Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-03-21


the same gentlemen, which we deem unnecessary 10
publish.]
Farmers and Mechanics Meeting.
AT an adjourned meeting Of Farmers and Mechan.
ics, held at J. Parks Hotel, 18th March, 1888
Voted, That this meeting nominate
STEPHEN RUSSELL, and
ASA HOPKINS, Esqrs,
as candidates to represent the town Of Li,chGeId in
the next Legislature of this State.
PHINEHAS LORD, Chairman.
! CHARLES SEYMOUR, Sec'y
Upon the principle that minor,ies have a right to
be heard, give place to the following communica-
ton from member Of the late meeting. Our paper
is Of course open to reply.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
As the working-men's party have made their nomi..
nation Of candidates for the next Legislature, it may
not be improper that the electors Of the town should
know how and on what grounds that nomination
made. At their frs, vote passed, by
small majority, to support one Farmer and one Me-
chanic as candidates to represent the town Of Itch
field At the opening of the last meeting, notice was
given that il any Of that small majority had chan
ged his opinion, he might move reconsideration Of
that vote. As no one expressed wish disturb that
vote, (alhough some OF that majority had changed
their opinions, is was gravey decided the Of
the meeting that the former vote should stand, thus
carrying the idea that the present meeting approved
Of the former vote, which however not true, as
but the members of that majority could disturb
it. Asa Hopkins, Esq. then nominated TO repre-
sent the mechanic interest. 1t was then moved and
od ,I,.
no votes should be counted except those given for
farmer. In pursuance ofthese votes, Stephen RUSSELL
Esq. nominated. Let it then be distinctly UNDER
sood that by these votes Of the meeting all classes Of
the community except farmers were prescribed, and
that those who wished at least the privilege OF voting
for any other man were denied that privileges that the
wholly an exclusive one aud did not express
the opinions Of the meeting. Our farmers and mocha
ncs and the electors Of the Of LtchfeId gene
rally, will know how to appreciate such management
Such was the character Of this meeting, and such
its mode Of proceeding. What the objects pro-
posed? Their ostensble object representation
Of their Interests in the legislature. Is it necessary for
the preservation Of their Interests that ofther own
number should be member Of the legislature Have
their interests been sacrificed or injured by our
represe natives who were not Of heir numbnri We
nut the question TO the farmers and mechanics gene
rally Of the iown-and the answer must be NO. 1t
may he proper that occasionally our representatives
should be taken from all the different professions Of
the community not because their particular interests
will be better represented, but because they may each
at times furnish men better qualified, under the Pc
culiar circumstances Of the more suitable than
others. But when or two classes rise up, and in
proscrptive spirit declare that but themselves
shall be represented they act not Only against the ge
neral welfare, but also against their own; and they
will find in the end that they have lent themselves 10
be the dapes Of others ho seek to faer their prcju
dces in order to accomplish their own selfish purposes.
But let us inquire, how have the different interests
in this town been represented in the Legislature =
Since the year l740 the Of the town
Of Litchfed have been, Farmers 36, Lawyers 13,
Merchants S. Physician 1, Mechanics 9. Ia 20 differ
ent sessions our has been by Farmers
exclusively and in lS sessions by Lawyers exclusive
~; by Merchants, Mechanics and Physicians never
exclusively. In ZIG sessions representative, at
least has been a farmer; In 81 sessions OF them
has been q lawyer; in 26 sessions, one has been
merchant in IS sessions, one has been mechanic
and in 4 sessions one has been physician.
Ot the merchants, morris w ooOrun, ESQ., mas been
sixteen times and John WEIGH, Esq seven times As
they have been farmers well as merchants, and
have heretofore been ranged under the head Of Far
mer and Merchant" they may be considered rs be-
longing 10 both classes Taking them then, from the
lis, Of merchants, as have left them off from the
list Of farmers and the result will be- that in only three
sessions has one Of our representatives been a
chant What ground then there for saying that the
mercantile interest has been too much favored, while
the farmers have been neglected. lfthese divisions
must be made, let them DO made with full knowl-
edge Ofthe facts; and IL due proportion must be
kept up let US know what classes have in fact been
neglected.
But these divisions ought not TO be made. Those
who make them, and profess much love for the
working GLASS OF the community, have object Of
their own, which by these means they hope to nc
compish Themselves and their interests are the end
and aim Of all their efforts. They their cOuntry,
with which they say they identified and when 10
The late meeting they fell Of securing their object, they