Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-28
Chamber of Commerce.

the evening" ex-Adiutant General Samuel E. Merwin, jr., ex-Mayor Lucien W. Sperry, l. H. Bromley of the Tribune, ex-City Audi tor H. H. Bunnel1 Senator Seymour of Bridgeport, and among other citizens long prominent were Joel A. Sperry, Hon. Charles L. English, Major R. P. Cowles, Wooster A. Ensign, John B. Adriance, Robert B. Brad ley, F. E. Harrison, W. J. Atwater, Charles s. Leete, F. s. Bradley and others, while the younger men active and infu ential were out in force, making the occasion specially inter esting In short the dining room of mine host Moseley's New Haven House contained a fine representation of the leading men in the city to-day in all departments of activity, educational, commercial, mercantile, manu- featuring, banking insur ance, railroading and other fields of endeavor. While the in- ner man was being refreshed fine music was had from select orchestra. The dinner continued from haf-past eight until ten. The menu was as follows:
 Mock Turtle.
 Kennebeo Salmon, Hollandaise Sauce, Pomme de
 Terre Parisienne.
 
 Saddle Spring Lamb, Mint Sauce Green Peas fAn-
 glaise.
 ENTREE.
 Tenderloin Beef larded Ia Financiere, Potato Cro
 quettes.
 
 Young Chickens stuffed, Lettuce.
 Charlotte Russe Assorted Cakes, Wine Jelly, Confeo-
 tionery, Napolitaine Ice Cream, Cheese
 Tea, Coffee.
 Ex-Mayor Lewis opened the post prandial exercises with very felicitous introductory words. He expressed qualification at the presence of so large an array of gentlemen, and paid tribute to the wide influence of Yale College, then giving the toast s'The President of the United States" calling upon President Porter.
 President Porter disclaimsd any idea of ever occupying 8 place nearer the throne than his own, and with other introductory words paid tribute to the country, to it's vast resources, it's mineral wealth, agricultur- al strength, it's commerce, it's trade, it's man. ufactures. The nations prosperity was con- tingent upon it's being a united country, and to the President at its head was due great honor. We recognize the office in it's representative capacity, but in this case have every reason to honor both the office and the man, even though one might dissent from his party He had met President Gar field on familiar terms and knew him as an l honest patriot an earnest lover of his coun- l try, man of generous soul so acknowledged by all, though of different political faith, who knew him. (Applause.) He stood honored | by all who know what he is. (Applause.) In him we might safely confde and with great | pleasure he expressed these assurances re- garding the President of the nation. (Ap- | plause)
 l Ex-Mayor Lewis most happily introduced the toast "Connecticut,' exciting genial glow over the assembly by his remarks and arousing most hearty applause as he named Governor Bigelow.
 Governor Bigelow asking to be excused 1 from speaking named the Secretary of State Charles E. Searls, of Thompson. Governor Bigelow was most warmly applauded.
 MT. Searls with general introductory re marks spoke of Connecticut, its grand rec ord, its noble history. He asked to allude tc the fact that mid the wear and tear of Ameri can life this Chamber had learned the secre of the elixir of life-the Otjum cum dignttate in ordaining and promQting such festiva occasion as this. He would claim to be New Haven man. He loved the city, it grand old elms, it's grand institution O. learning, and 1t was a happy moment tt stand again amid old familiar scenes dear tt | the heart. The speaker paid tribute to olo Connecticut, and bright as it's future hat been, it needed not the spirit of prophecy tt say, was to be far grander. (Applause.)
 Mayor Robertson was now called upon, tn, toast 'The City of New Haven" being give1 by ex-Mayor Lewis with passing tribute tt the city, exciting lively appreciation. Mayor Robertson expressed pleasure to respond tt such toast. New Haven was dear to him l and many 8 time he had occasion to fee | grateful to New Haven citizens for evidences of confidence and regard bestowed. From boyhood's days this feeling of confidence hac been growing stronger and stronger, and the speaker felt as much a right to praise the | city as any town-born citizen. He referred | to the growth of the city in his own memory | from 5000 to 63, 900 inhabitants, and its \ growth in wealth-a result brought about by | the energy and enterprise of it's citizens. He | commended the various business depart ments of the city and praised his predeces | sors in office, to none more than ex-Mayol Lewis the credit being due. He bespoke g l still greater future for the city and hoped ! that progress would be still the word, that | for instance the East Rock Park improve. ment might go forward and the harbor be I still further improved. He hoped that the liberal policy which would induce capitalists l to locate more factories here might be fos \ tered and the good work might go on that | should make this still more model city. | The toastmaster, alluding to Boston har. | bor, the tea party of'76, and paying tribute to the Rev. Dr. Bacon exciting applause called upon him to speak upon the tribute | Taxation and Representation.
 1 Dr. Bacon arising amid applause remarked 1 upon the melting cause of the revolutionary 1 war, and the establishment of the republic. l ''Ours," as President Lincoln said, was ''a | government of the people, by the people for l the people," Who are the people? Gov 1 ernment by minority is not government by l the people. Government by minorities is the theory of an aristocracy, isn't it {? We'll, who ! are the people of Connecticut They are | the men of Connecticut, and, to avoid dispute, | they are the electors of the State. The theory l of our government is that one elector is as | good as another and has the same right in ! the government as any other. We'll, have we here In Connecticut government of the people and by the people? by a majority of | the people? Not at all! Do the majority of | the electors control in this State? You know ! that it is not so. Look into the House of Representatives. The majority of the men who occupy those seats are placed there by a pitiful minority. They are the representa- l tives of towns which added together are | small. Take Andover. In 1870 it had 462 population, being 55 less in '6O. Say it is 420 in 1880, The APO people of An | dover are represented by the man of their choice in the House of Representatives By | how many is New Haven represented with it's population of 64, 4,O0O? MT. President ought l not you, ought not any one at these tables to have as much power as if living in Andover 1? Is this state of things fair, democratic, a government of the people? Now if this gross inequality in the House were redressed by any fair representation of the people in the Senate, there would be little ground of complaint. Somewhere in the government the State itself, the sovereign unit, should have representation. We have good Governor (Applause.) But his nomination is by con vention whose representation is based as is the representation of the House. Is the constitution of Connecticut irremediable in this important matter If the State of Con- necticut were honestly represented in the Senate there would be of course redress for inequalities in the other house, but the ma jority in Connecticut should have 8 control ling voice in the government and legislation of