256 



CONNECTICUT. 



CONNECTICUT. The annual election for 

 State officers and members of the Legislature 

 in Connecticut is held on the first Monday in 

 April. The close vote of the contending 

 parties at the previous election; the subsequent 

 change in the* views of the Lieutenant-Gov- 

 ernor and Secretary of State then elected, and 

 of many other influential citizens, caused more 

 than ordinary political excitement, and the 

 preparations for the election of 1867 began 

 almost with the year. The Democratic Cen- 

 tral Committee called a mass convention of 

 delegates from all the counties of the State, to 

 assemble at New Haven, on January 8th, " to 



the requirements of the Constitution, and defeating 

 the Radical party, who spurn its provisions, and im- 

 peril the Union by their mad and seditious course. 



Resolved, That to effect this object we solemnly 

 pledge our best and most untiring efforts ; that the 

 accomplishment of this end is the one grand question 

 now pending, transcending all others in importance, 

 and that the present imminent -perils of the country 

 demand the union of all conservative hearts and 

 hands, irrespective of former or present party names, 

 in a vigorous effort to maintain the Federal Constitu- 

 tion in its integrity, and secure its operation accord- 

 ing to the spirit and intent of its founders. 



Resolved, That the Radical plan of reducing a por 

 tion of the United States to Territories, of taking 

 from them those rights always possessed by them 

 since the days of 1776, and of disfranchising their 



protest against the revolutionary acts and people, is so absolutely opposed not only to the 



usurpations of the present Congress, and to 

 take steps for the assembling of a National 

 Convention." Some eight hundred delegates 

 assembled, and adopted resolutions expressive 

 of their views. 



The regular Eepublican Convention was the 

 first to assemble for the nomination of State of- 

 ficers, on January 24th, at New Haven. Gov- 

 ernor Hawley was renominated. For Lieuten- 

 ant-Governor, Oliver H. Perry was nominated. 

 Eleven resolutions, forming the platform of the 

 party, were also adopted. 



The first congratulates the people on the result of 

 the fall elections of the previous year. 



The second declares the constitutional amendment, 

 known as section 14, to be just. 



The third is in favor of impartial suffrage. 



The fourth advises a tariff to protect American 

 productions, and the reduction of taxes. 



The fifth favors a rigid economy in the expendi- 

 tures of the State. 



The sixth advises the Legislature to take action 

 for the relief of the workingmen. 



The seventh demands a more strict enforcement of 

 the salutary law concerning the employment of 

 children in factories. 



The eighth expresses sympathy for Candia and 

 Mexico. 



The ninth declares that the malignant spirit of the 

 late Democratic Convention, in its attempt to renew 



clearest provisions of the Federal Constitution, but 

 to every sound idea of practical statesmanship, is so 

 thoroughly antagonistic to those principles of re- 

 served rights, and of municipal governments, regu- 

 lating their own domestic affairs, that underlie our re- 

 publican system, that it is the duty of the people of 

 Connecticut, regardless of past political divisions, to 

 pronounce their condemnation of the Radical party 

 by electing men who love and are determined to pre- 

 serve the American Constitution and the American 

 Union. 



Resolved, That while that portion of the Representa- 

 tives of the States of this Union, who exclude from 

 the legislative halls the Representatives of ten States, 

 are laboring to subvert our Government, we rejoice 

 in the fact that the Supreme Court of the United 

 States, by its recent decisions in favor of the rights 

 of American citizens, has proved that that august 

 tribunal will perform, without fear or favor, its high 

 and solemn duties. 



Another resolution tendered thanks to Presi- 

 dent Johnson for his course ; another required 

 economy and reform in the financial affairs of 

 the State ; another approved of eight hours as 

 a legal day's work; another denounced the 

 overworking of children in factories ; another 

 condemned all attempts to coerce voters ; 

 another favored the repeal of the poll tax; 

 another approved of the nominations. 



The election resulted in the choice of James 



civil conflict, and its sanction of treasonable utter- ' E. English by 987 majority over Governor 



Joseph E. Hawley. The whole vote was 94,154, 

 of which English received 47,565, and Hawley 

 46,578. At the election in the previous year 

 the total vote was 87,417, of which Hawley re- 

 ceived 43,974, and English 43,443, making a 

 majority of 541 for Hawley. 

 The Legislature was divided as follows : 



Senate. House. 



Republicans 11 . 124 



Democrats 10 114 



ances, deserves the condemnation of every lover of 

 the Union. 



The tenth pays a tribute to the soldiers and sailors 

 who served in the army and navy during the late 

 war. 



The eleventh commends the nominations. 



The regular Democratic Convention assem- 

 bled at Hartford on February 6th, and nomi- 

 nated for Governor, James E. English, and for 

 Lieutenant-Governor, Ephraim H. Hyde. A 

 series of twelve resolutions wa3 adopted as the 

 platform of the party, of which those relating 

 to Federal affairs were as follows: 



Resolved, That those lately in insurrection against 

 the Federal Government having laid down their 

 arms, and fully resumed their duties as citizens of 

 the United States, there is no obstacle in the way of 

 the harmonious working of our republican institu- 

 tions, save the factious course of a mutilated Con- 

 gress, who have inaugurated a new revolution, and 

 are determined to rule the country, in violation of 

 the Constitution, and to establish their wild and 

 fanatical will as a substitute for the Union framed 

 by the Fathers of the Republic. 



Resolved, That the only way in which peace and 

 concord can be reestablished, is by conforming to 



Republican majority 1 10 



A convention of the workingmen of the 

 State was held under the auspices of the State 

 "Workingmen's Association, at New Haven, 

 on February 22d. A resolution was adopted 

 expressing the opinion that it was unwise to 

 nominate a ticket for State officers, but advis- 

 ing every workingmau in the State to vote for 

 those who had "pledged themselves that if 

 elected to office they would use their best en- 

 deavors to establish .an eight-hour system of 

 labor ; to repeal the poll-tax ; to institute a more 



