58 The Financial History of Connecticut. 



out of consideration the extraordinary military expenditures caused 

 by the war of 1812). The machinery of government, the method 

 of taxation and the objects of expense, are, in general, the same 

 or similar to those which existed under the colonial government. 



SECOND PERIOD. 1818-1846. PERIOD OF SLOW DEVELOPMENT. 

 A. Elements of Discontent. 



This period is opened with the adoption of a written constitution. 

 Until this time the only constitution which the state had was the 

 -pj n n , old charter granted by King Charles II of England. 



Written The legislature, in its October session of 1776, 



Constitution after the states had declared themselves to be in- 

 dependent of English rule, declared that this charter should remain 

 in force without the superior authority of any king.^ This decla- 

 ration by the assembly was subject to alteration or repeal by mere 

 legislative action and did not give the state a constitution in the sense 

 that is generally understood in this country. From the beginning 

 of the century there was an agitation for a written constitution, but 

 the dominant party, the federalists, were against such action. 



Another element of discontent consisted of those who wished 

 entire separation of state and church. This feeling gave rise to the 

 Demand for name "Toleration Party," generally used in the state 

 Eeh'gious for this party which was opposed to the federalists. 

 Liberty Under the laws of the state, persons were liable to 



taxation, by the ecclesiastical societies, for the support of the Con- 

 gregational ministry. Provision, however, was made that dissenters — 

 those who belonged to any denomination other than the Congre- 

 gational — should be exempted from this tax upon depositing with 

 the town clerk a certificate of such membership, but they were sub- 

 ject to a similar tax for the support of their own ministry. Those 

 who held no religious belief, or who were not church members, were 

 not benefited by this act. Such persons were obliged to help support 

 the ministry of the Congregational societies. The dissenters com- 

 plained that on slight legal pretexts the authorities would refuse to 

 accept the certificates of membership in dissenting denominations.^ 

 The toleration party held that the support of the ministry should 



1 Conn. Laws, Oct. 1776, p. 431. 

 ^ Johnston's Connecticut, p. 347. 



I 



