The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-31

IereNt. lie IllSuI LdhO "Ai out iAbClticF
away and we should not be allowed tic
make our own laws. Are we not in
that same position now?
Then, too, we had no definite boun-
daries as we have now, and King
Charles might give away, or take any
part of the land. We had bought Say
brooke and wished a charter, giving us
the right of jurisdiction to it. Also we
wished to have New Haven brought
under our laws Therefore when the
general court met, March IA, 1861, we
decided to send a petition for charter
to the king,
Then came the all important question
who should we send? Our getting the
charter might depend on that. At
least it was settled that John Win
throp, Jr., then governor of the colony,
| should go.
We made a good choice, for Winthrop
was a diplonist, in his way, courtier,
and a trusted friend of both Lord Say
and Sele, who had a great deal of influ-
ence with the Earl of Manchester.
| A draft of the charter was made out,
how anxiousIy we can we'll imagine.
The chief articles were definite bound
aries, jurisdiction of New Haven and
| Saybrooke and most important Of ALL
that the king would confirm our right
to government, and the speaker
emphasized the last words
So on the 23rd of July, 1861, John
winthrop set sail for England. How
anxiously we waited, how we tortured
ourselves with doubts, as the weary
days crept on.
But Winthrop managed very skill
fully and obtained our charter and also
duplicate, the only difference in the
two being in the capitalization and
spelling Again, see how much we
thought Of the charter, in getting a du
plicate so that if our original were lost
or destroyed we should still have a
charter for the Duplicate was consid-
cred legal
Winthrop not being able to come
back Immediately himself, sent the
original charter home by Simon
Bradstreet and Rev. John Norton.
They arrived with it September 3, 1862.
When they arrived, the general court
of the New England confederacy was
in session at Boston, and the keeping
of the charter was given to John Tai
colt and we who were the representa-
tives.
What a day it was when we arrived!
People went wild with joy, bonfires
We're kindled and bells were rung.
1t was read in our general court Oc-
tober 8, 1862, and John Allyn, John Tai
colt and l were appointed custodians.
1t was sacred charge and we were all
sworn.
So glad and thankful were we that
a Thanksgiving day was appointed,
October 29)
From that time we have lived here
quietly and peacefully, but not so with
Massachusetts.
King Charles II annulled her charter,
and now King James wishes to do the
same to us.
Sir Edward Andres is to come and
take our charter and rule us as he
pleases, and make us part and parcel
of a new government. Is not our old
one good enough? Are we to sit here
quietly and have our charter, our dear
ly loved charter by which we have
long felt secure, taken from us? No!
We should not! Can we allow our lib
critics to be taken from us by this man?
Have we not kept faithfully our part of
the charter? Must we have an Eng
lishman over us instead of our native
governors? No. thousand times mol
What say you? VIII you be your own
masters, or will you cringe to Sir Ed
mund Andres to gain favor with your
royal master? H'
l for one will not see our charter
taken! I will not give it up. If we
must submit for a time we WILL but
give up our charterl Never Do |
voice your sentiments, brothers?''
1--WE will not give it up! No, we will
not" came from them all
"Then with this company to guard
1t do not believe it will be taken" ex-
claimed Willis. Nov will some one
suggest a plan for keeping our charter
safe? OF course we cannot do it by |
force
."I have it," exclaimed one, LET An |
dros and his escort meet us in the as |
sembly room, and let the charter be |
brought in. Then at a given signal let |
the lights be extinguished and two men
shall take the charters and hide them,
where, we must not know, for then we
cannot tell them where they are when
questioned. How it is, brothers?"
"A good plan, we will do it, said
Willis "Who shall take the char
.ers?"
One and all offered their services
me and all anxious to serve their col
my.
IF / may offer an opinion" said
Willis, 81 will say that when an inqui-
y is raised as to where the charter is
zone, we men of the general assembly
will be questioned first, therefore
lrge that your choice may fall on one
captain Joseph Wadsworth, who is a
liscreet and silent young man. and
Who Is not a member of this assembly"
A murmur of assent came from the
majority.
And now" continued Wyllis, eve
will draw by lot the man to take the
ther charter" The slips of paper
we're produced and shaken in a basket.
Then amid GREATNESS silence. slow
Y, one by one, the men drew a sliys~-
'The choice Is NINE" exclaimed one
" the name Of Stanley.
"The choice is good" said Samuel
Wills.
Then the details were further dis
used and an hour later the meeting
rOke UP.