Middletown, 150 Yrs Ago: State Elections Next Monday - Vote to Defeat Rebel Sympathizers!

From The Constitution, Wednesday, April 1, 1863 (volume 26, number 1318)

Next Monday.

Only a few days now remain before the election—an election more important than any which has taken place for many years. The country is at war, not with a foreign foe but with a vast organized conspiracy and rebellion at home. The leaders of this rebellion aim at nothing less than the sundering of the Union and the overthrow of the Government. Should they succeed we should see an end of free republican government on this continent. In this State are those who sympathize with the rebels, and are opposed to any armed resistance to their designs. The Seymour democrats denounce the Government of the United States for carrying on a war against “their southern brethren,” the rebels. The issue of this election is made directly upon this question whether or not an armed assault upon our institutions shall be met by an armed resistance. The Seymour party demand that the Government shall submit, while the Union party demand that the rebels shall submit and lay down their arms.

Next Monday this question is to be tried in this State. It is a question of the very first importance, for it is no less than throwing upon the people the responsibility of deciding whether they will support the National Government in this war against the public enemy. No question of greater importance has ever been or ever will be tried at the ballot box. In five days this issue will be tried. Freemen of Connecticut ! are you ready for the question? Are you prepared to decide whether the noble State of Connecticut shall in this perilous crisis stand by the glorious old flag of the Union?

The Hope of the Rebels.

It is acknowledged by the rebels themselves that their only hope of success lies in the divisions at the North. They know and confess that so long as there is union in the northern states, there is not even a possible chance for them to succeed in overthrowing the Government. Read this extract from the Richmond Enquirer :

“The symptoms of disorganization which show themselves in the present federal states are of deep interest to us, and we ought to do all that we honorably and loyally may to give further impulse to the force which promises at some future time to break up the league of our enemies.”

This is plain enough. The way for men in Connecticut to help the rebels is to vote for Thomas H. Seymour. He stands at the head of that party which is opposed to the Government, and opposed to the prosecution of the war. Seymour’s election would cause joy in Richmond. The election of Buckingham would be a defeat to Davis and the rebellion.

Thomas H. Seymour.

Is this the man who after breaking the first ground for the Air Line Rail Road, and making a most strenuous speech in its favor, vetoed the bond bill of the road which virtually defeated its construction, and threw twenty millions of taxable property out of the State ?

A Vote for Buckingham.

Will be a vote in favor of maintaining the Government which was established by Washington and the fathers of the republic.

A Vote for Buckingham will be a vote for putting down one of the most infamous conspiracies in history.

A Vote for Buckingham will be a vote in support of the Government of the United States.

A Vote for Buckingham will be a vote of encouragement to our gallant soldiers in the field.

A Vote for Buckingham will aid in a speedy overthrow of the rebellion.

A Vote for Buckingham is a vote for PEACE AND THE UNION.

A Vote for Buckingham will be a rebuke to those in this State who sympathize with the rebellion.

A Vote for Buckingham will contribute to a victory which will cause joy in Washington and sorrow in Richmond.

A Vote for Buckingham will be a vote in support of law and order and against anarchy and civil war at home.

A Vote for Buckingham will triumphantly elect him !

Protect Yourselves.

Freemen of Connecticut ! you can protect yourselves effectually on Monday next by your votes. Your opponents denounce the laws passed by the last Congress, and say that if Seymour is elected some of these laws will never be enforced in Connecticut. What do they mean when they say this? They mean that Seymour will resist the United States Government, and if he resists it at all he will resist it by force. They mean then an armed resistance to the United States. Are the people of Connecticut prepared to enter into an armed contest with the military forces of the United States Government? Such a contest will bring ruin upon thousands of our fellow citizens, and bring the worst horrors of war into our very midst. Now is the time to protect yourselves against the disastrous consequences of a treasonable resistance to the laws. If you would protect your property and your families, vote for Wm. A. Buckingham. If you would uphold the authority of law in the country and in the State give your vote for Wm. A. Buckingham. Now is the time to protect yourselves in a peaceable manner. You can do it by your vote at the polls. If Seymour should be elected, your property and your lives would be placed at the disposal of a man who stands in a position of direct hostility to the General Government ! We repeat then, Freemen of Connecticut, now is your time to PROTECT YOURSELVES !

Judge Vinal.

The Union Convention have wisely selected Judge Vinal as their candidate for the office of Judge of Probate for the Middletown Probate district. Judge V. has held the office a number of years, is an honest, faithful and upright man, and has the confidence of all who have had the occasion to do business with him.

The Seymourites have nominated John L. Smith, a very worthy man, but with no experience, and it is generally understood that he will appoint A. W. Bacon clerk. We hardly think that the voters of this Probate district will be willing under such circumstances to dispense with the services of an able and courteous Judge like Mr. Vinal.

We have no doubt of the election of Judge Vinal by an increased majority. Let all who have been befriended and saved much expense in business connected with the Probate office under Judge V.’s administration, rally to his support.

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The Sentinel says Richardson was not drunk when he addressed the copperhead meeting. Before we take his word for it, we would rather have some proof that the writer was capable of judging. If he wasn’t drunk the audience was. Either “Connecticut whiskey” was too much for him, or he was too much for the whiskey.

Look Out For Split Tickets!

The Seymourites are desperate and are trying all sorts of dodges to get votes. Examine every ticket carefully and every name on the ticket.

A Desperate Cause

Requires desperate means. The Seymourites will put forth all sorts of lies and slanders. Don’t believe them. It is the last kick of a miserable set of political mountebanks whose patriotism is measured by the offices they hold and the amount of money they can get from Government.

Beware !

Money is being and to be used very freely by the secesh fraternity in the coming election. They boast that all the liquor shops have been bought, and that the Irish and Germans are to be all on their side because they have got the money to do it. We don’t believe the slander. Still we caution voters to be on the lookout for the rascals who would endeavor to buy them.

Death of a Soldier.

Died in Middlefield, March 25th, Luther R. Coe, of pulmonary consumption, aged 24. The death of this young man ought not to pass with the ordinary brief announcement. He had been for nearly two years a member of the 9th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. When the slaveholders’ rebellion first commenced, and the capital of the nation was beleaguered by the rebels, he forsook the peaceful pursuits of the merchant, enlisted for the defence and honor of his country, and induced many of his young associates to do the same. The intervening two years have been spent between the capital and its fierce assailants. His regiment has been foremost in the bloody encounters of northern Virginia from the first battle at Bull Run to that of Fredericksburg. The deceased, it is said, was in seven hard fought battles. He fought beside Banks up the Shenandoah, against the hordes of Stonewall Jackson. He fought beside Pope at Centerville, against Lee and Longstreet. He aided McClellan at Antietam to drive back the blood-thirsty invaders. But while many fell in the deadly encounter he escaped unharmed to return to this his native place, to die in the bosom of maternal affection. Middletown will remember her patriot martyrs ; and the deceased though occupying a subordinate position because of his youth, will hereafter, I doubt not, be honored with Mansfield, Gibbons, and all that may lay down their lives for their country.

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For more articles from The Constitution, go to the Middlesex County Historical Society blog.