The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-10
ABOUT JOHN DAVENPORT
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 (Continued from Sixth Page.) dency to prefer his own way to all others, that he came to the conclusion that Milford would be none too far from New Haven for comfort, in case a theological war should break out.
 As for the Rev. Samuel Eaton, he seems to have been completely out generalled. The people were so pro- nounced in their religious inclinations that the majority were finally persuad- ed that their own interests, and the well being of their posterity required the adoption of MT. Davenport's plan. This state of affairs was doubtless hast ened by MT. Davenport's complete de- votion to the welfare of the colony, and by the love and confidence which he in- spired
 There was no audience room in the colony large enough to hold the male population, and it was decided to meet in the barn of MT. Newman. one of the leading planters, to lay the foundations of the new government. Davenport was the leading spirit of the occasion. He has been called a great politician, but however fitting the appellation may be, he certainly showed good gen. eralship then. He stated series of propositions in the form of queries, to which those present were asked to as- sent. Had a set of resolutions been read embodying the same principles, the opposition might have made a decided showing, or even controlled the meeting. The procedure was shrewd, to say the least.
 Query 1 asked: "Whether the Scrip lures do hold forth perfect rule for the direction and government of all men in all duties which they are to perform to God and men, as well in the government of families and common wealths, as in matters of the church?" That was proposition to which no man could possibly take exception,
 Query 2 reminded the planters that, Whereas there was a covenant solemn ly made by the whole assembly of free planters of this plantation the first day of extraordinary humiliation which we had after we came together, that as in matters that concern the gathering and ordering of a church, so likewise in all public offices which concern civil order, as choice of magistrates and officers, making and repeating laws, dividing allotments of inheritance, and all things of like nature, we would all of us be or dered by those rules which the Scripture holds forth to us; and it was demanded whether all the free planters do hold themselves bound by that covenant in all business of that na- ture which are expressed in the cove nant, to submit themselves to be or dered by the rules held forth in the Scripture.'' A majority held up their hands and voted assent.
 Query 3 desired that those who had been received as free planters and were settled in the plantation with a purpose, resolution and desire that they be ad- mitted into church fellowship according to Christ as soon as God should fit them thereunto, should hold up their hands This seemed like very inno- cent resolution, but it had a momentous bearing on another that was soon to follow
 In query A., all the free planters were called upon to express whether they held themselves bound to establish such civil order as might best conduce to the securing of the purity and peace of the ordinances to themselves and their pos- terfty, according to God.
 Query 5 enquired whether free bur- gesses shall be chosen out of church members ** with the power of choosing magistrates and officers from among themselves, and the power of making and repeating laws, etc." Af- ter the vote was taken, one man stood up and suggested that it might not be entirely safe for the free planters to give the control of civil affairs out of their own hands. Some one rose to the point of order that everything had been settled by the vote, and then the ob- jector urged that the free planters ought to reserve the right to resume power into their own hands, in case matters were not properly conducted. But he found he was in a Davenport meeting, and was obliged to sit down. We do not know who this far-sighted individual was, but there is a tradition to the effect that 1t was the Rev. Sam uel Eaton. Mir Davenport in order that there might be no after-talk, put the question over again, and it was unanimously carried.
 Then, in order to give a final clinch,
  ''Mr Robert Newman was desired to write it as an order, whereunto every one that hereafter should be admitted here as planters should submit by subscribing their names to the order, namely, that church members only shall be free burgesses, and that they only shall choose magistrates and officers from among themselves.
 Now let's see just what had happened. A majority of the planters had as- sented; CD to the proposition that the Scriptures offered a perfect rule of con- duct in all things; CD that they would stand by the provisional agreement (which had been entered into until a permanent government could be estab- lished that all questions affecting the civil or religious welfare, should be set tied by the Scriptures; (3) that all pres ent might come into the church as charter members, so to speak, upon passing a satisfactory examination; (4) that they should bind themselves to es- tablish civil order according to Scrip ture; and (5) that church members only should be free burgesses, with power to choose all civil officers from among themselves.
 It had now been settled as a funda- mental principle. beyond the power of