Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-06
NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.

How the Privilege Was Acqulre0 Away Back Two Hundred Years Ago-The Qualifications-Old Old-Time Politics-The War of 1S12-North Haven,s Patriotic Response-Bea- con Hill and Fort Wooster Remi- niscences.
 NUMBER 63.
 Previous to the incorporation of the town the freemen went to New Haven to vote. No one could attain to this fran chise lightly in the early days of the parish. In 1858, to acquire the privilege of free man, one must be twenty one years of age, "be possessed of e3O proper personal estate, and be of honest aud peaceable con- versation" In 1875 the same moral qual- ifcations held, but the money basis was lowered to e20. In 1889 the selectmen were required to issue certificate setting forth the orderly qualities of the candidate, and the property clause was reduced to forty shillings. In 1702 town clerks were required to keep troll of the freemen' and read the same at the town meetings, to which every man must answer. Ab- sentees were fined two shillings unless ex- cused for cause.
 In 1729 thecandidate must present him. sells in open town meeting, and if found duly qualified be sworn in in public man ner. A few names among many are here cited, showing when some of our earlier citizens came to this privilege:
 Simon Futile, September 3, 1759.
 Ezra Stiles September 5, 1751
 Joseph Pierpont septem31bsear sa g. 3.1s 1e4
 Ephaim Humaston, April F 1756.
 Jacob Crockett, April Il, 1757
 Thomas Ray, April g. 1759;
 Jotham Blakeslee, April B, 1761
 JSnathan Payton3 April nrii iS ,a a79l 51e,
 Lawrence Clinton, April 1s 1761.
 Joshua Barnes, April 1s, 176l.
 Moses Thorp, September 20, 1768
 Judged by the standard of political terms of to-day, the town was democratic in ratio of about three to one. Occasion ally 8 break was made on some local is- sue, but the general drift was as stated.
 At the incorporation, the freemen went to the meeting house on the green to vote. The ballot box was placed on the communion tabie There was no "check list" kept. At such times as well on train ing days, it was customary to open one or more of the "Sabbada Houses" for the con- venience of those desiring spirituous liquors. They were converted into tenn porary ''bars," and had great patronage.
 The technical names by which the politi- cal parties were known at the close of the last century were "Federalists" and "anti- Federalists" The latter were not particularly satisfied with their title, and effected a change. styling themselves "Re- publicans" or National Republicans When Thomas Jefferson came to the front in 1900 by the aid of the lat ter party, the defeated Federalistt applied the term Democratic" or 'Dem ocrats" to their opponents. This word, il is claimed came from France and stood fol disorganized condition of society there Exactly why it was applicable to Jeffer sons supporters one does not readily see but at any rate it became popular with tht party themselves in spite of it's source and has survived to the present day.
 The Federalists were first called "Whigs' about 1882. Here was another curious ap pellation. The terms "Whig" and "Tory' were common enough in English politics The derivation of the word Whig,it is saio is to be found in the initial letters of tht old Scotch Covenante's motto, "We hopt in God" It is more than probable tha the title was given in derision as wal ''democrat," by the opposite party, and a there were many points of resemblance between the party so named here, and tha in England, the term held for little more than twenty years. In 1856-60, it gave way to the word Republican, which bid fair to stand for years as arrayed agains it's opponent, Democrat.
 That our readers may gain a little ide' of the political strength of the town earl. in this century we copy from an old mem orandum (author unknown) the following April, 1so4-Federalists, 25 votes; democrats
 April, 1so5-Federalists ss votes; democrats | April, 1so7-Federalists, s4 votes; democrats
 April, 1908 -Federalists, 4s votes; democrats | 113.
 April, -Federalists, 45 votes; democrats
 April, 1s10-Federalists g votes; democrat. | 91.
 April, 1s11-Federalists, A votes; democrats April, 1s1a-Federalists, 20 votes; democrats Also occurs this remarkable entry on tn | same sheet: Sept. 18th, 1911. Jacob Bas sett representative-and after going roun' three times for representative had major | ity of 3 votes!" Shades of Jefferson! Wha l does the passage mean?
 1 In 1924 the friends of Andrew Jackson in spite of protests from his party, pushe l ulIH lOT Gu6 pI0SloouCy OdLuucl OulNe always mentioned with pride all his afte l lifetime that he was the first and only mal in North Haven who voted for him in tha year. Jackson was defeated, but in 192 l came before the country again, and thi time with such popularity as but few can | didates know. Culver was the local her of the hour, and the democratic party here led by him, cast it's vote solid for "Ol, l Hickory" It is current to the present da. l that such was the enthusiasm excited in ] few of the old democratic wheel horses o this community that they kept on steadil,, ] voting for Jackson twenty years or nor after his death.
 A scrap of paper found among tn | worthy of mention because of the hint i l gives concerning the relations whicl existed in his day between politics an, church creeds. It is an extract from letter to his daughter in 1883. You requested me to write after ou "Election. I am unable to inform you mucl about about N No Haven politics: l believe they ar twas 1S3 for Hubbard Barnes (democraD 2 fo "Eleazer Warner and 26 for Amasa Thorr "EThorp is a favorite of the old RepnbIical party; his votes probably were the production
 hey had ..beionging to that Society but one session in 1 "years.''
 Hence it appears that the First society though stronger numerically than tn Second society, was really minority il political matters. The term "old republi can" applied to MT. Thorp, must not b. understood in the modern sense but rathe | as belonging to the democratic party previ ous to their adoption of the latter title
 'Sectarian zeal," (to use Pierpont's words did elect Thorp two years latter to tn general assembly for two years in success sion 1856.
 AS rule our representatives from 17S to 1854 were democrats. In the latte year the political sentiment of the tow shifted on the slavery question. A larg number of young men attained thel majority about this time, and the republi can party came into power. Since the1 four persons have been elected to tn, legislature from the former once dominan organization.
 Prohibition as a political factor came in to the field here in 1872 It's chief promo tor was Frederic c. Bradley. He may called the father of the party in this com