USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 22
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The Town of Fitzwilliam Dr.
to fifteen days of making rates at two Shillings and eight pence per day, lawful money, old way, equal to Rie at four Shillings per bushel.
Abner Stone.
An accompt for carrying Eleazer Pratt and family out of Town. £50. Joshua Willard.
Abner Stone was one of the selectmen, and made up his ac- count for service on a specie basis. While Constable Willard's fifty pounds in currency, allowing seventy five for one, which may be called the rate at that time, really amounted to only thirteen shillings fourpence in silver, or expressed in dollars, at six shillings to a dollar, it would be two dollars and twenty-
AUTHORIZED SCALE OF CURRENCY DEPRECIATION. 263
two cents. The value of the pound at that time was three dollars and thirty-three and one third cents.
In the Revolutionary War and in the War of the Rebellion the town raised very large amounts for war purposes which do not appear in the table. In Chapter XII. of this history, which treats of the last-mentioned struggle, a summary of the cost of that war to Fitzwilliam will be found, but what was raised during the Revolutionary War for the common defence can- not be accurately stated. In about eight months the town ap- propriated twenty-five thousand four hundred and thirty-four pounds for soldiers' wages, and to pay for provisions for the Continental Army.
The rapid depreciation in the actual value of the currency eansed so much trouble in the settlement of debts and con- tracts, that an anthorized scale of depreciation was issued by the Legislature in 1781, by which contracts made at different times might be adjusted. This scale, which is here given, in- dicates the number of pounds of the paper currency which should be equivalent to one hundred pounds in specie at the different dates.
1777.
1778.
1779.
1780.
1781.
January.
100
325
742
2,934
7,500
February.
104
3.50
868
3,322
7,500
March.
106
375
1,000
3,736
7,500
April
110
400
1,104
4,000
7,500
May
114
400
1,215
4,800
7,500
June
120
400
1.342
5,700
12,000
July
125
425
1,417
6,000
August.
150
450
1,630
6,300
September.
175
475
1,800
6,500
October
275
500
2,030
6,700
November.
310
545
2,308
7.000
December
310
634
2,393
7,300
It is impossible to tell whether the appropriations for high- ways in the early years of the town were for repairs alone or included the cost of new roads, but since the present century came in special appropriations have always been made for the
264
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
building of new roads, unless the projected road was very short, and sometimes even then. The amounts in the table were expended entirely for repairs, with these small exceptions, and were usually paid in labor. Previous to 1815, as far as has been ascertained, six cents per hour was allowed : 1815-17, eight cents ; 1818-20, six cents ; 1821-35, eight cents ; 1836-39, ten cents ; 1840-47, eight cents ; 1848-63, ten cents ; 1864-72, sixteen and two third cents ; 1873-75, twenty cents ; 1876-78, sixteen and two third cents ; 1879, twelve cents ; 1880, sixteen and two third cents ; 1881-82, fifteen cents.
In 1789 the town was authorized by special act of the Leg- islature to levy a tax of a penny per aere on all the land in town subject to taxation for three years, for the benefit of the highways. This was in addition to the regular appropriation. The collector of this tax was Simon Crosby for the three years. Partial lists of this tax and a complete list of the pro- prietors tax for 1788 have been preserved and are valuable as giving the ownership of the land at the time. The earliest regular town tax list that has been preserved is for the year 1793, and from that date the series is complete to the present time. It is not known what has become of the earlier lists or why they were not preserved. As not a single list is found, it is possible that they were purposely destroyed when all the taxes had been accounted for. Fitzwilliam is not alone in this, as several of the neighboring towns have no lists of an earlier date than 1793.
In 1794 and before, the appropriations and taxes are stated in pounds, shillings and pence ; in 1795 and after, in dollars and cents.
265
APPROPRIATIONS, 1773-1811.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Date.
Schools.
Town Charges.
High- ways.
Date.
Schools.
Town Charges.
High- ways.
1773. . .
1831 ..
$420
$400
$800
1774. . .
] -
5
50 1833. .
425
400
800
1776. . .
10
22
30
1835 ..
450
700
800
1778. . .
15
13
90, 1836. .
500
1,300
1,000
1779. ..
180
50
350 1837. .
500
1,200
1,000
1750. ..
400
300
1,800 1838 ..
800
1,000
1,000
1781. . .
1,500
700
3,000
1839 ..
800
1,500
1,000
1782. ..
20
50 1840. .
