Litchfield enquirer., 1842-06-30
ADDRESS OF THE

WhAI mEWbEhS OC IhE LEGlS1ATUREs
To the Electors Of the State of Connecticut:
The session Of the Legislature of this State
has just been brought to a close, and the mi
nority in that body, availing themselves of
custom which has extensively prevailed,
ask leave to present to the people a general
outline of the measures which have been
adopted and also to submit some remarks
upon the temper and spirit in which those
measures have been carried forward. And
this duty we hope to discharge in spirit of
candor and fairness.
1t need hardly be remarked, that the party
with which we act, and to which it is our
pride to belongyhaye had the ascendancy in
the State for the last three years. That the
Wings, as party, are responsible for the
control which they have exercised, and for
the measures which have been adopted
That responsibility they most cheerfully as
sumo and they appeal. with, an honest
pride, to the general prosperity of the State,
almost the only one in the Union, free from
embarrassment and debt. To the soundness
Of our currency, and the protection afforded
to every branch Of industry, so far as State
Legislation, can afford protection, as furnish
ing high evidence. both Of the soundness of
their views and the purity of their motives.
They appeal too, to the pages of the statute
book, as affording enduring monuments of
the correctness Of their legislation.
A sound currency was insured to the peo.
pie by an efficient supervision of the banks,
at the same time that the usefulness of these
institutions was not impaired nor their ener-
gies crippled by a system of petty and an
noying restrictions. The school fund, the
pride and boast of our State. was guarded
with a watchful and jealous care-at the
same time that an enlarged and enlightened
0frlc 10Th AL
to our common schools--by means of which,
a knowledge of their condition was every
where diffused, and the standard of educa-
ton elevated.
The law regarding imprisonment for debt
had been SO modified and ameliorated as
that no poor and honest debtor could be op-
pressed-at the same time that the creditor
was not deprived of his remedy against the
| fraudulent and dishonest debtor.
A registry law was enacted by which the
honest elector was projected in the exercise
of his franchise. while at the same time the
purity Of the ballot box was secured, and
election frauds effectually prevented.
The system Of our County Courts had
been so nodded as to conform to those which
have long been in successful operation in
| most of our sister States, and SO as to ele.
| vate the character and increase the useful.
ness of those courts.
| The law regarding the sale of spirituous
liquors had been carefully revised. The
power of granting or Withholding licenses
had been conferred on the people, and was
exercised, by them in their primary as.
semblies. Under the operation.of this sal.
utary law, many sections of the State had
been entirely freed from this desolating
evil. and thousands of unhappy inebriates
had thrown. and were throwing off the bond
age and chains which enthralled them. We
might easily refer to many other laws, enact.
ed within the last four years, with which the
welfare and prosperity of the people of this
commonwealth are strongly identified. We
may also safely assert that the laws have
been ably and impartially administered, and
that the various offices of the State have
been filled with men Of tried integrity and
worth.
1t certainly was not unreasonable to con-
clude, that among these riousenactments
something at least would have been deemed
sacred, even in the eyes of our political op-
ponents. Such, however, has not proved to
be the fact; and demonstrations were made
early in the session, showing that majority
of the members of both Houses had come
together prepared to undo all that had been
done during the three last years. The con.
sequence was, that q multitude of bills fol-
public acts were thrown in upon the Legis.
lature, of a most radical character, in which
the vested rights of the citizens, and the
principles Of the constitution were alike dis
regarded. Of these, however. il ia not ouI
intention to speak. 1t is enough that we
notice those that have received the sanction
OF legislative enactment. One of the earli.
est acts, and also one of the first in point OF
importance, was the election Of United
States SENATOR to succeed tho Hon, Perry
Smith. BY what system of party discipline
tho disatiected 0fthe party were brought TO
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