The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-04-16
LETTER FROM CONNECTICUT
SALISBURY, CoNN., April ), 1S6'

SALISBURY, NONN., Aplll ., looI'
Dear Register Thinking you would
like TO know something about our political
pnrtes in Connecticut, | will try to inform
you of some OF the proceedings of the
democratic party here. Our State cleo
ton for this year has passed; and, for the
last three weeks, whiskey has been king
among the democrats | will 90 back
from three to four weeks and try All
give an account Of events which have
TRANSFERRED respecting the election.
The republican candidate for the L. $
representative from thi' district, was Mr..
L. L. Barnum o! Fairfield the demo
cratic, Mr.. VIM. ii Barnum of thu
town. For the last month many Of the
leading democrats have done nothing but
10 search out those who would vote for
their interest, AMI, if possible, prosclylc
the republicans. Perhaps there was not
another one of my age in town who had
II better opportunity OF seeing something's
than had-the Academy which | at
tend being in the village and near the
Town Hail. The hall was open every
day last week for the purpose OF swearing
IN new voters, which was done with II
will. For in two instances there were
democrats sworn in who could neither
read Or write their own names, (Which
never Was done years gone by 1t was
done by means Of II democratic trick.
They had learned some sentence by heart,
and when they came TO take the cath
they repeated the lesson with the book
open ut another page; they were accepted,
notwithstanding their right TO vote, was
contested by republican who saw the
cheat. In another instance. Il man who
had been DISTINGUISHED, being democrat
was allowed to vote. II must be under
stood that the town officers are all cop
perhead. Not few men, who were
inspired from the whiskey bottle, s'llied
around the t c {, which few weeks
ago was something uncommon. | am
not certain as 10 whether they got drunk
nj their own expense or not, Tor many of
/ the leading democrats are men vi immense
wealth and some Ihings, winch have
been seen and heard, looked very sus
plclous. "A few days before election Il
man whose vote was uncertain, was pre-
scented with II ten dollar bank note, by a
warm hearted democrat. lie has not
seen a sober moment since, and is not
likely 10 Til his donation Is exhausted. A
few nights since there was democratic
meeting AT the town halt, and about II
O'Clock, we were awakened by the shouts
oi men passing in the road. We knew
al once that they were men who were
gong home, well pleased with the meet
ing and the liquor they had drunk. But,
they did not content themselves with
shouting alone. We learned the next
morning that they had stopped at our
neighbor's house and conducted in the
most shameful manner. | am sorry to
say that the ringleader of the gang holds
a high office in this town. The democrats
have had three evening lectures in the
Town hall, and each time the audience
were so still that pin could have been
heard TO drop anywhere in the room.
Mr.. +. 4. Barnum, tie republican can
didate, spoke one evening and was sub
jected 10 the most abusive insults that
were ever offered 10 men.
When the day had come for deciding
the question VI which party was 10 be
victorious, it was enough TO disgust any
honest man, to see the workings of the
democratic party. Ii a man vote was a
doubtful une he would have any price
he asked If lie would vote the democratic
ticket. But their tricks did not stop