Count the Cost: An Address to the People of Connecticut, On Sundry Political Subjects, and Particularly on the Proposition for a New Constitution — John Shaqi
Count the Cost: An Address to the People of Connecticut, On Sundry Political Subjects, and Particularly on the Proposition for a New ConstitutionDaggett, David
History
Count the Cost: An Address to the People of Connecticut, On Sundry Political Subjects, and Particularly on the Proposition for a New Constitution
Daggett, David
Connecticut -- Politics and government -- 1775-1865; Constitutional law -- Connecticut
These proceedings have been regarded as the ark of our political safety
by the great and the good of all parties, who have gone before us. Never
till this year have we heard, or even suspected that our state was
governed by lawless mobs. Now, as a means to effect a revolution, for
the first time, have a few designing men endeavored to excite alarm--
they have indeed excited alarm--sober men of their own party are
alarmed--honest men, who are not misguided, see the whole extent of this
project and they will frown it into contempt.
5. Mr. Edwards, as chairman of a body of men whom he calls a State
Committee, on the 30th of July, without consulting even his brethren of
the Committee, ordered delegates to meet at New-Haven on the 5th
Wednesday of August. In those towns where enough could not be assembled
to elect a member, the person written to, was authorized to attend and
take a seat. In some towns the proposition was rejected even by
Republicans. The delegates thus chosen, with all who united with their
opinions, and chose to attend, met at the time and place appointed--shut
their doors against every eye and ear--sat one day, formed an address,
ordered ten thousand copies printed and dissolved. This address we have
seen. It deserves some notice:
The first thing that attracts our attention is, that William Judd, Esq.
of Farmington, is appointed chairman. This was an admirable provision
--such a meeting should certainly have such a head. A man with the habit
of devoting his feeble talents to intrigue, and who is noticeable only
for an ostentatious parade, would preside in such an assembly with
peculiar grace. His acquaintance could not but approve of this
exhibition of the power of inflammable air and be pleased with its
effects [on] an exhausted receiver. The meeting thus organized proceeded
to stile this Convention as follows: "AT a meeting of Delegates from
ninety-seven towns of the state of Connecticut, convened at New-Haven on
the 29th of August, 1804." Delegates--Delegates do they stile themselves?
The people would be obliged to this Convention to disclose their
authority. Who commissioned these gentlemen for this important labor of
providing them with a Constitution? The truth is not a man in that
Convention was chosen by a majority of the people of [their] town--in
many instances with less than a quarter part, and in general with less
than a tenth----yet they call themselves Delegates. Thus [the]
Convention with Major Judd in the chair, precede their address [with] a
grosly deceptive declaration---a declaration notoriously false and
[impu]dent. They then declare it as their unanimous opinion, "that the
people of this state are at present without a Constitution of civil
Government." This was to have been expected. Mr. Edwards ordered them to
meet for that purpose, and shall they not obey their master? Bishop and
Wolcott have repeatedly directed them to make this declaration, and
Major Judd knows it to be true.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account