Qass. 
 Book. 
 
 \ "• '^•i 
 
iHE 
 
 MISCHIEFS 
 
 ^LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSESj 
 
 EXPOSED IN AN 
 
 £i®2DIEIE§^ 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 TRIT31BUIJ.. 
 
 HARlTOit.D-: 
 
 ■^•lu; . iN & soxs !'>;5 
 
']'/ 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 To all the real friends of the State of Connecticutf ofererij 
 sect, denomination and party whatever : 
 
 FELLOW CITIZEA^S, 
 
 Feeling a deep interest in common with you in the peace and 
 prosperity ot" this heretofore highly favoured community, I wish to 
 address you on a suhject of more importance than any which has 
 occurred since the formation of a government in our beloved state. 
 
 I have chosen this period, because it appeared to my mind to be 
 more favourable to cool reflection than any which might occur in 
 the course of the year. We are now free from the excitement of an 
 approaching election. The party in power have finished their work 
 for this year ; and the severe shock which has been every where 
 felt by their legislative results, has so far subsided, that our judg- 
 ments can be safely trusted. Nor is there any thing in the politi- 
 cal affairs of the nation calculated to awaken passion or the spirit 
 of party. The measures of the general government are approved 
 by all good citizens ; and while they evince wisdom and fidelity in 
 our national councils, they excite neither jealousy, distrust nor 
 clamor. The great questions which have so long and so unhappily 
 divided public opinion, have been put at rest, by the general peace 
 in Europe ; and harmony prevails to a degree unknown, since the 
 establishment of the national government. 
 
 In regard to our own State, the formation and adoption of the 
 new Constitution has quieted the minds of those who wished for an 
 enlargement of the right of suffrage, and for greater freedom in re- 
 ligion. All male citizens above twenty-one years of age, may now 
 vote at our elections : and the small nominal superiority which the 
 Congregationalists had over the other denominations, arising solely 
 from their being a majority, is now removed ; and all are placed on 
 a perfect level. Whether these provisions are wise or unwise, and 
 whether it was discreet to cause such clianges in our politic|i| insti- 
 tutions, is not now to be questioned. All agree, that the Constitu- 
 tion must be implicitly obeyed, as the supreme law of the land. 1 
 cannot imagine, therefore, a more favourable time for candid reflec- 
 
4 
 
 tion on the past, and sobei- meditation on the future. I do not wisl^ 
 to indulije in unprofitalile speculations on what has been done, and 
 Vvhich cannot be recalled. Recrimination, and the mutual accusa- 
 tions of partisans against their political adversaries, have produced 
 great evils — they should never be indulged except when just; and 
 also when necessary to influence our conduct in future. The en- 
 quiry now should be, what course, under existing circumstances, 
 does wisdom point out: and to give an enlightened answer to that 
 question, a recurrence must be had to past events. 
 
 In this point of view onlvj it is proper, and not only proper, but 
 necessary to inquire into (he conduct of public men. Without such 
 a scrutiny, we cannot learn whether they are entitled to our confi- 
 dence and whether they may be trusted in future. Here, again 1 
 would remark, that a single mistake, or many mistakes, or eveu 
 great errors, while the motives are pure, should be no ground for 
 withdrawing our coniitlence fiom public men. To err is the lot ef 
 humanity. Great and wise men are not exempt from this frailty of 
 our natures. I come not, therefore, to speak to you of some unwise 
 measures adopted by your rulers, from misapprehension or error. 
 
 These might be corrected by the same men when better inform- 
 ed, and entirely avoided in future. My message is of a different 
 character. I covne to inform you that your interests have not been 
 even consulted for the three last sessions of the General Assembly ; 
 and that the foulest corruption has defiled the sanctuary of legisla- 
 tion. 
 
 It is no\Y more than three years since a combination was formed 
 among the restless, ambitious and dissolute part of the community, 
 to seize upon ail the public offices in the state, and apportion them 
 among themselves. If this combination was in some measure tacit, 
 it was nevertheless real and practical .> To promote its views, a 
 standard was raised, called Toleration, and offices were unblush- 
 ingly offered to all who would resort to it. 
 
