New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-12
CONNECTTCUT POLITICS.

papers that support the present Administra-
ton. Chiefly local and personal at the outset,
it has spread over tho whole State and drawn
in great number of political persons and
journalists, opening the floOdgates OF con-
fidential disclosures and astounding revelations
relating to interior political history and the
movements of party machinery. The point
around which the high debate has revolvcd
with constantly increasing heat for
week or two is the responsibility for
the publication of certain dispatch
said to have been sent to VIM. NJ. Tweed by
ex-Gov. English in the Spring campaign OF
1871, when the latter was the Democratic
candidate for Governor against Marshall Jew
ell. The dispatch was taken from the wires
at way station and, as published purported
to have been sent by English to Tweed, and
to have run thus: "DO not disappOnt us.
"The effect will be disastrous" 1t was pub
lished in The Hartford Courant, then edited
by Gen. Hawley, and the construction was
put upon it and dwelt upon at length
that it was a call for Tammany repeaters
and money to help in the State cleo
ton. Gov. English Immediately published
denial of its authenticity and offered reward
for the detection of the author of what he
called "forged dispatch" The Courdnt
reiterated its assertions of the genuine
ness of the document, and pursued Gov.
English on the strength of it with great
bitterness for being associated with Tammany
thieves and repeaters, and for this disgraceful
attempt to corrupt the ballOt-bOx and debauch
the State. The whole Republican press of the
State, with a single exception, took up the
cry, and from that time till election rang the
changes on the wicked outrage that Gov. En-
gish had contemplated. The result was such a
stirring up of the people that Gov. English was
defeated and Jewell elected by small major
ity. 1t afterwards appeared that the dispatch
was actually sent, but was directed to Richard
O'Gorman, in the care of Vim. NJ. Tweed. at
Albany, and related simply TO an engagement
of Mr.. OGOrman to deliver political address
at New Haven. which Gov. English considered
of the highest Importance to the party and
himself The disingenuOus offer of a reward for
the author of the "fOrged dispatch" was the
mistake of politician who distrusted the peO-
pie, and preferred concealment and evasion to
a frank avOwal of truth which was not,
though he feared it might be, to his preju-
dice.
Gen. Hawley was very active in the cam
paign, and through The Courant and OH the
stump was unsparing in his denunciations OF
what he believed to be an attempt to defraud
the people of his State of their honest choice.
Having been once defeated himself by Gov.
English, it was charged that the vigOr of his
opposition derived some force from personal
feeling. However that may have been, the
hostility of each of these gentlemen to the
other grew to be bitter and incorporating.
The following year, 1872, United States Sem
at0r was to he chosen. 1t was the expiration
of Senator Ferry's first term, and his friends
claimed for him reelection under the estab
lished precedents. Gen. Hawley's friends urged
that Mr.. Ferrys health was so precariOus that
he ought not to be returned, and, in the regu-
lar caucus, secured the nomination of their
favorite. Ex-Gov. English was a leading
Democratic member of the House, and by very
adrOit management in which he was seconded
by Postmaster Sperry and supported by "a
strong local prejudice against Hawley, secured
for Ferry the Democratic nomination, and, by
the aid of Ferry's friends, who refused to be
governed by the caucus. elected him and de-
feated Hawley The account between English
and Hawley on the score of the disastrous"
dispatch seems to have been closed by this re-
suit
But the two Republican papers in New
Haven and most of the party in that city
had become, for a variety of reasons-nOt least
of which, perhaps, was the local prejudice
aroused by the long -agitated Capital question
very much embittered against Hawley and
his friends. Since Hawley's defeat for Senator
the feeling was cordially reciprocated. 1t came
out in the next Republican State Convention.
The New Haven Republicans desired the nOm-
nation of Henry b. Harrison for Governor.
Hawley's friends, though not opposed to Mr..
Harrison personally, said it would not do to
lot the men who bOlted a regular caucus
nomination for Senator dictate the candidate
for Governor and 80 brought forward Henry
p. Haven of New-LondOn. 1t is a short story.
Hartford nominated him in the Convention.
New-Haven defeated him at the polls.
The Conventions for 1874 have now been
called, and the quarrel has broken out afresh
with a rafting fire all along the lines, only
the Democrats and Liberals leaning On their
arms and listening to the lively exchange.
The next Legislature elects Senator Bucking-
hams successor Gen. Hawley is again can
didate for the Senate. So, it is suspected, is
Marshall Jewell, now our Minister to Russia.
Hawley's friends consider it a piece of ingrat-
itude in Jewell to come up for the Senate
after all that Hawley has done for him.
So as a genial opening for the new cam
paign, some one of them has written and
published a letter stating that Jewell took
the disastrous" dispatch to The Courant
Office and requested it's publication, and that
while Hawley has taken all the hard knocks
and abuse for publishing it, Jewell has
nrnfited by it. and kent ON the best of terms