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turn the whole attention on the distinguished merit of the mighty Chief ! Happy
will it be for this Country if his moral and political virtues should be the criterion
by which the American character shall be formed.
" The concourse of people upon this mournful occasion, from this and the neigh-
boring towns, was immense ;
an address was delivered by Gen'' Huntington and an
oration by Lyman Law, which do honor to the performers. It must be wisdom in
the friends of order to improve the present sensibility of the nation to our political
advantage. And may the Hero, like Sampson, slay more of his enemies at his death
than in his whole lifetime ! Nations
as well as individuals are governed by habit ;
most people are willing to take the general opinion upon trust, if they can be freed
from the trouble of investigating its propriety. Hence the importance of establishing
right modes of thinking as well as acting. Let the principles of Washington be the
rule of faith and practice, and our children be taught that his ways were pleasantness,
and his paths peace.
" Your remark that the exertions of the Jacobins, this Election, would be power-
ful and violent, begins to be verified. We have had a specimen of it here within a
few days. Our mechanics received a communication through Holt the Printer from
the same body at New Haven. The ostensible object was to form mechanic societies
through the State, and to have a general meeting at New Haven, to consult on meas-
ures for the benefit of the craft. You will readily see that this is no other than a
different name for democratic societies. Few but Demos were invited to the meeting.
By accident it became public, and the more respectable mechanics attended and voted
the business down. .
. .
" We have lately had a flood of political wickedness poured in upon us from
Virginia. But I am perfectly confident that Connec' has too much sense and integ-
rity to become the contemptible tool of democratic cunning.
" I am, Sir, your friend &c.
" Dear Sir,
Elias Perkins."
"New London, Jan'' 28"", rSoi."
" Since it has been ascertained that no Federal President has been chosen,
there seems to be, so far as my observation has extended, an almost perfect apathy on
the subject of politics. The Democrats seem in a state of apprehension at their own
success. They dread the idea of responsibility. Not having it in their power to
grumble, it has given time for those that can reflect, and, having something to loose
by a convulsion, to view with alarm the dangers that may arise from the ferment
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