 Thus every office in the state, for three years past, has been in 
 market, except those of Judges of tlie Superior Court and Supreme 
 Court of Errors. It was falsely pretended that these were to' 
 sacred^o be sported wit!i, or wantonly bartered away;^ and the 
 strongest assurances were made, that they should remain sacred as 
 (hey ought to have been ; yet these have been sold at auction to the 
 highest bidder, and the present occupants have yielded as a con?id- 
 
'.^.ration, an entire adherence to this standard. To th:s rcDvark there 
 is one honorable exception. His appointment, however, is well 
 known to have been occasioned by the abortion of a monstrous cau- 
 eus-arran<!,en)ent, by which a State senator was to have been trans- 
 ferred to the Senate of the United States; and a Senator of the 
 United States, to have been placed on the bench of the Supreme- 
 Court. 
 
 Among some of the first operations of this combination, we have 
 seen meetings, calletl caucusses, holden in all parts of the state, to 
 devise plans to deceive and mislead the people. livery species of 
 falsehood and fraud was resortftd to, to effect their object, and at 
 length tliey succeeded in electing a new representation to Congress, 
 and a majority in both branches of the State legislature. 
 
 Here,-for the honor of the State, I could wish to dravv' a veil over 
 the disgraceful and alarming proceedings of the legislature, since a 
 majority of its members have be«n selected out of that combination : 
 but truth, and a regard to the welfare of the people and posterity, 
 oblige me to state, what, indeed, is well known : that a majority af 
 both Houses have met to consult, not for the good of the state, but 
 merely to appoint themselves and others who belong to this comhi^ 
 nation, to office. Were there written articles or covenants under 
 hand and seal to this effect, they would not be more effectual, or 
 more rigidly adhered to. Hence it is, that while the General As- 
 sembly is in session, and especially, when the subject of appoint- 
 ments is under consideration, there have been many more of that 
 combination, v>ho do notbe!on*to the General Assembly, attending 
 there to inffuence appointments, than those who are members of 
 that body. Yes, fellow citizens, strange and abiiorrent as it may 
 appear to a pure mind, it is nevertheless true, that for the three las't 
 sessions, it has been the constant practice of members|of the legisla- 
 ture to hold meetings called caucusses, with any and all who see fit 
 to assemble, from all parts of the state, of whatever character or 
 standing, and without any other credentials than an assurance that 
 they are prepared to go all lengths in turning out and jndting in. 
 
 Here, too, as is usual in other assemblies, the minority is pledged 
 to give way to the majority ; and every measure carried by a major 
 vote in these meetings, is of course voted for by all wlio belong to 
 this party in the legislature, v.hatevor may be their own private opin- 
 ion regarding it. 
 
6 
 
 Were these meetings composed of a portion of the legislature, in 
 exclusion of the remainder, but without admitting others from 
 abroad, they would be sufficiently alarming to excite the vigilant 
 attention of every friend to. the state. Even in that case, it is per- 
 fectly evident, that measures might be carried against the opinion 
 of a decided majority of the legislature. A measure is adopted in 
 caucus by a small majority — now if the minority, when the subject 
 comes before the house, would act according to their opinions, their 
 votes, when united with those who do not belong to this combina- 
 tion, miglit defeat the measure. This, however, they will not do ; 
 but in defiance of their " best judgment," and, when your interest 
 and mine, and that of the state and posterity, and the solemn oath 
 of God all require them so to act, they vote in direct opposition to 
 their own convictions in obedience to the decisions of a caucus. 
 What would the people thiak, if three out of the five judges of our 
 Supreme Court, should enter into a combination to decide all cau- 
 ses without consulting the other two ; and to tliis end, should retire 
 by themselves to discuss and determine each cause, and having 
 formed their opinion, shoulM call in the other two, to legalize the 
 decision of a majority of the* three ? Is it not easy to perceive that 
 in this mode, two out of five might controul the cause ? 
 
