The national Republican., 1866-08-08
tCorrsspondsncs of the Republican,
CONNECTICUT POLITICS.
New HAyRN. A

New HAVEN. Aug. 8, 1866.
To The Editor of the National Republi-
can: The convention to appoint delegates
to the Philadelphia national convention, held
in this city on Wednesday last contained
about three hundred as intelligent men as
ever met in O popular assemblage. They
were the representative men of all the old
parties, and many of them had never met
before in q common cause. They seemed
animated by one spirit, and ready to sacri.
fee and be sacrificed for restoration of the
country. But they will not be sacrificed.
They have placed themselves upon the roll
Of honor, and in party that will prove to
be the true and successful champions of the
Constitution. The utmost enthusiasm pre-
vailed throughout the proceedings of the
convention. Grey-bearded Democrats, old
Wings, with wrinkled brows, and former
antislavery men Of various shades Of opinion
sat side by side and grasped each others
hands in generous fellowship and with warm
expressions Of high resolve never to disband
or retreat from their present position until
the ark OF the covenant, our glorious Con-
stitution, is placed beyond ali danger from
the Philistines of the day. All the proceed.
ings were conducted with decorum and dig
nifty. The speakers were firm and patriotic
in their declarations, yet exhibited none Of
the rancor and billingsgate SO characteristic
Of modern Congressional caucus.
The better portion Of the Republicans treat
the convention and its proceedings with re-
spectful consideration; but the fre-eaters Of
that party are rs ferocious and yituperatiye
in regard to 1t as were the disciples of JEFF.
Davis in South Carolina before the rebellion,
We trust that the course Of events will bring
them to better understanding of "the situa.
tiOn," and improve their manners and their
principles. The Republicans of this stamp
have driven matters with high hand since
their coming to power last spring. They were
then complaisant, fraternal, modest in there re-
quirements, anxious for Senator Fosters re-
election, and tolerably well satisfied with the
policy Of the President. BY their plausible
pretexts they roped into the support Of their
ticket thousands of the true men Of the State,
and were successful. From that time they
put off their white robes and donned the gar.
ments Of belligerents. prescribing their allies
as unworthy of their confidence or council
forfeiting their pledges to sustain Mr.. Foster
as coolly as ifhe had been copperhead oil his
days-driving their caucusmachinery with a
Ihad. Stevens pressure; and by sleight-of-
hand performances, not common in Connec-
ticut, they nominated and elected one of the
most ultra radicals flor the time being) in
the State.
Hewas always wanting in sound Judgment,
legislative tact and political fidelity. He
owes his success chiefly to caucus machinery
and his ad captandum style Of speech, and
to the rotten borough system Of representa-
ton in this State. For example-the cities
Of Hartford and New Haven, With a Joint
population Of over eighty thousand inhab-
itants, are entitled to only four representa-
tives in the Legislature, while some whole
counties, with half the population named
have over twenty representatives. In the
caucus, there were no representatives from
Hartford and New Haven, and numerous
other towns, in which the Republican candi-
dates were defeated. So you will perceive
how excellent the opportunity for q few un-
scrupulous leaders to manipulate such
legislative caucus to their own purposes.
They were loud in their protestations Of re-
gard for the edicts Of such conclave. TO
break loose, they assured their trembling
followers, would be political death; yet their
candidate for Senator was notorious for
trampling under foot any caucus nomination
that displeased him.
Tie tricking and teaching Of that caucus
has disgusted thousands Of the fair-minded
men Of the State who had hoped better things
of it, and they will see that our future legis-
lures are improved in many particulars.
Among the men Of the State who have
dared to take stand for the right are our
Lieutenant Governor, Hon. o. F, Winches-
ter, and the Secretary Of State, Hon. L. II.
Pease. Both Of them are sent as delegates
to the National Convention. They will both
be reelected to their present positions, if
they allow the future use Of their names, by
majorities that will count by thousands in
stead Of hundreds, as before.
There were many Democrats and Repub-
licans who took prominent part in the late
convention that will always be gratefully re-
membered BY the Union'lOving men Of the
State. QuuxIrIAo, :