The sun., 1873-12-27
Connecticut on the Eighth Command
mput.


Connecticut on the Eighth Command
ment.
Next to Massachusetts IL wns the boast
OF Connecticut i'm early times that she was
the most Puritanical Of the thirteen colo
nies. Though she did not hang witches
like the Salem folks, IL was said by way of
satirical exaggeration that previous to the
Revolution she used to whip her cider bar
rcls for working on Sunday. Certain IL is
that as late as the administration OF JOHN
QUINCY ADAMS her pious magistrates
would send men to jail for taking horse
back ride on the first day of the week, and
fine them for not going to meeting at least
once on the Sabbath, even though the SER
mon might be two hours long.
But Connecticut is n pretty good State.
Not a few great men were born there; rs
for example, ROGER SHERMAN, one of the
committee which drafted the Declaration
of Independence; Gen. ISRAEL PUTNAM,
who literally took the wolf by the ears in
Pomfret, and fought like tiger at Bunker
Hill ; and OLIVER Ellsworth, whom
WAsuINGToN appointed Chief Justice, and
whose skeleton would turn over on its
face to see q GEoRGE ii. WILLIAMS occupying
his seat.
Time was when, through her admirable
common school system, Connecticut AS
serted that her every son and daughter
could read, write, and cipher. and she
called herself the brains of the Union.
This was perhaps pushing the point rather
too far; but in.thosc days il is absolutely
sure that every adult male and female in
the State knew by heart the Westminster
Catechisn, which lays special stress upon
the commandment, Thou shalt not
steal"
And this brings us to the question, low
stood the members Of Congress from Con-
necticut on the first edition aud the second
edition of the salary grabl In the last
Congress she was represented by JosEPn
II. HAwLEY, STEPHEN W. KELLOGG, and
HENRY A. SrARKwEATHER, Republicans,
and WILLIAM III. BNRNUM, Democrat. Gen.
lIAwLEN, who represents the Hartford dis
trict, and Mr. STARkwEArHER, who halls
from Norwich. promptly returned their
back pay aud repudiated tho swindlc.
KELLOGG, who represents the New Haven
district, and BARSUM, who halls from the
western part of the state kept the money
and dcfied public opinion.
The Land of Steady Habits is slow to
change, and therefore in last April She re-
elected these four men TO the present Con-
gress. How did they vote on the new sal
AIRY grab? IIAwLEY and SrARKwEtTHER
voted against II. But KELLOGG and BAR
NUN, having been pretty thoroughly roast
ed during the past summer and fall,
skulkcd out at the side door and did not
vote either way!
Gen. JOE HAwLEY did just what every
body might expect of an honest, brave
man. He detests great swindles and little
swndles, and therefore he opposed the
salary grab both in its original and its
modified form. And SrARKwEAriGER fol-
lowed his lead
But KELLOGG, Republican, and BARNrM,
! Democrat! what snail We say OF these
slippery dodgers? Nothing more than that
they both want to be Governor, ard that
they are so stupid as 10 imagine that they
can win the confidence OF intelligent men
| 10y dodging test votes on a question which
has stirred up the people more than any
other since the war.
by the by, this dodging brings 10 light
in some unexpected quarters the himsy
stun we are sending 10 Congress At least
n dozen OF the tweuly-four members who
shirkcd the vote on the recent hill aspire
10 be Governors or Senators. Those best
known in this part of the country are KEEL
LoGG and BARNUM of Connecticut, VIII
LIAM a. WHEELER of Now York, and
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS of New Jersey.
In due time these gentlemen will find that
skulking 10 the rear in the heat of the bat
tie is not the way To win the favor of q
people who admire pluck and dcSpisc the
white feather.