 I know that these suppositions may seem extravagant, but let 
 me tell you, fellow citizens, that unless this system of caucussing 
 receive a seasonable check from you, some of us may live to see 
 caucus judges as well as caucus legislators; nor is it more mon- 
 strous or alarming in one case than in the other. There is nothing 
 more sacred in the rights of parties to a suit in courts than in the 
 rights i)f the public in legislative proceedings ; and the danger of 
 extensive evils is far less, from corrupt decisions in private causes, 
 than in public measures ; as judges are not supposed to have any 
 interest in those causes : whereas, the sole object of these legis- 
 lative caucusscs is, t!ie promotion of the interest of the members, 
 in the appointment to office. But if these meetings would be so 
 alarming when held by a portion of the legislature, wliat are we to 
 think of tliem, when the worthless and abandoned are admitted to 
 participate in their deliberations and decisions ? 
 
 In this way it is evident, that as a majority of the caucus do not 
 belong to the Assembly, a measure of vita! importance may be 
 adopted against the conviction of every jnember of that body, In 
 
compliance with the decision of a caucus. And is it so ? That the 
 people, instead of being called to yield obedience to regulations 
 made by their representatives duly chosen, are compelled to sub- 
 mit to the will of a caucuf, composed of the ambitious, the restless 
 and the proflieiate ? 
 
 But again, asthese caucussesare unauthorized byany laworusage, 
 and as there is no regular mode of convening them, there is room for 
 the practice of the most gross fraud upon eacli other. Hence it has 
 happened that in the case of appointing candidates, both belonging 
 .to the favoured party, and both having friends who would attend a 
 caucus, one of them warns a meeting, giving no notice to the oppo- 
 sing candidate or his friends, and thus secures a major vote in cau- 
 cus, and ultimately an appointment in the legislature. 
 
 This combination, by these means, in a little more than three 
 years, has reduced our state from the highest point of elevation, to 
 the lowest point of depression. In the general government we 
 have uniformly furnished the House of Representatives with gen- 
 tlemen of the first talents, of unquestioned integrity, and who, by 
 their political opponents, have been acknowledged to be the safest 
 guardians of the public treasure, and on this interesting subject, 
 have had their full share of influence. In the places of such men, 
 wht) will be found in the next House of Representatives } I will 
 not undertake the disgusting task of analyzing their characters, 
 and of holding them up in contrast with those of their distino-uish- 
 ed predecessors ; but 1 will ask you to turn your attention to the 
 men individually, and enquire what have been their private char- 
 acters ? (For public characters they have not sustainad.) What 
 standing and rank have they held in their vaiious professions and 
 employments ^ What have their neighbors thought of their capacity 
 and integrity .^ Wlio has confided to them his own private con- 
 cerns .'' 
 
 In the Senate of the United States, a gentleman of a known pub- 
 lic character, who, through a long course of public service, to which 
 he was called. in early life, has sustained the reputation of undevi- 
 ating integrity and firmness, and who has been no less distinguish- 
 ed for brilliancy than solidity^f talents, ha« been superceded, to 
 make room for the election ofone signalized for nothing but pomp^. 
 froth and noise at the bar. 
 
8 
 
 Your judiciary? fellow citizens, where is it ? A few years since ic 
 was your pride ; it \v«* the admiration of your surrounding neighlvors 
 -^where is it novv ? Amidst all the professions of the present ruling 
 party, that this sanctuary should, in all evCTits, be held inviolate, and 
 by which some of you have been enticed and allured to aid them in 
 then- iniquitous course, whore is it now? I need not say, that the 
 honour of our state is prostrate ; and that Vve are humbled in the 
 dust. 
 
 As to the character of those judges who have been removed from 
 the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Errors, it is unnecessary 
 to speak particularly: they are personally known to many of you, 
 and tiieir chaiacters are known to you all. Having very soon dis- 
 tinguished them'selves at the bar, they were early promoted by the 
 unbiassed suftVages of the freemen, to some of the highest offices in 
 the gift of the people ; and this, too, when such a thing as a caucus, 
 or a ticket was unknown in this state; but when every freeman was 
 Si freeman indof d, and gave his vote according to the dictates of hJD 
 conscience and judgment. 
 
