Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-29
Fall of the Old Charter Oak at HarIfofd,
Connecticut

The people ofthe United States will hear with re.
greet that the famous "Charter Oak" of Hartford
Connecticut, so identified, with our historical annals
has been destroyed. No landmark existed that
carried the mind back to the old Colonial time SO
forcbly as this old oak tree. II is associated with
"reminiscences peculiarly interesting as connected
with the early settlement and growth of this coun-
try. For almost two centuries this tree has bee N
historical. Long before the American Revolution
it had become celebrated throughout the world.
The circumstances connected with it's history are
simply these: King Charles the Second, of Eng
land. during his reign. which commenced in 1860
and ended in 1885, had given the Connecticut Col,
ouy Charter of Government, securing to the PEG
pie many valuable political privileges.
A few years afterward, in 1887, an arbitrary Cows
ernor, named Andreas, under instructions from
England then ruled by the tyrant James the Sc
cond, demanded of the Colony the surrender Of the
charter and the acceptance of a government less
liberal in its provisions which took from the peor
pie nearly all the political rights they enjoyed.
What took place T'hen this demand made by
Andreas, is thus related by Bancroft the great Am
erican historian, in his second volume, page 43S.
He remarks
"In the autumn of the same year. 1887, And
reas, attended by some Ct his council and by ar
med guard set forth for Connecticut, to assume the
government Of that place. How unlike the march
of Hooker and his peaceful flock Dongsn had in
vain solicited the people of Connecticut to submit
to his jurisdiction yet they declined least of all to
hazard the coutu uance of liberty the decree Of
dependent English courts On the third writ Of
quo WrrGnto the colony, in petition to the King
asserted its chartered rights, yet determined in any
event rather to share the fortunes OF Massachusetts
than be annexed to Nv York.
"Andreas found the Assembly in session and de-
manded the surrender of the charter The patriot
Governor, Treat, pleaded earnestly for the cherished
patent viii had been purchased by sacrifices
and martyrdom, and which was eDshrined by hal-
cyon days. The shades Of evening descended dur
ing the prolonged discussion. An anxious crowd
Of freemen had gathered to witness the debate.
The charter lay on the table. OF sudden the
lights are extinguished; and they are rekindled
the charter has disappeared. Joseph Wordsworth,
Of Hartford, stealing noiselessly through the sopen-
ing crowd concealed the precious parchment in the
LoiiOao of dn oak rhieh older than the colony,
aud is vet standing 10 confirm the tale.
Meantime, Andreas assumed the Government,
selected councillors, and demanding the record Of
Connecticut and the annals Of its freedom set the
word mas. The colonists submitted, yet their con-
sciences alterward troubled at their early
render.
But alas the tree after Drawing the storms Of
more than two centuries after-seeing the birth Of
the colony Of COunecticut-iss organization into q
State-the adoption Of the Federal Constitution
has at last fallen prey to she ravagcs Of the re-
cent storm, and bent its venerable trunk in the
dust Falling at this time when so many signs for.
hode trouble in the political armament, there age
many, no doubt, who will consider the circumstance
Of evil sugury, and draw from it reflections By no
means pleasant to patriotic American.