Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-10
A Few Plain Words.

spirit of entire kindness and consideration, sta. ting few plain facts, which perhaps it might not seem polite to state, and yet which we can. not let the occasion go by without stating, nor of refraining from stating.
 It is we'll known to all the electors of this town, that at Union meeting called by large number of persons without distinction of party, and among whom, as signers to the call, were the names of several of the most prominent men In all parties, and which was held some weeks since at the Court Room-a Committee of six teen was appointed, after a very interesting and enthusiastic meeting, among whom were again the names of some of the prominent members Of each party, and equally divided as to previous party sentiments and this Committee at an ad- journed meeting, held on Saturday of week be- fore last, unanimously presented UNION TICK ET for the consideration of the voters of Litch- field, which was unanimously adopted and put in the field.
 Though this ticket was nominally evenly bal anced upon names of citizens belonging to each of the previous political parties, yet the Demo cratic names were in clear majority upon that ticket for the prominent offices, in proportion of seven to five, (including Selectmen, Assessors, Town Clerk, and Treasurer,) and though the ticket was exceptional to no one on account of the personal fitness or character of the candid ates, yet the so-called Democratic Town Com lnittee, instigated, it is said, by numbers of the Democratic organization in this town, saw fit to call caucus last week, and there nominated "clean Democratic ticket" so called, putting the names of the Democrats who were on the Union ticket into nomination on theirs, and put ting other democrats in the place of the Repub- licans on the Union ticket. So far well. We have nothing to say against and would not gainsay this action of the former hunkerized, se- cessionized, democratic party, if they choose to place themselves in this mean and contemptible position of opposition to the Union Ticket, for he sole reason that minority of the candidates on that ticket had hitherto been Republicans.
 The Republicans, on the other hand, called no caucus, thought of none, held none. In perfect good faith, they acted in the spirit of the meet ing in which they had participated together with the democracy, and came in the same good faith to the polls on Monday, and voted the entire Un- ion ticket; though personally, and to the last moment, many of them had decided views and antiquities of their own with regard to some of the names offered upon even that ticket.
 Happily, this Union Ticket was triumphant, and was elected-the whole of it-by majorities averaging between fifty and sixty--the Secession ticket was utterly and thoroughly squelched, and Litchfeld maintained at the poll that proud re- putation for patriotism, which combines forget fitness of party names and party ties in the common veal, and upon which she stands proud ly to-day, in spite of all attempts of party hacks and party organizations to drag her at least into an equivocal position.
 Thus far we have stated plain facts, which no one of any side or stripe can deny or gainsay. Now we wish to offer a few plain remarks upon the subject of this election. The subject itself may seem trivial but it is the principal we are af ter, and we want to discover the position in which we, as Unionists, stand.
 And our first observation is, or was upon the day of election, as near as we could ascertain the facts, that of the five candidates from the former democratic organization that were upon the Un- ion ticket for Selectmen, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer, who participated mostly in the prelim- mary Union meeting, who were, some of them, on the Committee of Nomination, who aA ac- eepted place upon the Union ticket, at least, tacitly, by not defining them-thinking perhaps their election to office something more certain in this way than any other-of these five, we are told but one of them voted any ticket at all and that gentleman the white or democratict ticket.
 Now we would like to enquire whether the Re- publicans who had kept the faith-whether any body else could consider this fair play or honor able dealing9 We do not doubt but that all these gentlemen are strong Union men-other- wise we trust they would not have been placed upon the Union ticket; but if they were af,'aid or ashamed to cote the Union Ticket at the polls, why did they suffer their names to remain upon that ticket Tor, uics uersa, if they were asham- ed or afraid to vote the straight democratic ticket" why did they suffer themselves to appear as candidates on that? Was it it to make doubly sure of paltry office that they ran on both tick cts?
 We confess we cannot answer our questions. We are mortified and ashamed that men can be found with so much brass or so little backbone as this; we are ashamed that we have been com pelled, with the whole Union party in this town, by honor and good faith which we could not break, to aid in electing such men to office, But at any rate we have this much good come out of evil-we have learned to discover and define our position for the future-and that is, not again to aid, abet or assist to office any men who dare not or oannot come out boldly in defense of those principles they profess, or pretend to profess, when an office is in view. We speak strongly, we mean to be so understood, and in saying SO, we believe We speak the sentiments of the large majority of those who voted the Union ticket in this town on Monday.
 There were other queer observations which we made upon election day, concerning which we have but room only to hint at rather than en- large upon. And one was, to notice an individ- nal who only very lately, in one of the famous midnight visits," proclaimed himself strong on'on man, and who, the following day, made a numerous assault upon one of his "visitors, , anu al'erward politely begged the pardon of that
 '.S'or ana of every body else, standing unop the