 Will it be said, that the public has gained any thing by superior- 
 ity of qualifications in the new judges over their^ predecessors .►* If 
 so, T ask you to go with me to the seats of justice in the various coun- 
 ties, and call to mind the patience of investigation, tlie soundness of 
 judgment, and the stern integrity which you have there witnessed : 
 If this does not satisfy you, go back to the. bar and there enquire 
 who held the superior rank } Tiiey have, in some instances, practi-* 
 sed in the same courts — been concerned in the same causes ; and 
 a comparison can easily be made. If any of you are so far under 
 the influence of the excitement of party, as to be unable to view 
 things in their true light, I pray you to go back with me three or 
 four years, and ask yourselves what would have been your sensa- 
 tions, had you been told that Judge Swift, Trumbull, Edmond, 
 Smith, Baldwin, Goddard and Gould, were all to be removed to 
 make room for John T. Peters, Asa Chapman and William Bristol, 
 Esquires ? 
 
 Of the judges tluis sacrificed by thfe combination of which I have 
 spoken, it may truly be ^aid, thattltifcunitedly possessed qualifica- 
 tions and talents rarely witnessed in tne same number of men. Who 
 in Connecticut is ignorant of the high attainments in science and 
 literature, of the profound knowledge of la«r» of the native vigor 
 
9 
 
 aiul deep penetration of mind, and of tiie ijuyieidii!;; it.togrity late- 
 ly so conspicuous on the seat of judgment ? 
 
 Will it be said that the new judges have superior chtims, aside 
 from pel sonal qualifications ? If so, I would enquire on what tliose 
 claims are founded ? Does the fact that the former judges when ap- 
 pointed to the bench, left very extensive and lucrative business, 
 and resigned it to those mIio are rising into notice, atVurd any such 
 claim ? Or can it be found in the fact that tlie office of judge has 
 been considered so permanent that these gentlemen might entertain 
 an entire confidence that, leaving profitable employments for seats 
 on the beuc!i,thej would be continued in office during good behav- 
 iour ? 
 
 The reason of this procedure cannot be found in the ordinarif 
 operations of parUj sph-it, but must be sought after in the still dai k- 
 er and more gloomy regions to which I have just directed your at- 
 tention. Is it not well known that our late judges iiave taken no 
 part in political controversy ^ When called to exercise tlieir rights 
 as citizens and as freemen, they have followed the dictates of their 
 ovv^n consciences, without taking any pains to influence others ; and 
 in the great questions which have agitated the political world for 
 years past, as they have not been called on to act officially, their 
 opinions have been scarcely known. Conscious, that not only a 
 strict impartiality, but freedom from even the suspicion of a contra- 
 ry disposition, was of the first importance in a judge, they have, as 
 it is well understood, kept their feelings equally balanced between 
 the conflicting parties, and the consequences have been, that the 
 most zealous partizans of each party, have had equal confidence in 
 their decisions; nor has a whisper of complaint of partiality beers 
 heard from any quarter. Two of these gentlemen, have, indeed., 
 been frequently charged with treason ; and their names have beeti 
 held up to public execration as traitors, for no other reason, than 
 that they performed with fidelity, an important public trust con- 
 ferred on them by the supreme power of the State. It is well 
 known that neither of them had any agency in originating or con- 
 stituting the New-England Convention, nor had they been in situ- 
 ations to act on the subjects, or agitate the points which led to it. 
 They were therefore selected as the safest guardians of the public 
 interest, with unlimited powers to act as their consciences should 
 dictate. The period, all agree, Mas oxtrcmoly interesting and crit- 
 
10 
 
 ;cai. Had these gentlemen refused to accept the trust, and exert 
 all their powers for the welfare of the community, they would have 
 deserved all the censure and ^buse which they have received for 
 doing what every man will, on sober reflection, say, was their un= 
 doubted duty. It is also to be remembered, that the loudest clam- 
 our on this subject, has been made by those time-serving politicians 
 who are bold and noisy in favor of measures dictated by the major- 
 ity, but who shrink from duty when their idol, popularity, would be 
 put in jeopardv. It is not to be concealed, that many of those, 
 now the favorites of the mischievous combination, whose deadly 
 influence I mean to expose, were the most engaged in the formation 
 of that convention, but who now, with dastardly meanness, join in 
 the slander uttered against the excellent men who composed it. 
 