800
2,000
500
1783. . .
. . . .
50
1841 ..
800
4,000
500
1784. . .
30
.
100
1842 ..
800
2,500
1,000
1785. . .
30
15
150
1843. .
800
2,500
1,200
1786. . .
50
20
150
1844 ..
800
2,500
1,200
1787. . .
50
20
150
1845. .
800
2,000
1,200
17SS. . .
75
100
150
1846 ..
900
1,500
1,200
1789 ...
60
6
100
1847 ..
900
1,200
1,200
1790. . .
60
40
100 1848 ..
900
3,000
1,500
1791. . .
90
40
100
1849 ..
900
500
1,500
1792 .. .
100
50
150
1850 ..
900
600
1,500
1793. . .
100
75
150 1851 ..
900
800
1,500
1794 ...
130
30
150. 1852 ..
1,000
700
1,500
1795. . .
$400
$200
$500. 1853. .
1,000
1,000
1,500
1796 .. .
500
170
500 1854. .
1,000
1,000
1,500
1797 ...
600
150
600 1855. .
1,000
1,500
1,500
1798. . .
400
150
500 1856. .
1,200
1,500
1,500
1799. . .
400
250
400 1857 ..
1,000
1,500
1,500
1800. ..
300
200
400 1858. .
1,000
1,500
1,500
1801. . .
450
250
450 1859 ..
1,000
1,000
1,500
1802. ..
450
150
700
1860 ..
1,000
1,000
1,500
1803. ..
450
200
450
1861 ..
1,000
1,500
1,500
1804 .. .
450
200
800 1862 ..
800
1,500
1,000
1805. . .
400
420
800|1863 ..
1,000
2,000
1,000
1806 ...
400
200
800 1864. .
1,000
3,000
1,400
1807. . .
400
350
SOO 1865. .
1,500
3,000
1,500
180S ...
400
400
800 1866. .
1,500
4,000
1,500
1809. . .
450
350
800 1867. .
1,500
3,500
1,500
1810. ..
450
300
800 1868 ..
1,500
3,500
1,500
1811. . .
500
350
800 1869. .
1,600
5,000
1,500
.
£50 1832 ..
420
400
800
1775. . .
3
.
1834. .
450
800
800
1777 .. .
266
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
APPROPRIATIONS .- (Continued.)
Date.
Schools.
Town Charges.
High ways.
Date.
Schools.
Town Charges.
High- ways.
1812. . .
$500
$300
$400
1870 ..
$1,500
$6,000 $1,500
1813 .. .
500
450
600
1871 ..
1,500
5,000
1,200
1814. . .
500
650
650
1872 ..
1,500
3,500
1,200
1815. . .
500
450
1,000
1873. .
1,600
3,500
1,600
1816. . .
400
500
800
1874. .
2,000
2,000
1,600
1817. . .
400
450
800
1875. .
2,000
2,000
1,600
1818. . .
410
600
410 1876. .
2,000
2,000
1,600
1819. . .
900
410 1877 ..
2,000
1,500
1,500
1820. . .
500
700
400 1878. .
2,000
1,500 1,600
1821. . .
500
400
800 1879. .
1,600
500
1,300
1822. . .
500
200
800 1880. .
2,000
200
2,000
1823. . .
500
400
1.000 18S1 ..
1,800
100
2,000
1824. . .
500
350
800 1882. .
1,800
500
2,000
1825. . .
500
200
S00 1883. .
2,000
500
1,600
1826. . .
500
275
S00 1884. .
2,000
500
1,600
1827. . .
500
300
800 1885. .
2,000
100
1,600
1828. . .
600
200
800 :1886. .
2,000
none
1,300
1829 .. .
600
400
1830 ...
425
400
1,000 1887 .. 600
1,500
1,300
The number of resident tax-payers in 1793 was two hun- dred and twenty-one ; in 1803, two hundred and thirty-five ; in 1813, two hundred and fifty-eight ; in 1823, two hundred and thirty-nine, and in 1833, three hundred.
The ten highest tax-payers were as follows :
1793.
1803.
1813. Phinehas Reed,
Sylvanus Reed,
Samuel Kendall,
Thos. Richardson,
Matthias Felton,
.Tesse Forristall,
Jonas Robeson,
Reuben Pratt,
William Farrar,
Samuel Tower,
Francis Fullam,
Jonas Robeson,
Samuel Griffin,
Jonas Knight,
Thomas Goldsmith,
Amos Pratt,
Nathaniel Wilson,
Matthias Felton,
Nahum Parker,
Joshua Harrington,
Francis Fullam,
Abel Baker,
Levi Brigham,
Amos Pratt,
William Farrar,
Benjamin Davison.
