“Vote for those you in conscience think to be good men”

On 29 Jan 1806, the Litchfield Monitor, the Connecticut town’s Federalist newspaper, published a long letter from papermaker Elisha Horton.

Horton had been called as a witness in the libel trial between local magistrate and merchant Julius Deming and the town’s other newspaper, the Witness. That Republican paper had accused Deming of intimidating voters.

Evidently, Horton hadn’t testified to his liking, or other people’s liking. His letter said:

The following is a simple state of facts, which I had recollected, and committed to writing, previous to giving in my evidence, at the late Court.—I had accidentally left the writing at home—and partly owing to a violent pain in my head, and partly to my being interrupted when giving in my testimony, I could not relate the same so fully to the Court as I could have wished.

June, 1802, if I mistake not, I took the charge of Mr. Julius Deming’s Paper-mill—and from that time until the fall of the year 1803, Mr. Deming had not opened his mouth to me upon politics.—Freemen’s meeting day [i.e., Election Day], I went in his Store, and observed to him thus:—Esq. Deming, I have come to vote this day, just as I did in old times,—I have seen no Nominations, or list of Candidates on either side, and shall vote for those I think to be good men, or best qualified for office.

Mr. Deming replied, “I never shall blame you for voting as you please; but hope you will be conscientious in voting, or vote for those you in conscience think to be good men.” . . .

During the winter [of 1804], many of both parties were inquisitive, to learn of me, on which side I should vote—I uniformly told them that I should not vote on either side—that I should not attend meeting.

In the spring of the year, Orin Stone, came to the mill, with a line as he said from M. S. jr. informing me, that I was appointed as one of their [the Republicans’] Committee, and wishing me to act accordingly.—I refused, desiring him to give my respects to Mr. S. and tell him I wished to be excused.

Other articles tell me “M. S. jr.” was local merchant Moses Seymour, Jr. (1774-1826). His father had been one of Litchfield’s Revolutionary leaders and was still serving as town clerk.

Freemen’s-meeting day arrived, and having little or no help in the mill, I concluded to go into town, and see Mr. Deming concerning a pair of Writing Moulds [frames for papermaking], which were expected on from Philadephia—…After conversing about them, and I was about to leave the store,—‘And shall you not stay to meeting?’ (said Mr. Deming.)—

No, replied I; I think not.

“Well, (said Mr. Deming) if you do stay and vote, I tell you now, as I told you the last year, vote for the men you in conscience think to be good men.”

I then, for the first time, introduced the subject of politicks to Mr. Deming, this: ‘Squire Deming, I am dissatisfied.

“At what?” (replied he)—

At certain principles which are prevailing among the democrats (said I)—

Mr. Deming seemed a little surprised, and said—“Why I am informed that you are one of their Committee.”

I answered, they have appointed me, but I have refused to act as one. I observed to Mr. Deming that I had voted several times on the Democratic side; as I was dissatisfied with some of the measures towards the close of Adams’s administration, but was now more dissatisfied with the democratically principles which are prevailing among us.

Mr. Deming observed,—“Mr. Horton, I have never said but a little to you upon politicks.”—

Not half so much as I wish you had, said I.—

Mr. Deming then observed to me,—that “there was something very alarming in the new order of things which designing men were endeavouring to introduce into this state;”—adding, that “he had formerly transacted business on a very large scale,” &c.—“that he had already lessened his business in a great measure;”—and concluded thus,—That should the State of Connecticut be revolutionized, he should still lessen his business, or give up all his business abroad, and retire to private life.

The same evening a report was circulated in the western part of this town (and perhaps in other places) that Mr. Deming had threatened me in a very pointed manner, that if I presumed to vote on the democratic side, he would immediately turn me out of his employ—Mr. Arunah Blakeslee called upon me the same evening to know the truth of the report: I denied it then,—I deny it now,—and shall deny it as long I live.

Blakeslee was from the west side of Litchfield. I can’t find anything else about him, so he doesn’t appear to have been prominent, just an interested voter.

TOMORROW: Contrary voices.

(The photograph above shows Julius Demings’s 1790s house as it looks today, courtesy of Dan Sterner’s handsome Historic Buildings of Connecticut.)