ; Gen. Cass, 45 ; and Mr. Van Buren, 263. Here was a complete revolution. This was true of the County and the whole Congressional district. The Hon. Charles Allen took the place of the Hon. Charles Hudson in Con- gress. In 1852, Hon. John P. Hale received 176 votes for President ; Gen. Scott, 138; and Mr. Pierce, 63. In 1854, the town passed a strong Resolve against Senator Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska bill.
In 1856, the Republican party was formed, and absorbed, with few exceptions, the members of the old Liberty and Free-Soil organizations. The town went strongly for Col. Fremont. In 1860, and also in 1864, the town gave a large majority for Abraham Lincoln, whose name is . consecrated forever in the hearts of the friends of human freedom in all lands.
VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR.
The vote of Winchendon for candidates for the office of President of the United States, and also for Governor of the Commonwealth, since
261
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
the century came in, here follow. In the case of the national officers, the names of the candidates rather than of the presidential electors are given.
1800. President .*
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson.
Governor.
Caleb Strong
had 45 votes.
19
Elbridge Gerry 1801.
Caleb Strong
.€
Elbridge Gerry
22.4
Fisher Ames
1
66
1802.
Caleb Strong
98
Elbridge Gerry 1803.
Caleb Strong
77
Elbridge Gerry
10
1804. President.
C. C. Pinckney,
72
Thomas Jefferson
41
1813.
Caleb Strong
169
Caleb Strong
109
1805.
Caleb Strong
103
James Sullivan
45
1806.
Caleb Strong
120
James Sullivan
47
1807.
1816. President .*
Caleb Strong
122
James Sullivan
39
Levi Lincoln
1
Governor.
John Brooks
164
1808. President .*
James Madison,
Samuel Dexter 1817. John Brooks
144
Henry Dearborn,
44
James Sullivan
40
John Crosby
1
* Not recorded, but Mr. Adams had a large majority.
* Not recorded.
1
Christopher Gore Levi Lincoln
135
55
1810.
Elbridge Gerry,
46
.€
Christopher Gore 1811.
126
Elbridge Gerry
48
Christopher Gore 1812. President .*
*James Madison, De Witt Clinton.
Governor.
Caleb Strong
148
Elbridge Gerry
47
Governor.
Joseph B. Varnum 1814.
Caleb Strong
167
Samuel Dexter
€.
42
1815.
Caleb Strong Samuel Dexter 52
168
James Monroe, Rufus King.
59
Charles C. Pinckney.
Governor.
Christopher Gore John Quincy Adams Thomas Knowlton 1809.
had 129 votes.
1
39
108
16
262
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1818.
John Brooks
had 130 votes.
41
John Brooks " 153
B. W. Crowninshield
28
1820. President.
James Monroe
Governor.
John Brooks
133
B. W. Crowninshield
34
1821.
John Brooks
=
119
William Eustis
38
.6
Josiah Quincy
1
1822.
John Brooks
116
66
William Eustis
44
1823.
William Eustis
64
Harrison Gray Otis
140
1824. President.
John Quincy Adams
49
Andrew Jackson
30
Governor.
William Eustis.
1825.
Levi Lincoln
77
.6
1836. President.
Martin Van Buren
Daniel Webster " 113
Governor.
Edward Everett
113
Marcus Morton 1837.
Edward Everett,
181
Marcus Morton 1838.
Edward Everett
" 165
John Quincy Adams
82
Governor.
Levi Lincoln
87
Edward Everett
" 158
..
Marcus Morton
16
2
1829.
Levi Lincoln Marcus Morton 1830.
had 87 rotes. 66 4 "
Levi Lincoln Marcus Morton 1831.
" 110
38
Levi Lincoln
49
Marcus Morton
33
Samuel Lathrop
1832. President.
Andrew Jackson
Henry Clay
85
William Wirt
38
Governor.
Levi Lincoln
73
Marcus Morton
43
Samuel Lathrop
65
John Davis
52
1833.
John Q. Adams
..
57
6.
Marcus Morton 1834.
John Davis
137
Marcus Morton 1835.
Edward Everett
Marcus Morton
69
77
William Sullivan 1826.
Levi Lincoln
66
Samuel Hubbard
62
James Lloyd 1827.
..
1
Levi Lincoln
92
James Lloyd
2
110
1828. President.
Andrew Jackson
00
117
Marcus Morton 1839.
Marcus Morton
" 181
66
48
66
88
3
75
76
64
B. W. Crowninshield 1819.
263
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1840. President.
Wm. Henry Harrison had 211 votes. Martin Van Buren 125
Governor.
Marcus Morton
" 145
John Davis
" 202
1841.
John Davis
" 158
Marcus Morton
" 138
1842.
John Davis
163
Marcus Morton
153
Samuel E. Sewall
9
1843.
Marcus Morton
160
Geo. N. Briggs
160
Samuel E. Sewall
16
1844. President.
James K. Polk
143
Henry Clay
175
James G. Birney
43
Governor.
George N. Briggs
183
George Bancroft
145
Samuel E. Sewall 1845.
George N. Briggs
174
Isaac Davie
119
66
Samuel E. Sewall 1846.
45
George N. Briggs
123
Isaac Davis
89
..
Samuel E. Sewall 1847.
George N. Briggs
122
Caleb Cushing
98
Samuel E. Sewall
71
1848. President.
Zachary Taylor
Lewis Cass
Martin Van Buren
14 263
Governor.
George N. Briggs
Caleb Cushing
Stephen C. Phillips
" 220
1849.
George N. Briggs had 114 votes.
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