Artemas Wilson.
Matthias Felton.
Sanmel Kendall,
Phinehas Reed,
267
PROMPT PAYMENT OF TAXES.
1823.
Town, State, County, Minister, Highway and School Taxes.
Daniel Reed. $42.17
Samuel Griffin 33.92
Josiah Fullam 31.51
John Whittemore 30.02
Levi Tower 25.90
David Stone 28.53
Dexter Whittemore. . 30.06
Phinehas Wright 27.60
Susan Robeson . 27.29
William F. Perry 26.78
Theophilus May . 26.65
1833.
Town, State, County, Highway and School Taxes.
Phinehas Reed $44.65
Samuel Knight 33.39
John Burbank, Jr 33.12
John Sabin 31.32
Jacob Felton. 30.14
Daniel Spaulding. 29.19
Thomas Richardson . 27 22
Daniel Forristall 26.97
David Stone. 26.37
With regard to the financial condition of Fitzwilliam since its incorporation in 1773, this may be said :
In the earlier years of the town it would seem from the records that the taxes were not always paid as promptly as was desirable, owing, no doubt, in most cases to the scarcity of money, but since the commencement of the present century there has been very little cause for complaint regarding this matter.
In 1858, the selectmen, in making their annual report to the town, were able to say that
notwithstanding the embarrassed condition of all moneyed institutions through the length and breadth of our country and the world, the tax- payers of Fitzwilliam, with the exception only of the abatements, stated in the above report, have paid every dollar of their taxes so promptly that the Treasury has ever been able to redeem our orders at sight, and on settlement with the Treasurer, we found the Collector had the receipts in full of State, County and Town Treasurers and of the School District Agents.
This is certainly a favorable exhibit in financial matters.
In ordinary times the chief expenditures must always be for the support of schools and the making and maintaining the highways ; for schools because a new generation is always de- manding the means of education, and for the highways be- cause the face of the country is so irregular that the earth upon the hills is constantly finding its way to the valleys.
268
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
Before the breaking out of the Rebellion, when extraordinary expenses became at once necessary, it was the settled policy of the town to carry no debt along from year to year, but as far as was practicable to raise each year such amount as would be needed to cover the expenditures for the year. From 1861 onward for the space of five years a large amount of money was needed to pay bounties to the men enlisting in the service of the country, to support soldiers' families, and to meet other extraordinary expenses, but probably few towns had less diffi- culty in keeping their treasnries supplied. During this time, as is well known, many towns paid a considerable bonus for money, but even when the United States Government was paying 73% per cent interest, this town borrowed all it needed at the rate of six per cent. The details of these war expenses will be shown in the chapter upon the suppression of the Re- bellion, but the following summary may here be given :
In March, 1862, the extra expenses had amounted to two hundred and four dollars and nine cents, while the indebted- ness of the town was thirteen hundred and seventy-four dol- lars and forty-eight cents.
In March, 1863, extra expenses reported amounted to forty- nine hundred and forty-three dollars and fifty cents, while the town's indebtedness was forty-one hundred and eighty dollars and fifty-four cents.
March, 1864, the extra expenses occasioned by the war amounted to twelve thousand five hundred and two dollars, and the indebtedness of the town was nine thousand eighty- two dollars and sixty-seven cents.
March, 1865, the report showed that twelve thousand two hundred and seventeen dollars and thirty cents had been ex- pended for soldiers' bounties, etc., during the year, and that the town's indebtedness had reached the sum of nineteen thousand one hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifty-eight cents.
March, 1866, the report showed that the extra expenses had been forty-two hundred and fifty dollars and nineteen cents, and that the town then owed twenty-one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty-three dollars and ninety-seven cents (its maxi-
·
269
FUNDING THE TOWN DEBT.
mum debt). The uncollected taxes for the year amounted to thirty-nine dollars and fifty cents.
At the March meeting, 1867, the report showed that the rate of taxation had been one dollar and ninety-one cents on one hundred dollars, and that the town's indebtedness was twenty thousand five hundred and twenty-four dollars and forty-six cents.
In 1868 the rate had been one dollar and sixty-seven cents on every one hundred dollars, while the indebtedness had been reduced to nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars and fifty-three cents.
