Neither of the
feeble organizations discussed or professed much regard for any of those
fundamental principles which had created and previously influenced parties, or
which were then again just looming up above the horizon. The Federalists had
been beaten in 1818 and felt that they deserved it, but they had always until
then been in the ascendant and wielded the power of the State, and still
desired most earnestly to do so. The Republicans of those days were held in
subjection and had great deference for the Federal dignitaries. Scarcely one of
the leaders possessed independence and strength of character sufficient to
firmly resist the well-organized dominant party and form and avow individual
opinion. The mass or body of the people were patriotic, but, under
ecclesiastical as much as political ruling, had little zeal or devotion for
parties or leaders. This was the condition of things when I came upon the stage
of action, full of enthusiasm and earnest work, and commenced the labor of
bringing together the minds which sympathized and agreed with me. Very few of
the prominent men came into the fold, and such as did were most of them
disappointed and disaffected men. Some aspiring individuals whispered
encouragement, but kept out of sight. By letters, by private correspondence and
personal interviews with the people, by ascertaining names of men in different
towns and localities, urging and inviting them to come forward, I laid the
foundation of what was and is known as the Democratic Party of Connecticut.
John M. Niles aided, and as he was the elder man by some years, he was more
openly recognized as the leader. But Niles had not perseverance and was often
and easily discouraged. Circumstances favored, and though abused, hated,
insulted, and at first despised, the organization thus commenced, after many
trials and reverses, obtained an ascendancy in the State.
When this became
established, the vicious, the corrupt, the time-serving, and the unprincipled
flocked to us. The Seymours, the Ingersolls, the Phelpses, etc., became
Democrats. The organization was thorough, and the discipline rigid and severe. Trimmers
and mere office-hunters became jealous and dissatisfied, made secret and
sometimes open war upon me, were whipped and returned. The drill and discipline
of twenty years made the organization compact, and when the Democratic Party of
the country in 1848 became unfaithful in a measure to their principles, the
discipline of party carried many into a false position. I declined to follow
the nullifiers, compromisers, and secessionists, but the organization which I
had instituted held to party and became perverted. New men who "knew not
Joseph" controlled the organization. For a time they retained the
ascendancy, but ultimately they broke down, and for ten or twelve years they
have been in a minority. Through the War the leaders have been almost all of them
hostile to the Administration and malignant against the cause of the Union.
Some, like English, have risen above the trammels of party.
The ticket, with the
exception of English, has not much strength, and some bad men are on it. I am
apprehensive that the Republicans will not be as judicious in their movement,
will not nominate a better man for Governor nor give as hearty an indorsement
to the President and his policy.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 428-9
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