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IV. COMMENTARIES ON ELECTIONS
alone. That will be the worst punishment you can inflict upon him,
for as he is perfectly ignorant, let him continue so.
[P.S.] The man6-it may be or it may not be-is deeply distressed
at his being chosen a delegate. It exposes him     in the extreme of
being obliged to say yes or no. George is terribly mad at it and says
he told their folks not to do so. It seems the new Constitution was
expected to throw the state into violent [parties?] and some good
was hoped from it by men of affected moderation. George has been
talking very violently against the Constitution to no purpose. His
brother, Hydracephalus, says nothing, but looks mad.
1. RC, Wolcott Papers, CtHi.
2. The list is not in the Wolcott Papers.
3. The delegates from Sharon and Norfolk voted against ratification.
4. Probably Caleb Baldwin, town clerk of Newtown from 1765 to 1799. Baldwin,
however, was not elected to the Convention.
5. The New Haven County delegates voted thirteen to nine against ratification.
6. Probably Jedidiah Strong, who, with the elder Wolcott, was elected to the
state Convention from Litchfield. Both voted for ratification.
Connecticut Courant, 26 November1
A correspondent remarks that all good men must be pleased with
the prospect that this state will adopt the federal government with-
out altercation or the violence of party. The Convention, notwith-
standing some Judases, will be composed of the most respectable
men in the state-men venerable for their age and abilities, and pos-
sessed of the public confidence.
He remarks further that the choice of the people evinces their
sense of the magnitude of the object on which the delegates are to
decide, and he is happy that some of the towns have spirit enough to
neglect the wrong heads that are using their influence to embarrass
public measures by their narrow politics.
The principal towns acted, at the election, with uncommon
unanimity in favor of the Constitution. In many of them there was
scarcely a dissenting voice; particularly in those where the people have
the best means of information.
In other towns, it is expected that positive instructions in favor of
the Constitution will be given to the delegates at the annual Decem-
ber meeting.
1. This item was reprinted, in whole or in part, fifteen times from New Hamp-
shire to South Carolina by 14 January 1788.
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