Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-18

1887, and deiberated long and earnestly on tins
message, representing the great expense ana
hardships of the coonists in planting the colo
ny; the bloc and treasure which they had ex-
pended in defending it, and the happy results 1t
had afforded them. The evening came on, and
still they would not determine to surrender it,
At last Sir Edmond, inpatient ut their delay,
came in person to take it ; and when advancing
to secure it, as it lay ulon the table, the lights
were Suddenly extingushed, the charter wars
seized by Capt Joseph Wadsworth, borne away
in triumph, and lodged III large hollow oak
tree, fronting the Louise of the Hon Samuel
WHY'S, in the South part of the city. Since
the event Just stated, it has always 5een known,
and still is, by the na'ncof S8
TIE CHARTER OAK.
The government Of the colony was taken
possession of by Sir Edmond, and was most
tyrannicaly administered. All the laws were
made by .Andross, and II few servile members OF
his council in Boston, and were Transmitted
monthly to Hartford. He oppressed the people
most heavily with taxes required them to go
to Boston to settle their cStates-qncstioned the
titles to their lands, and mAde them take out
new patents and pay enormously for them. lie
would not allow them the local usases wherever
they conhicted with his wishes established cor
rupt courts, and in all respects acted the tyr1nt
His administration disgusted the whole Of New
England; and on the nc ,cssion of William and
Mary to the throne, he was, in II sudden rising
of the people at Boston seized with fifty Of his
abo:tors, and imprisoned.
The people Of Connecticut, Immediately or
the news of the Revolution in England, resumed
their government under the old charter. 1t hat
never been vacated by any Judgment in th
king courts against tit had never been nul
lifted by any voluntary surrender by Connecti
cut. The opinions Of the hest counsel in Eng
land sustained its perfect validity.
The charter, thrjngh tn, offspring of roya
A grants, was republican in its principles. |
was in fact drawn up in Hartford by commit
tee of the general court. 1t contains the prin
+ cpe Of representation, and the right of sul
q rage 1t is composed Of free constituent parts
q and the head of the whole is the elective GOV
n crnor of ~ democratic republic. From tn
boundaries in the charter, which extended tn
j. title of Connecticut as to territory, west to til
q Pacific, came the Western Reserve, the SchoC
q Fund, and the blessingsof education so widel
). difused in the State The charter carried I'll
$ State through the wars with the Indians, tt
French, the Dutch, the war of the Revolution
# and the second war of the Independence.
. has beaueathed US the free institutions we no
,f possess, andris therefore entitled to ycncraton
G. The present Constitution of the State WI
W substituted for the charter in lSlS--a chang
perhaps demanded from the want in the chart
h. Of that formal enumeration of the clemental
n maxms OF civil liberty now SO commonly G.
II pressed in the constitutions of the ditfercl
IN States, and Which impart some additional sect
lie rity to tie liberties Of the people
= The citizens of Hartford seem to feel dl
rv appreciation of their loss. The bells of ii
Of city were tolled at sundown on the day of i
w fall, and band Of IN sic, which not long SIM
I'd played within the trunk of the old Oak, IlayC
C. funeral dirges over its fallen ruins.