The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02
GOVERNORS OF The NEGROES.
A CUSTOM THAT EXISTED FOR
A CENTURY IN CONNECTICUT.
The strongest Man Was Chosen 20 the
Place Held ofnce as Long As lie
Was Able - Features OF Parades
m Elections = Notable Governors.

and Elections Notable Governors.
DKRBy, Conn, March I.-Some OF the
people who are trying to make a new Con-
s~titution for Connecticut recalled the other
day the times when there wore negro Gov
errors OF the State. 1t Is a page In the
history Of Connecticut which seems TO be
fading, but which should be preserved.
Years before the Revolution. a quarter OF
n century before the signing Of the Decla-
ration Of Independence. when there were
In Connecticut many slaves who either
had been kidnapped from Africa, or were
the offspring of such negroes there existed
o form OF government among them. To
the freemen OF the day Il was a burlesque.
but to the slaves 1t was a most serious
matter.
The Governor Of the negroes ruled by
force. as he gained the Office by superior
physical strength. Sometimes he held the
Office for yars. sometimes he was deposed
before his term ended. But never did he
yield up his Office until some negro Of
greater strength won the right to succeed
hun, or until failing health or old age warned
him not to enter the lists again.
The Governor of the negroes was IN
autocrat. His will was law. He settled
all disputes and he defended his decisions,
from which there was no appeal. with the
reasoning which never fails to convince
the reasoning of Drawn and muscle.
This slave government was simple. There
was but ono officer besides the Governor,
the Northumberland There was no
problem Of town and city representation
TO be settled, because there was no repre-
sentation. The weak had no place. 1t
was the survival of the fittest.
When or how the slave government orr
| ginated Is not known. 1t had a beginning
somewhere about the middle OF the
eighteenth century and existed for fully
100 years, passing away a few years before
| the Civil War.
The FIRST mention of it Is found In a proc
lamation issued by one Gov. Cuff, who,
upon abdicating, set forth his reasons and
named his successor. The proclamation Is
as follows:
HARrPoBD, May II, 1893.
p%rovinSe o. coaoeStioat. do resign my Gov.
ss65 n99 sTsshg2 s. sks Sosn A Ana So5 Sie tSat % 9S3
niesof Dsy.d ! wa; the next Bat, being
said Goyernmentshipe to John Anderson.
l. John Anderson, having the Honour
Do my ny utpoS eSdeTeTe to serve rye YOU in Efvssrryy
Respect and | hope you WIN ODE me accord
ingly. JOIN ANDERSON,
The late Governor Cuh. Hartford.
Peter wadsworth
Ponp willis.
John Jones.
Fraday.
The date OF this proclamation, May II
1899. and the reference TO CUFFS having
| held Office for ten years, together with
| the further reference to his having received
the Office from another. would indicate
! that the custom existed fully twenty-five
years before the Revolution.
While it is impossible to fix the date upon
which the first Governor was elected, IL
is not difficult 10 determine from what the
custom sprang. As a colony, Connecticut
enjoyed a very liberal charter. Her free
men could elect the Governor and did 30.
He was inaG gurated at Hartford and
representative men from all parts Of the
colony assembled III the city and helped
20 inaugurate him.. The event was a brill
liant AFFAIR for those days. The Governor
was met by the militia and representa-
tive men outside the city and escorted 10
the place where the oath Of ofice was 10
be administered. This ceremony being
over. he made a speech and then there was
u big dinner.
many gay colors, many beautiful women
and handsome men, the fare Of truInpets,
the thrill of martial music-a scene TO
impress any one. Many Of the freemen took
TO the city their man servants, the impress
sionable blacks.
These saw and heard. They noted the
| dienified central figure, 10 rich dress, re-
cpiving the cheers of the crowd, saw him
saluted, heard his speech, saw the feasting.
Quick to initiate. undoubtedly the slaves
thought that II the white men could ele-
waite a man 10 whom the others would
show honor, they might, so treat one Of
their number. The habit of imitation
probably gave rise 10 the custom. SO the
FIRST negro Governor was elected.
The carly inaugurations took place at
Hartford but the only thing known about
them is that there were parades, ludicrous
in many instances, never serious save TO
the slaves. II blacks enjoyed them,
and the whites tolerated them, because
they mad fun.
About 1890 the election and the Inaugural
ton were transferred TO Derby, and some-
thing of the eccentricity Of the election
has been preserved. There was no ballot
ting for candidates, but the selection was
made 10y a test Of strength and endurance.
Only very strong and active men be-
came candidates. for the tests were never
easy. Sometimes the election went TO
the man who could lift and carry farthest
a barrel of rum or molasses, or WAS the
feptest Of foot, or was the best in wrestling
bouts.
Sometimes the tests were more anus
ing, as for instance, when the candidate
was required to plant the feet against a
stake driven into the ground and pull
against n team of oxen. Not infrequently
some unusual feat of strength, performed
before the day Of elect ion, previously
determined the man entitled to the Office
and no other candidate appeared.
Election day was the great negro festi
val of the year. Negroes came TO Derby
from all parts Of the State, even from
Hartford. The scene In the villag then
was a remarkable one. Tho negroes were
dressed in many colored clothing, bedecked
with feathers and R~ew-gaws, and wore
brilliant ribbons tied in their hair.
The morning of the day was taken up
In preparing for the election. After the
winner had been decla red ~ noon, the
negroes retired beyond the limits of the
village and there forming into line, marched
through the principal streets, a body of
men, women and children wonderful TO
see, escorting their chief.
First came the Governor-eloct, then
his body guard, uniformed every man
az fancy dictated or means permitted,
carrying all kinds Of swords and fire arms.
Then followed the others, crowded to-
gether, laughing. shouting, singing. To
Warmers Ia vern the only one in the town.
they went, where the G~overnor-elect was
sworn in and made d speech. i
Then there was n big dinner followed
bv a dance. which often last ed NTH noon