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Jensen, Merrill (ed.) / Ratification of the Constitution by the states: Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut
(1978)
VII. The aftermath of ratification, pp. 563-564
Page 563
563 VII THE AFTERMATH OF RATIFICATION Every newspaper in Connecticut reported the news of ratification within two weeks after the Convention adjourned. Some Connecti- cut newspapers, such as the New Haven Gazette, 24 January, praised the minority for its willingness to accept the decision of the majority (VII:C below). But such was not the attitude of Federalist leaders. They were unwilling to condone any opposition, and they continued their efforts to destroy the political careers of such men as James Wads- worth. They attacked him in private letters and in the newspapers. In the spring of 1788, he was defeated for reelection to the Council and was replaced as comptroller of the state by Oliver Wolcott, Jr. He was reelected a judge of the New Haven County Court in 1789, but he stuck to his principles and refused the judgeship. In January 1789 the legislature had adopted a law requiring all state officials to take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. Wadsworth refused to take the oath (to Governor Samuel Huntington, 15 October 1789, Mfm:Conn. 101). The day after it replaced Wads- worth with another judge, the legislature repealed the oath law. Nor did the Federalists forgive men who had raised doubts about the Constitution, even though in the end they voted to ratify. Wil- !liam Williams voted for ratification although he objected, accord- ing to his opponents, because the Constitution did not require a re- ligious test for officeholding. "Landholder" attacked Williams by name in the newspapers. Williams replied, denying the charge, whereupon "Landholder" attacked him again. However, Williams retained his position as a member' of the Council. judge Eliphalet Dyer of the Superior Court had also raised objections to the Con- stitution but had voted to ratify. An attempt was made to defeat him, but he was reelected judge in 1788, and in 1789 he became Chief judge of the Superior Court. The continued Federalist attacks on those who had doubts about the Constitution or who opposed it evidently had an intimidating effect. Thus Hugh Ledlie asked that his correspondence not be
Copyright 1978 Wisconsin Historical Society Press.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright