Litchfield enquirer., 1876-06-01
onSiStencY.

In opposing an adjournment of the House on Decoration Day, Representative Graves, of this place, exposed himself to one of the neatest personal hits from the Hartford Courant that we have seen in a long time. Had he merely sad that the time had come when it was most patriotic to avoid all demonstrations likely to re- vive the animosities of the war, it would have been an argument of some weight; but to follow up this obvious objection with talk about the number of soldiers he had sworn in, and about the loss of a brother in-law in battle, was an absurdity of which the Courant takes merciless ad- vantage, closing its criticism as follows:
 What is sorrow that overshadows all to be compared with that man feels when his wife's brother is sacrificed on the altar of his country? Said patriotic orator at the west many years ago, when canvassing for congress and desiring to touch the sympathles and enthusiasm of his hearers: My fellow citizens, I furnished a sub- stitute for the var of 1872 and hls bones lie bleaching on the banks of the Raisen" Artemas Ward, the bravest of the brave, and the most serIous-minded of all men, boldly proclaimed that iu behalf of the Union he would sacrifice aU his wifes re- lations on bloody fields of battle. Mir. Graves has cause to shun the bitter mem- ories of the war; There are gentlemen in the house who have lost sons and broth CTS in battle; but why speak of them when here is man who as a magistrate swore in hundreds and got his pay for it and saw from Litchtield hills, his wife's brother fall in the fire and smoke of battle On Tuesday next when the people of the state ate paying sweet tribute to their honor ed soldier dead, let none forget what Graves of Litchield has suffered in the great and holy cause.
 There are other personal reasons why our first representive finds little pleasure in the memories of the war; He was then a most vehement Unionist, in violent and even in personal collision with the very men who lead the party to which he now belongs. Looking over our files of 1861 we find frequent evidence of his differ ences with his present political friends. We read that on the 26th of July, he came into personal collision with Dr. E. w.. Blake, then leading secessionist of this place, and recently representing Democrat ic Waterbury in the legislature struck him ''with a large china pitcher which cut severe gash three inches in length in Mir. Graves scalp, extending in depth to the cranium. and marking even the skull with It's sharp edge" This fracas result ed from the fact that MT. Graves and others had visited Dr. Blake's house shortly before, and compelled him to raise Union flag.
 Mir. Graves also took leading part in dealing with secessionists outside this village. He came near losing his life in the "Goshen Raid" and helped to turn the Morris and Cornwall Bridge Peace meetings, engineered by Messrs. N. B. Stevens, John Cotton Smith, and others. into war meetings. In short, his name was terror to the 'disloyal' all through the summer of '61; and as characteristic specimen of the opinion he then proclaim ed regarding the present leaders of his party, we reprint speech he made at 6 Union meeting held in this place on the 24th of August. 1861, giving the Enquirel report in full, with the italics of the orig inal print
 H. B. Graves, Esq was then called on and said that he believed it to be the du ty of every true Democrat to support the Government right or s0rong. Such was President Jackson's opinion and theory and did any one ever hear his Democracy questioned? Did any one ever hear the democracy of Lewis Class or Daniel s, Dickinson, or Joseph Holt, or Franklin i Pierce, or Benj. F. Butler, or John A. Dix and such men questioned? But we have a few. and, thank God!-but a few. now-a-d days, calling themselves Democrats but dlsg, acing the name, who have discovered that Peace is better than Gov ernment, the Laws or the Union. Such are called Jeff Davis, Wm. w. Eaton. A, B. Burr, and such like, ia voice; N. B. Stevens of Norfolk)-Yes! ~. B. Steveu, of Norfolkl-and the Convention will for give me if failed to mention his nam,
 here Such are not the leaders--and sucl leaders we will not follow. 4 man who i. not willing to raise the flag of his Coun try and support that flag in veal or woe is not true Democrat-is not true Re publican-is Traitor! He agreed witl Daniel s. Dickinson, and with the reso lutions, and he was for upholding ana supporting the Government of our undi vided Country so long as it vigorously carries on the war against she Rebels
 Mr. Graves concluded amid much ap
 plause.
 Mir. Stevens now sits with MT. Graves
 on the Democratic side of the present
 House, representing the city of Hartford