The Constitution
of 1818
By
Albert E. Van Dusen
Despite
a fundamental change in the Federal government in 1789, politics
in Connecticut continued on a conservative course. Although most
states adopted a new constitution during the Revolution, the state
remained happily under its Charter of 1662, only removing references
to the King. Sentiment in the 1790s was so strongly Federalist
that in practice there was a one-party system dominated by the
Standing Order. Thomas Jefferson's candidacy in 1800 encouraged
the Jeffersonian Republicans to offer substantial opposition and
to present a slate of candidates. Although they campaigned for
disestablishment of the Congregational church, a new constitution,
and election of congressmen by districts rather than at large,
the Federalists still won by a landslide. Republican strength
grew slowly from 1800 to 1815, but the Federalists consistently
won the governorship and the assembly.
In
February 1816 a more serious challenge to the Federalists appeared
when Republicans and Episcopalians met at New Haven. Although
most Episcopalians had supported the Federalists, they became
gradually alienated by the policies of the Standing Order. The
participants shrewdly chose Oliver Wolcott, Jr., (1760-1833) as
their candidate for governor. Son and grandson of governors, a
Yale graduate, Federalist, banker, merchant, and manufacturer,
he offered solid respectability and outstanding achievement. For
lieutenant governor they nominated Judge Jonathan Ingersoll (1747-1823),
a popular and wealthy New Haven lawyer. Calling themselves the
Toleration Party, they advocated disestablishment of the Congregational
church and a new constitution. Calling on voters to support the
holy institutions of their forefathers, the Federalists, under
Governor John Cotton Smith (1765-1845), won by a small plurality.
The next year brought a narrow victory for Wolcott, signifying
a triumph of new men and new principles.
In
1818 the Republicans won a landslide victory, capturing both houses
of the assembly and the governorship. The legislature immediately
called for a constitutional convention, which produced a constitution
with important provisions: disestablishment of the church with
all sects supported voluntarily; veto power given the governor;
separation of powers into three departments-executive, legislative,
and judicial; new election laws and revised suffrage requirements;
reorganization of the court system; annual elections and legislative
sessions; salaries of elected officials fixed by statute; and
amendments decided by a two-thirds vote of both houses and approval
by the voters. The Constitution of 1818 won decisively in the
assembly and in a popular referendum triumphed 13,918 to 12,364.
This success signified a victory of nationalism over localism
and of democratic principles over aristocratic ones. At last Connecticut
had joined the nineteenth century.
For
Further Reading
Purcell,
Richard J. Connecticut in Transition: 1775-1818. Middletown,
Connecticut, 1963. See especially pp. 146-264.
Greene,
M. Louise. The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut.
Boston, 1905. See especially pp. 420-496.
*
Entry under revision.
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