Litchfield Enquirer

"THE LETTER."

"Aid of the General Government."—We have been aware that most of the electioneering plans of the Loco-focos originated at Washington, and that the "aid of the general government" has been called upon and applied to carry out local operations, and to awe and govern those who, either by patronage, power, or the bowing of the great men, are led into the trammels of "the party." Among the agents in this concern the Senators from Connecticut have been eminently conspicuous, lending their aid, not only by franking and forwarding speeches, pamphlets, and newspapers, to their immediate constituents, but to persons in other States for the purpose of electioneering to keep themselves in power. Lists of names have been forwarded to them by their agents at home, and these have been liberally supplied with Locofocoism, fresh from the great mint, while the mails have been loaded down with "the franking privilege." Private correspondence has also been resorted to, in pursuance of the party requisitions, and among the favored ones a gentleman in an adjacent county received the following letter from the Hon. John M. Niles. It speaks in the true spirit of the man and his coadjutors, while it is a gross libel upon a great body of his constituents, and an insult to every freeman in the State. Read it. Let us hang up the Senator in his own shroud:

Washington, April 9th, 1838.

Dear Sir:—I have your letter of the 5th April.—Your Election has gone against us. I was not disappointed except in the magnitude of the Whig vote; the means by which they have effected the result, are such as that party usually resort to in times of high excitement. FALSEHOOD, DECEPTION, and FRAUD on the one hand, and VIOLENCE, OPPRESSION and COERCION on the other. They have CHEATED US OUT OF THE ELECTION!

The miserable Conservatives have injured us considerably; much more than the amount of their vote.—Their factious and unprincipled conduct discouraged our friends and encouraged the Whigs. The Abolitionists also, in the eastern part of the State, united almost to a man with the Whigs, and did us considerable injury. The whole PRESBYTERIAN CLERGY likewise took an active part in the election, voted themselves, and were the means of bringing out 1000 voters. Nearly an equal number were imported into the State from abroad, contrary to law. Persons in factories and other dependent situations were forced to vote against their Will and LED TO THE POLLS LIKE CATTLE TO MARKET! Under all these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that we were beaten.

As to the future, all that is necessary, is for our party to pursue a steady, firm course. We have 21,500 honest democrats, united upon principle, which neither menaces, nor interests could intimidate or seduce. This force will be a majority in any ordinary struggle. We must expose the iniquity, oppression and corruption of the Federalists in the late election; and be prepared to take advantage of the violent and proscriptive measures of the Whig Legislature. They will have great trouble with the Abolitionists, who will demand a fulfillment of their pledges made to them by the Whigs before the election.

It will be necessary for our friends in all Democratic towns to attend the town meetings this fall, and secure their Selectmen. We have probably been cheated out of 1000 votes by the Whigs having the control of the board for the admission of Electors and the Moderators of the meetings. It is impossible for the Whigs to make another similar effort next year. You might as well think to burn over stubble land two years in succession. I do not think we have reason to despair; on the contrary I believe we have a fair chance of success at the next election.

It will not be possible for me to be at New Haven during the session of the Assembly; but Mr. R. I. INGERSOLL, Mr. WELLS, and other of our friends, will be fully competent to advise as to the course our party ought to pursue in the present emergency. I am yours, truly,

J. M. NILES.

To Esq.

Such, Freemen of Connecticut, are the sentiments of an honorable Senator, who represents, or should represent your character and interests in the Congress of the United States!—A majority of the people of the State are accused of "falsehood, deception and fraud on the one hand, and violence, oppression and coercion on the other"—of being "forced to vote against their will, and led to the polls like cattle to the market!" while the "miserable Conservatives," "the Abolitionists," and "the whole Presbyterian Clergy," are anathematized as the very outcasts of the earth, unworthy of the elective franchise, the first privilege of Freemen, because they would not support the destructive measures advocated by J. M. Niles, Perry Smith and others, which have shut up our work-shops, stayed our commerce, palsied the hand of industry, destroyed the currency and exchanges, and bankrupted the government, with foolish and ruinous experiments.

Who among you have been "forced to vote contrary to your will, and forced like cattle to market?" If there are any such, let them speak and acknowledge their shame. If there are none—if this assertion is a base libel upon the honor, integrity and independence of the people of this State, let them answer to it in terms of just indignation at the polls, and hunt from their confidence the base traducers of their name and character. The "miserable Conservatives!"—how will they bear the kind and generous appellation from such a source? "The Abolitionists"—how will they dare again to vote against the dictates of their self made master, John M. Niles? The "whole Presbyterian Clergy"—how will they dare again to "vote themselves," or exercise their natural and constitutional right?

The Locofocos are "prepared to take advantage" of them, and woe is their portion if their enemies succeed.

But this letter not only shows the existing spirit of "the party," but it develops in part their future plan of operations. "In all Democratic towns" it is to be "secure the Selectmen." That is a game that two can play at, and with this timely notice we trust the Whigs will take care that they are not overreached. Some of the agents too, who give direction to their schemes, are named, and hence we learn the responsibility which they assume, in relation to the public. They are public men, office holders, and hence have much at stake. They should be careful how they denounce the people as cheats and swindlers, lest they should become the victims of popular indignation.

We presume we shall have frequent occasion to refer to this subject again, and surely it contains enough for a volume of comment. In the mean time, if any one doubts the authenticity of this letter, we can refer him to the original in the hand writing of the Honorable John M. Niles!—N. Haven Herald.