 In regard to sheriffs, judges of courts of common pleas, justices 
 of quorum, judges of probate, justices of peace, clerks of courts, and 
 even down to commissioners of turnpike roads, there has been one 
 sweep of removal, with few exceptions arising out of particular cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 And what have these public servants done that they should be 
 thus treated ? Or rather, what have you done, my fellow citizens, 
 that you should be deprived of the integrity and talents of these 
 tried and faithful officers ? That any of them have been negligent 
 in duty, or unworthy of public confidence, no one asserts, or is har- 
 dy enough to suspect. They were originally selected from the 
 body of the people, and appointed to these offices because by educa- 
 tion, habits and character, they were fitted for the discharge of the 
 duties of them. These duties had become familiar to them, and 
 their usefulness to the community was much enhanced by their ex- 
 perience. These offices have now been filled with those who were 
 most zealous formerly in the federal ranks, but who did not possess 
 the confidence of that party so as to entitle them to office ; or by 
 other restless and impassioned young men. And is it come to this ? 
 That in the enlightened state of Connecticut, such qualities should 
 secure public favor ?. 
 
 Neither with the democrats of the old school, nor with the tole- 
 rationists, as such, have 1 any contest. Of the former, many earlj- 
 vievved the first administrations of the General Government, and 
 the men in power in this State, who approbated the measures of 
 those administrations, with an eye of suspicion, if not of distrust. 
 
11 
 
 They thought that there was an attempt to tiepait from the princi- 
 ples which conducted us tlirough the war of the revolution, and a 
 tendency to imitate governments founded on the principles of roy- 
 alty or aristocracy, and all their prejudices and fears, were, of 
 course, alarmed. Men, who have since evinced their entire want 
 of principle, lahored to fan the flame of discord to promote tlicir own 
 amhitious views, and were but too successful. Those times have 
 passed away, and every sober man, on a careful review of the con- 
 tentions which existed, and which so unhappily distracted our 
 country, sees, in the conduct of each of the great patties, mucli to 
 regret. A recurrence to these scenes now, would be worse than 
 useless, if the object were only to censure or applaud men and 
 measures which yve then condemned or approved ; siili it is proper 
 to regard them as exhibitions of the fury with which upright citi- 
 zens may assail each other, one day, and on the next, unite in prin- 
 ciple and practice. 
 
 I have said, that, with the tolerationists, merely as such, I feel no 
 disposition to contend. As to those of them who have joined a foul 
 combination to seize on all the offices and apportion them among 
 those yvho will rally around their unhallowed standard, they have 
 my most hearty contempt; as, I am sure they soon will, that of 
 every honest man in the community. Such wretched office-seekers 
 cannot maintain an elevated standing with honorable men : their 
 popularity will soon decay. They may now regale themselves un- 
 der the shadow of the gourd which "sprang up in the night," but it 
 will wither also " in a night," and they will faint under the indig- 
 nation of an insulted community. As to those of this party who 
 verily thought that a partial reform in our political condition yvas 
 necessary — that some intolerance was cherished, and that certain 
 men were not sufficiently liberal in their views, without deciding 
 on the correctn^s of their opinions, I come not to censure them. 
 These men little thought that consequences such as we have seen, 
 would follow. It was no part of their design to drive from the 
 temple of justice such men as Swift and Smith, nor to deprive Ed- 
 mond, as upright a judge as ever lived, at the age of sixty, of the 
 means of support. These gentlemen, for nearly twenty years, had 
 sustained their dignified stations with honor to themselves, and 
 with the iiighest benefit to the state ; and the latter gentleman had 
 sealed his love of countrv hv shpddin"; his blood in her ficfence. 
 
12 
 
 wiiile n.ost of those men who have driven nitn from his seat were 
 in their ciacllcs. His wouiuls still remain ; and they are damning 
 proofs of (he wickedness of a combination which has aimed another 
 dauicrer at his vitals. 
 
