Men of the most unsuspected integrity, were openly attacked by anonymous publications, or dispoiled of their good name by secret insinuations.
David Daggett
The Public Record
David Daggett was a U.S. senator, mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, Judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, and a founder of the Yale Law School. He helped block plans for the first college for African Americans in the United States and presided over the conviction of a woman running a boarding school for African Americans in violation of Connecticut's recently passed Black Law. He judged African Americans not to be citizens and supported their colonization to Africa.
gutenberg.org
These calumnies were kept in circulation by their authors till impudence itself was abashed, and the object in view obtained--not a tittle of proof was ever adduced, and investigation always shewed that the charges were not only false, but…
Yes, men who urged the people of Connecticut almost to rebellion on this account, stept into the places and, without a blush, took more from the people than their predecessors.
Such meanness, such baseness, such hypocrisy in office seekers, exhibit in strong colors the depravity of human nature and teach us what dependence may justly be placed on pretensions and professions.
At one time men destitute of property are seduced by the alluring doctrine of universal suffrage--then the farmer is told that taxes are too high on land, and, with the same breath, the mechanic is sagely informed, that the poll tax should…
Thus a people enjoying the height of political prosperity are cajoled into a belief that men without virtue, without the restraints of the gospel, without a particle of real regard for their fellow men, are their best friends, and are…
Let such remember, that when the Ethiopian shall change his skin, when the Leopard shall change his spots, and when bitter fountains shall send forth sweet water, then will those who flatter the people with their tongues, and deceive them…
Let Judd and Bishop approach the sepulchures of these venerable men--let them lift the covering from these venerable ashes and in the face of heaven pronounce them TYRANTS!!
Could you see them approach their dust with such language on their tongues, you would see them retreat with horrible confusion from these relicks of departed worth.
We have a Constitution--a free and happy Constitution.
It was to our fathers like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land--it has enabled them to transmit to us a fair and glorious inheritance--if we suffer revolutionists to rob us of this birth right "then we are bastards and not sons.
It is a fact as well authenticated as the settlement of the state, that a Constitution was formed by the people of the then colony of Connecticut, before the Charter of King Charles.
Never till this year have we heard, or even suspected that our state was governed by lawless mobs.
Now, as a means to effect a revolution, for the first time, have a few designing men endeavored to excite alarm-- they have indeed excited alarm--sober men of their own party are alarmed--honest men, who are not misguided, see the whole…
Who commissioned these gentlemen for this important labor of providing them with a Constitution?
Can any man doubt either the truth of this remark or the sincerity with which it is uttered?
Is it not clear that this whole proceeding originates in a pure unmixed affection for the people and a sacred regard to truth?
My fellow citizens, look at the whole course of the lives of Judd, (I place him first on the list because he was chairman) of Bishop and of Wolcott, and say if they have not ever been under the influence of the most disinterested virtue…
Look also at these Delegates from ninety- seven towns, and say if they can have any other object in view but the dignity, happiness and glory of their country?
In Georgia they have had two Constitutions, and in Vermont two, and who dare pronounce their political situation equal to that of Connecticut.
The people of France have had six Constitutions within fifteen years, and where are those Constitutions?
In the grave of anarchy and despotism with millions of deluded inhabitants who have been sacrificed by the Robespieres and the Bishops of that suffering nation.
To that suffering nation turn your eyes and reflect that the mighty mass of woe under which they have groaned, was produced by an ambition, fierce, cruel and destructive as hell, and that an ambition alike terrible reigns every where.
At that time his language was, The Constitution of Connecticut is the best in the world--it has grown up with the people, and is fitted to their condition.--Now this consistent man who is endeavoring to gull the people that he may…
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