The subject of funding the town debt having been properly brought before the town at the annual meeting in March, 1867, it was voted that an amount not exceeding twenty thou- sand dollars of the debt should be funded by coupon bonds payable in from three to fifteen years, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum, payable semi-annually. None of the bonds were to be sold under par, and they were to be issued only for funding the debt of the town. The committee ap- pointed to carry this vote into effect consisted of Amos A. Parker, Joel Whittemore, and Amos J. Blake. At the next annual meeting, March, 1868, this committee made the fol- lowing report :
The Committee appointed at the last Annual Town Meeting to fund the town debt, not exceeding $20,000 in amount, promptly attended to the duty assigned them. As soon as practicable they procured a Town Seal and printed blank Bonds with coupons annexed ; and then proceeded to issne them as fast as people could be found to take them.
This, especially at first, was no easy task, although repudiation by towns is impossible and the security most ample ; yet, as the Govern- ment were, all the time, paying a larger interest, not a few preferred the Government Bonds. The work, however, has been done, the whole amount of $20.000 has been funded in Bonds running not less than three nor more than fifteen years from their date.
We would report our transactions in detail as follows :
We have received accrued interest on Bonds issued after their date $28.74, and have allowed interest on moneys received for Bonds issued before their date $73.16, which makes the amount of money received by us $19,955.58.
270
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
After giving a list of notes paid amounting with the interest on them to eighteen thousand eight hundred and thirty-two dollars and ninety-eight cents, which, with eleven hundred and twenty-two dollars and sixty cents paid into the town treasury, made the total amount nineteen thousand nine hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifty-eight cents, same as received, the re- port proceeded :
The Bonds issued fall due as follows :
July 1, 1870. $1,000
January 1, 1876 $1,000
January 1, 1871
2,500
January 1, 1877 800
July 1, 1871
300
July 1, 1877 1,400
January 1, 1872
1,600
January 1, 1878
400
July 1, 1872 2,100
January 1, 1880 200
January 1, 1873
300
July 1, 1882 1,900
July 1, 1873.
2,300
January 1, 1874
3,500
Total.
$20,000
January 1, 1875.
700
The Committee, considering that they have completed the work as- signed them, have passed over to the Selectmen the Notes they have paid. Have paid to the town Treasurer the cash remaining in their hands, and are prepared to deliver over the Town Seal and the unused blank Bonds.
A. A. Parker, Committee
Joel Whittemore, for funding the
Amos J. Blake, Town Debt.
Fitzwilliam, Feb. 29, 1868.
The subscriber having examined the above report of the Committee for funding the Town Debt finds it accurately cast and properly vouched. Samuel Kendall,
Fitzwilliam, Feb. 29, 1868. Auditor.
Though the bonds were not so readily taken at the very first, yet afterward the committee could easily have disposed of a much larger amount.
The following table shows the rate of taxation on a hundred dollars, and the amount of the town's indebtedness as reported by the selectmen at the annual meetings from 1869 to 1880 inclusive. In 1873 the assets included five thousand dollars of State bonds, which reduced the indebtedness by that amount.
271
LEGAL VOTERS IN 1820.
Year.
Rate.
Debt.
Year.
Rate.
Debr.
1869
$1.96
$19, 139.40 1875 .. . .
$1.38
$1,947.55
1870.
2.20
18,943.79 1876 .. . .
1.30
1,130.17
1871
2.46
15. 644.55 1877 .. .
1.28
2,022.74
1872
2.60
13, 761.86 1878 .. . .
1.30
S56.51
1873
2.00
5.322.38 1879 .. . .
1.42
80.43
1874 ....
1.85
3,097.55 1880 .. ..
.95
surplus 576.76
In ISSO the assets exceeded the liabilities by five hundred and seventy-six dollars and seventy-six cents.
It is proposed to insert here a copy of the list of legal voters in the town, as prepared by the selectmen, Joseph Brigham, John J. Allen, and David Stone, February 21st, 1820, for the annual meeting in March.
A.
Thaddeus Cummings.
F.
Arunah Allen.
Luther Chapman.
William Flagg.
John J. Allen.
Calvin Coolidge.
Jesse Forristall.
Jubal Allen.
John Cobleigh.
Daniel Forristall.
Solomon Alexander.
Curtis Coolidge.
Amos Freeman.
Abel Angier, Jr.
Josiah Carter.
Levi Chamberlain.
Levi Fassett.