 I repeat, with neither of these descriptions of men am I conten- 
 ding : 1 mean to expose to public view, the restless, ambitious and 
 unprincipled, distinct from either of these.classes but who have 
 availed themselves of all the prejudices of both. I have never, for 
 a moment, doubted, but that there were many, <ery honest men 
 among the democrats of the old' school, but trliese during the last 
 year, have been left in the back ground. Neither have I doubted 
 but that honorable men have joined the standard of toleration 
 from the purest motives. These were not seeking offices for them- 
 selves ; and -when they shall view the conduct of the men I am ar- 
 raigning at the bar of the pubiit in its true light, they will abhor it as 
 much as I do. A few others have joined the party with a view to office 
 but have had too much principle to go all lengths in the system of cau- 
 cussing, or to join in the management and fi'aud necessary to obtain 
 their object. These men never realized the dangerous tendency 
 and consequences of such revolutionary schemes. 
 
 It is not my intention to enter, into a discussion of the particular 
 acts of the General Assembly sinc6 this party obtained the ascen- 
 dency in our councils : those aets have been mere experiments cal- 
 culated to amuse the people, and allure thera from an attention to 
 their favorite emploxment of seizing upon the offices- Their effect 
 cannot be foretold, and perhaps in the hands of an alT wise Provi- 
 dence, it may be less mischievous than is feared. The great meas- 
 ure, the new system of taxation, and the only one of any impor- 
 tance, is vet to be tested by experience. It oan be, however, now 
 safely affirmed, that an entire change of a system which has been 
 in operation for more than a century, and towhic^all property and 
 the price of labor has conformed, would never have been hazarded 
 by men whose passions had not influenced their judgments ; and. 
 who were not determined to break down ancient regulations to 
 secure popularity. This system is grossly defective ; as it provides 
 no rules for the valuation of the articles subject to taxation, but 
 commits almost every thing to vague opinion, and thus opens a wide 
 door for partiality and favoritism. At the same time it provides for 
 the creation of numerous assessors w!h) are to receive emoluments 
 
13 
 
 from the several towns, and thus add greatly to the burdens under 
 which we labor. 
 
 Concerning these measures I shall say no more — my great com- 
 plaint is, that corruption has defded the sanctuai y of legi^Jation for 
 the year past, and has more or "ess influenced aH results. If I mis- 
 take nor, in noT«;tate,or nation, has such corruption been tolerated 
 as that the members of the legislature should assemble with the 
 abandoned and pjoiligate who see fit to meet from all parts of the 
 community for the purpose of settling its proceedings, especially 
 wlven these individuals are candidates for office, and meet for the 
 object of obtaining it. Will it be said by the people, we have no 
 interest in this subject ; it is a mere scramble for places, and it is no 
 matter who is in or out of office, as we do not m ish to seek it ? 
 Pernut me to telTyou, that we all Itave a^deep interest in the appoint- 
 ments to office : our rights of every description are placed in the 
 hands of the various public officers ; and, in case they are weak; or 
 unprincipled men, we have no safety. Particular acts of weak- 
 ness, or corruption, even to bribery, may not always be detected, 
 ^vhile the effects of this weakness, or wickedness, may be injurious 
 in a high degree, both in extent, and duration. And I venture to 
 say, that the present mode of obtaining office, if persisted in, will, 
 very soon, exclude every man worthy of confidence. The scram- 
 ble for office joll continue and increase, but it will be an^ong the 
 base and unJS^rving; while those who are worth.y, will retire 
 from a scene so disgusting to all honorable minds. In this view, 
 even the smallness of salaries so beneficial to the state heretofore, 
 will be a source ef great evil. Let it be once settled, that offices 
 can be obtained by base means, and by great and shameless exer- 
 tions of the candidates, and none, whose time is of much value to 
 himself, can afford to make the necessary sacrifice : whereas, high- 
 er salaries would bring into competition a higher grade of talents. 
 As a general rule, those who have succeeded best in their own con^ 
 cerns, can be most safely trusted witii the concerns of the public; 
 but men of this character will too highly estimate their time, to 
 make sacrifices to obtain office with low salaries; and whether 
 physicians, farmers, merciiants, or mechanics, tliey will choose to 
 pursue their professions or employments, which have hitherto been 
 both lucrative and honorable, and wiil not desert them in quest of 
 objects of inferior value. But liwyens without talents, integrity 
 
