WESTMINSTER, April 8 ^th , 1834

Mr. Editor, “How are the mighty fallen!” Jacksonism and Judsonism, recently so flourishing in Canterbury have met a sad and total overthrow. All the efforts of our gallant Col. to ride into office on the storm of an anti-negro excitement have utterly failed, and discomfited and chagrined, the Col. declares, as I am told, that the Canterbury people may take care of the black school for themselves—he fights against it no longer. Alas for us! Who shall now head our opposition against that nuisance, that abomination in our eyes! Verily, if the Col. deserteth the post he has so bravely occupied the past year, it will be to the opposers of the school “as when a standard bearer fainteth.” But I intended to tell you something of the contest, which has terminated in such a disastrous overthrow of the Col’s party here. At our first trial for representative, we failed of making a choice, and Col. Judson had a plurality of two or three votes or so over Baldwin. The second trial however showed the Col’s folks how the freemen when fairly waked up, could “shed fast atonement for the first delay.” The Col. had the leave of about 60 majority of the electors, to enjoy the sweets of domestic felicity and of neighborly intercourse with his kind friends on the green, uninterrupted by the cares of office.

We now tried for our second representative, and I leave you to guess how the subjects of two Andrew’s twisted and turned to get their beloved in. Mr. Lyon of course could not expect to take the second chance if the Col himself lost the first so he stood back as in duty bound, for his superior officer, and the struggle was between Clarke and Judson. Now we Westminster chaps have an idea that Clarke is about as fit for any office in our gift as the Archbishop is, or ever was, and so we gave him to understand as much by our votes. We have no notion of supporting black laws or black law men, or Jacksonmen or Judsonmen. The Col’s efforts to buy up the Antimasons by an offer of a share in the spoils of victory proved unavailing. Our Antimasonic neighbors think that those who offer the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, or any part and parcel thereof, had better be sure they have them to give, before they fall down and worship, for such considerations, and then they won’t bow the knee to such a Baal as our Judsonian friends set up. Mr. Judson accordingly was again notified by 70 majority, that we don’t want him to go to New-Haven on our account this year. I presume he understands our meaning by this time, for if he didn’t comprehend it at two intimations, he must have begun to guess what it was by the time we had given about a hundred majority against his candidates for Senator, Governor &c.

OLD WESTMINSTER