Hyman Bent. Wm. H. Bent.
D.
Joseph Fassett. Obil Fassitt.
Elisha Bent.
Benjamin Davidson.
Luna Foster.
Art. Beard.
Samuel Davis.
Rufus Foster.
Charles Bowker.
Amos Davis.
Darius Fisher.
Joseph Blodget. Abel Baker.
Moses Drury, Jr.
Herman Fisher.
Bartlett Bowker.
Abel Dunton.
John Fay. Francis Fullum.
Melvin Brown.
Sylvanus Dana.
Josiah Fullum.
John Bosworth. Levi Brigham. Joseph Brigham.
Jude Damon. Nathan Drury.
Timothy Blodget.
Joseph Bigelow. John Burbank.
Oliver Damon. Oliver Damon, Jr.
John Burbank, Jr.
George Damon.
C.
Abisha Collins. Jonathan Cass. Silas Chase.
E.
Benjamin Eddy. Samuel Ellis. Pelatiah M. Everett.
G.
Edward Goodwin. Samuel Griffin. Richard Gleason, Jr. James Godfrey. James Gibson. David Grant.
Philip Amadon.
Amos Cobleigh.
Philemon Fairbanks.
Abel Angier.
Moses Chaplin.
Samuel Felch.
Elisha Fassett.
B.
John Fassett.
Benjamin Davidson.
Elisha Drury. Luther Damon.
Matthias Felton.
Artemas Felton.
Joseph Fassett, 2d.
Ezekiel Collins.
Jesse Forristall, Jr.
272
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
Allen Grant. Micah Graves, Jr. David Graves. Jonas Gary.
H.
Joel Hayden.
Ezra Hayden. Asahel Hartwell.
Joel Hunt.
Nahum Howe. Edward Holman.
Sylvanus Holman.
Moses Hayden.
Samuel Ilayden.
Phineas Howe. Amos Hale. Royal Howard.
I and J.
Josiah Ingalls. Eliphalet Johnson.
K.
John Knight.
Luke Kendall.
William Knight. Samuel Kilburn. Jonas Knight.
L.
William Locke.
Edward Loud. William Locke, Jr. Joseph Locke. Asa H. Locke. Elijah Lyon.
M.
Jabez Morse. John Moody. Daniel Mellen. Cyrus Mulliken. John Mellen. Thomas Moore. Josiah Moore. Noah Miles. John Miles. John MeCurdy. Joel Miles.
0.
Matthew Osborn. John Osborn.
Jonah Osborn. Benjamin Osborn. Matthew Osborn, Jr. P.
Robinson Perkins. Jared Perkins.
Shubel Plympton.
Samuel Patch.
Elihu Penniman, Jr.
Elihu Penniman.
John Petts.
Nahum Parker.
Nahum Parker, Jr.
Wm. F. Perry. Amos Pratt.
Joseph Pratt.
Reuben Pratt.
Edward Platts.
Jedediah Putney. Levi Pratt.
Ebenezer Potter.
Ebenezer Potter, Jr. Peter Prescott.
Peter Prescott, Jr.
Ebenezer Prescott.
Elijah Phillips.
Nathaniel Phillips.
Phineas Parks, Jr.
R.
David Rice.
David Riee, Jr.
Luke B. Richardson.
Thomas Richardson.
Phineas Reed.
Daniel Reed.
Samuel Randall.
Samuel Rockwood.
Thos. Richardson, Jr.
S.
John Sabin. Hezekiah Stone.
Artemas Stone.
Samuel Stone.
Nathaniel S. Stone.
Daniel Simonds. Ebenezer Saunders.
Amasa Seott. Calvin Smith. John Stone. James Stone. John Sargent. Abner Stone. David Stone.
John Shirley. Jonathan Stone. Elijah T. Smith. James Stone, Jr.
Joseph Stone. Joseph Stone, 2d. John Stone, 2d. Moses Stone.
Nathan Smith.
Royal Smith.
Caleb Sweetser.
Daniel Streeter.
T.
Levi Tower. Samuel Tower. Nathan Townsend.
Otis Taft.
Aaron Townsend.
James Taylor, Jr.
V.
John W. Van Doorn.
W.
Ebenezer Wright. Phineas Wright.
Aaron Wright.
John Whitcomb.
Oliver Whitcomb.
Oliver Whitcomb, Jr.
Joshua Worcester.
Joel Wright. Stephen White. Thomas Wilson.
Gardner Wright.