14 
 
 or business, quack doctors, broken merchants, idle fanners and idle 
 mecl'ianics, tavern haunters and gamblers, can afford to spend days, 
 weeks, months and vears, in low intrigues, in inculcating falsehoods, 
 in preaching politics in bar-rooms, and at the corners of streets, an*d 
 highways, for the sake of an office with a small income ; and th^t 
 for this plain reason, that the time which they thus devote to public 
 use, is worth nothing to themselves. 
 
 Let it not be imagined that 1 am a friend to high salaries : in that 
 respect a more happy state of things than has heretofore been expe- 
 rienced in Connecticut, cannot exist. With very low salaries, t^ 
 first talents and integrity have generally been secured to the statg, 
 because office has flowed from the people through uncorrupted chan- 
 nels, and public opinion has stamped with infamy, every attempt to 
 obtain office by unworthy means. In such a state of things, good men 
 will be induced to make sacrifices of private interest, to the public 
 good ; and the offices, if not lucrative, are nevertheless honorable. If, 
 however, the people will suffer those channels to be polluted, and 
 the various public offices to become the subject of bargain and sale, 
 it would be much better that the salaries should be such as to bring 
 into competition men ot talents, who have been successful in some 
 regular business, than to leave them for the low scramble of* the 
 idle and worthless part of the community. 
 
 If I have succeeded in shewing that an evil of nj^^jordinary mag- 
 nitude exists, and have pointed you to the origin of that evil, the 
 remedy is obvious. It is, to teach your public servants of the legis- 
 lature, that they are bound to consult the interest of the state, an'd 
 not exclusively their own interest, or that of their friends. That 
 they are sent by you to make laws and adopt regulations for the 
 welfare of the state, and not to electioneer for office ; and that the 
 hall of legislation is no longer to be an auction room for the bargains 
 and sales of places, but a sanctuary for the protection of the inter- 
 ests and rights of the peoole. 
 
 You must, to this end, effectually teach them, that caucusses, 
 composed of any portion of the legislature, to consult and devise res- 
 pecting public measures, are no longer to be endured. It is greatly 
 to be lamented that such meetings should be held for any purpose, 
 but in a time when the spirit of party prevails, it may be necessary 
 for the people to meet, to agree on candidates for the legislature, 
 or for the representatives in congress, to secure union of action. 
 
15 
 
 Between these, however, and the self-created assemblies during 
 the session of the legislature, for tlie purpose of influencing its dis- 
 cussions and measures, there is no similitude. The one may be 
 tolerated while its necessity is lamented, the other must be imme- 
 diately abolished or the state is ruined. 
 
 But the question arises, how shall the independent electors of 
 Connecticut secure to the state,members of both branches of the Gen- 
 eral A&sembly, who will meet and consult for the good of the whole 
 body politic, regardless of selfish views and party considerations f I 
 answer, whenever called to exercise the elective franchise, vote for 
 none but men of principle; and do not violate your consciences in 
 aiding to elevate a man because he belongs to this or that party. Be- 
 ware of any set of men who combine to force themselves and each 
 other into office. Above all, mark every man who heretofore has, 
 or hereafter may, give. countenance to legislative caucusses. 
 
 My appeal is not to any one political party, but to the friends of 
 ihe state, and I trust. I shall not make the appeal in vain. You are 
 unquestionably a large majority — you hold no offices — you wish for 
 none — you are men of business — you have interests of importance, 
 and rights which are dear to you, to be protected — you may suffer 
 many wrongs which ought to be redressed — you have a deep concern 
 in the welfare of the community. Reform then, I conjure you, the le- 
 gislature from its corrupt practices, and cause your best men to be 
 appointed to office. 
 
 ♦. TRUMBFI.L. 
 
.A 
 
 LB '20