65. An act enlarging the powers of surveyors of the revenue.

66. An act to appropriate a certain sum of money to defray the expences of holding treaty or treaties with the Indians.

67. An act to make further provisions for the children of colonel John Harding and major Alexander Trueman, deceased.

68. An act supplementary to the act establishing the mint, and regulating the coins of the United States.

69. An act supplementary to the act to suspend. part of an act, intitled, "An act to augment the army of the United States," and for other purposes.

CHAPTER XIV.

Remarks on the Constitution of Connecticut....Trials of Cooper, Fries, Callender and Holt....General observations.

F those States which were the abettors of John Adams and his party, and the opposers of the rights of American citizens, none, not even Massachusetts, the cradle of aristocracy, made such a conspicuous figure as the small State of Connecticut. This naturally excites our wonder and astonishment, as the inhabitants of this State are principal

ly employed in the peaceful occupation of husbandry. But the surprise of the reader will vanish when he is informed that in no part of the world the bigotry of priesthood reigns so triumphant, or that the dark shades of superstition no where cloud the understanding of man in such a degree, as among the unhappy natives of Connecticut.

This State has not formed any constitution since the revolution, but ancient superstition and the prejudice of custom have established an hierarchy, which is directed by a sovereign pontiff, twelve cardinals, a civil council of nine, and about four hundred parochial bishops.

The present priest, who may be honored with the appellation of Pope, is Timothy Dwight, President of Yale college. The corporation of this college, which seems to be the main spring and vital part of the State government, is composed of the President, twelve clergymen, and seven senior members of the first branch of the State Legislature. The clerical part are all denominated Congregationalists, which is the prevailing and principal religious order in Connecticut.

The Legislature sits twice each year. The representative branch is chosen for each session; the other branch and chief officers of government, are chosen annually. The people qualified to vote in elections, assemble in their several districts in the month of September, annually, and elect their representatives; they also vote for a certain number of persons who are to be candidates, or to stand in

nomination for election into the first branch of the Legislature at the next annual election. In April, the people qualified to vote, assemble again, choose their representatives, vote for governor, lieutenantgovernor, and some other officers of government for the year ensuing; and also from the list or nomination made at the preceding meeting in September, they at that time elect the persons who are to compose the first branch of the Legislature. In May the Legislatures convene, when the votes for governor, &c. are canvassed, and the result of the election proclaimed....This is called the general election. The representatives in Congress are elected from a previous nomination, made once in two years, in the form already mentioned.

The annual commencement at Yale college takes place in September, a short time previous to the election of the Legislature. At this time the president is attended by his twelve cardinal members of the corporation, the governor, lieutenant-governor, and seven other senior members of the first legislative house (which compose the lay part) and the greatest part of the clergy. On this occasion, the governor and other civilians are subordinate to the president, and they feel deeply impressed with a sense of their subordination, knowing that he can kill or make alive at the next annual election; that he emphatically holds the keys which command their political damnation or salvation.

The Pope, being thus surrounded by his cardinals, his civil councils and his parochial bishops,

determines the order and detail of the ensuing election. Each one returns home with a perfect understanding of the part he is to act. The clergy apply themselves to such persons in their respective parishes as can most effectually influence the representatives in Congress; and the members of the first legislative branch being chosen from the State at large, and not from particular election districts, the people can have but little personal knowledge of the candidates, and must necessarily act through information received from others. The parochial bishop claims to know who are the fittest and best men to be entrusted with the public concerns of the nation....all who are of a different religious denomination from himself, or who deny or doubt the Pope's supremacy, or infallibility, are denounced as anti-christian, anti-federal, jacobinical, disorganizing scoundrels. The Sunday previous to the day on which the people meet to deliver in their suffrages, is devoted to political harrangues from the political desk. On these occasions, in the heat of political zeal, the preacher will name the individuals who are to receive or be excluded from popular approbation, and with a holy fervor, instruct the people of his charge how they are to bestow their suffrages, threatening divine vengeance on all who disregard his pious admonitions.

The influence which has been described does not stop at this point. The newspapers which circulate in every parish, village or neighborhood, are either patronized or discountenanced by the clergy

man, according as they promote or oppose his designs....his efforts are seconded by all persons seeking offices by clerical aid, or who hold any office's under that species of influence. Hence the editors of newspapers in Connecticut, are compelled to take the current, and the press is employed to destroy or bring into contempt those republican principles and sentiments, which led Americans through the revolutionary war, and secured the independence of their country.

The characters of the governor, lieutenant-gov. ernor and most of the legislators in Connecticut, are highly federal.*

Mr. Trumbull, the governor, is possessed of principles that even border upon monarchy....like Mr. Adams, he approves of the British Constitution as the most rational and stable of political govern

ments.

Mr. John Treadwell, the lieutenant-governor, in his public conduct, has never evinced talents of a superior order. As a scholar, he has small claims to distinction. As a judge of a country court, he does not understand even the terms which the lawyers make use of in addressing him. As a politician, he is familiar with the intrigues and cabals which have existed in Connecticut since he has had a share in her councils, but his views extend no further. He is unacquainted with the various

* For the characters of the Legislatures of Connecticut, the reader is indebted to a writer in the Aurora of April last, upon whose information he may place reliance.