Jonas Woods.
Silas Woods. John Whittemore. Dexter Whittemore.
Silas Warner. William Whittemore.
Asa Wait. Asa Wait, Jr.
Joel Whitney.
Artemas Wilson.
Artemas Wilson, Jr.
Benjamin Wilson.
David Whitney.
Josiah Wilson. Noah White. Daniel White. Total number, 219. Checked on the list as voting, 105.
CHECK LISTS, 1830-1884. 273
The check-list for the March meeting, 1830, contains two hundred and forty-seven names, and of these two hundred and seven voted for Governor. Only forty did not vote.
At the Presidential election, November 2d, 1840, the check- list contained three hundred and seventy-two names ; of these three hundred and thirty-four voted. Thirty-eight did not vote.
In 1850 the check-list prepared September 19th contained three hundred and twenty-six names.
The check-list for the annual town meeting in March, 1860, contained three hundred and fifty-eight names, and of these three hundred and twelve voted the State ticket. Forty-six did not vote.
For the annual meeting, March, 1870, the list contained the names of three hundred and four voters.
In 1880 the list contained the names of three hundred and eight voters, and in November two hundred and eighty voted.
At the Presidential election in 1884 the check-list contained three hundred and twelve names, and of these two hundred and sixty-five voted as follows for electors :
Greenback or Butler Ticket
Prohibition or St. John 27
Democratic or Cleveland 80
Republican or Blaine 156.
18
CHAPTER XII.
FITZWILLIAM IN THE REBELLION.
Antagonism Between Freedom and Slavery-Election of Abraham Lincoln -Excitement at the Breaking Out of the War-Action of the Town for Enlisting Soldiers-These in Their Several Regiments-Summary of Expenses and Losses-Soldiers' Monument-Incidents of the War.
T HE history of the world proves conclusively that there is r a deadly antagonism between freedom and slavery. In the early years of our republic, the two systems began the con- test, and it grew hotter and hotter till the great Rebellion was inaugurated. But long before the outbreak of hostilities be- tween the North and the South the design of the slave power to extend, if possible, but most certainly to perpetuate itself, was painfully manifest. When Missouri was admitted as one of the States of the Union, in 1821, and slavery was allowed there, the friends of liberty throughout the land were alarmed, and the pressure brought by them to bear upon Congress was so great that the measure called the Missouri Compromise was reluctantly passed. The South had demanded
the right to extend slavery over all the Territories of the United States, the right to hold their slaves in all the States of the Union temporarily, that speaking or writing against slavery in any State of the Union should be a penal offence, that the North should catch the fugitive slaves and send them back to bondage, and that the administration of the General Government should be placed in the hands of those only whom the South could trust, as the pledged enemies of republican equality and the friends of slavery.
To meet this demand, so far as the extension of slavery was concerned, the Missouri Compromise was framed, and it was recognized certainly at the North as a solemn compact never to be broken. But the great mass of the Southern people always regarded its terms with disfavor, and seemed ready to set it aside if possible, when the first hopeful opportunity should offer. Such an occasion appeared to present itself when
RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING SLAVERY EXTENSION. 275
the people of the Territory of Nebraska adopted a Constitution, and asked to be adinitted to the Union. for, if slavery could be legalized there, its friends were confident that nothing could prevent its spreading over all the newer Territories that might soon be organized farther West.
The liberty-loving people of the country had not forgotten the scenes that had been witnessed in Kansas, when the most in- human means were resorted to for the purpose of giving slavery a permanent foothold there ; and the indignation of the North was thoroughly aroused by this new effort to override the Compromise and make slavery possible in Nebraska.
This statement will sufficiently explain the action of the voters of Fitzwilliam which is given below.
At the annual meeting of the town, March 14th, 1854, Asa S. Kendall offered the following resolutions ;
1. Resolved, That we, the legal voters of Fitzwilliam in Town Meeting assembled, most earnestly and solemnly Protest against the passage by Congress of any Bill calculated to impair, annul or render inoperative, or declaring that any legislation has superseded, annulled or rendered inoperative, the provisions known as the Missouri Compromise embraced in the eighth section of the Act admitting Missouri into the Union, which is as follows :
" That in all that Territory ceded by France to the United State under the name of Louisiana which lies north of the thirty-sixthi degree and thirty minutes of North Latitude, not included within the limits of the State contemplated by this Act, Slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than as the punishment of crimes, shall be and hereby is for- ever prohibited."
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