Putnam patriot., 1921-04-29
History Stories Of
 Connecticut
The Charter and It's Hiding Place

At the time when Connecticut was settled and when her infant settle ments formed their first written con- stitution the king of England paid very little attention to what was be- ing done in this new state On the other hand the people of Connecticut paid very little attention to their con- nection with England. They did not even mention England or the king in the constitution that they drew up in 1889.
 England at that time was very poor ly governed. Her king was a tyrant who tried to rule by illegal methods The people would not submit to such a rule and in 16S9 they put their king to death. No one wonders under such conditions why Connecticut made no mention of the fact that she belonged to England. No wonder also that the king paid little attention to Connecti- cut, for he had troubles enough at home
 From 1649 to 1860 England had no king. The people who were at the head of the English government had so many troubles on their side of the ocean, however, that they, too, paid little attention to Connecticut.
 In 1860 a great change in affairs took place. In that year a new king, Charles the second, came to the Eng fish throne. With him came peace and order in England. The new govern ment had time to look abroad and it was sure to give it's attention to what was going on in America Connecticut thought it was wise for her to main- tain friendly relations with the new king. She must have his permission to carry on her government and she might need his protection to shield her from the Indians, the Dutch, and other enemies.
 Accordingly in 1861 the Connecti- cut people took the necessary steps to win the kings favor. They declared that their settlements were English and that they themselves being the kings faithful subjects owed ale glance to the English crown.
 The next step was to send Cover nor Winthrop to England with a peti- tion for a charter. The king was a good-natured man, fond of honors and attentions, and at the same time desirous of adding to his wealth and revenue. So when Governor Win throp presented him with the ring that the kings father had given to the gov ernors' grandfather, his heart was touched with gratitude and affection. When the governor told him that the land which the settlers had bought of the Indians and fought for at the per il of their lives was now a fertile and populous territory capable of adding much to the wealth and income of his kingdom, he was favorably impressed Lord Say, Lord Seal, and other friend: aided Governor Winthrop in persuad ing the king to grant the charter and in 1862 it received the royal sigma ture.
 Governor Winthrop received two
 
 copies of the charter. One of these he sent to America immediately. The other copy he kept in his own posses sion and brought it to Hartford him self.
 How the people at Hartford, Wind sor, and Wethersfeld rejoiced, New Haven at first objected to being unit ed to the three river towns for she hac hoped to remain separate colony Soon, however, she accepted the situ ation and all the Connecticut town: were happily united under one gov ernment.
 Under this liberal charter the col ony grew and prospered for the nex twenty-five years. The form of gov ernment was popular, for the people were permitted to govern themselves without being asked to give England any account of their actions The! were required simply to make no law contrary to those of England. Th' charter guaranteed to the colony sub stantially the same rights and privi leges that the people had claimed fol themselves when they made the con stitution of 1889. It was the peo ple's ideal of what a charter ought tt be, for it granted all they asked anC even wished for.
 No wonder they regarded it al priceless blessing.
 Neither is it any wonder that thu people were filled with anxiety ane distress when a new king, James thu Second, came to the throne of Eng land and tried to take from them thi: precious charter. The new king be lieved that it would be good thing te unite all the New England settlement; into one strong colony under an able English governor. In this way they would be better prepared to defend themselves against their Dutch French, and Indian neighbors.
 The king did not stop to inquire whether this change in government would please the people of New Eng land or not. In 1886 he sent Sir Ed.
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