CHAPTER XXXII.
THE MERIDEN RIOT.
In 1837 there was a strong and bitter feeling in Meriden against the abolitionists. It is true the propagation of an ultra anti-slavery feeling among the people of the New England States had been going forward for many years from various motives and in various methods; but in Meriden the soil was poor for its growth and prosperity. The object of the abolition movement, said the democrats, was not humanity; it was to produce a sectional hatred between the North and South. In 1837 the vote in Meriden was Democratic about 200, Whig about 150, Abolition about 12. The abolitionists in Meriden were principally men of property and influence. They evidently believed that ideas were not dug from the earth, did not grow upon trees, nor were rained down from heaven; but that they were a communicated power, usually received from without, and rarely from within. They thought that slavery was a monstrous sin. If others doubted it, so much the more benighted must they be, and so much more they needed enlightenment. The number of abolitionists was small, but with the aid they received from abroad, they were enabled to create a profound sensation by their labors.
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The Rev. Mr. Granger was settled as pastor of the Congregational society in 1836; but was not interested in the anti-slavery movement. In the fall of 1837 the Rev. Mr. Ludlow, who had gained some notoriety as an anti-slavery lecturer, was requested by Messrs. Levi Yale, Julius Pratt, Fenner Bush, Major Cowles, Zina K. Murdock and others, to deliver a lecture in the Congregational church. The notice was given from the pulpit by Mr. Granger the Sabbath previous, and for a few days there was considerable excitement in the town, some declaring that Mr. Ludlow should not speak in the church. Mr. James S. Brooks with other influential men used their influence to prevent the meeting being held. When it was found that it was impossible to prevent the meeting a movement was organized to break it up; and parties, not only in Meriden, but from Berlin, Southington and Wallingford, determined to be present and break up the meeting by force, if necessary.
The day arrived for the meeting and Mr. Ludlow, who was stopping with Mr. Granger, proceeded to the church, the basement soon being filled by ladies and gentlemen, some of them from the neighboring towns. Soon after Mr. Ludlow commenced speaking, it was whispered around that trouble was brewing outside; the door was then locked and several benches were placed against it. A large number were congregated outside, most of them lookers-on, not intending to take part in any demonstrations. Several stones were thrown against the door; then two men by the name of Thompson procured a log of wood from the wood-pile of Mr. R. H. Beckley, who then had his harness-shop in the west end of the old tavern; with this log used as a ram, they soon battered down the door, and the audience were at once showered
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with rotten eggs and other missiles. Several ladies fainted, and many of the audience ran through the cellar up into the body of the church. Mr. Luther Beckley was sexton of the church at that time, and he attempted to pass through the cellar, when he was stopped by Mr. J. Y., who had some words with him, and finally drew a knife. Mr. Beckley clinched with him and after a severe struggle threw him, and passed on to the upper part of the house. Mr. Beckley had taken no part in the riot, and was merely a spectator. A large basket of eggs was procured from the store opposite the tavern, and as soon as any one came out of the church they were at once made a target for the eggs. Mr. Hotchkiss and his wife from Berlin and Mr. Harlow Isbell were severely treated. Messrs. Stephen Seymour and Zina K. Mur-dock, in endeavoring to remove Mr. Ludlow from the crowd, received a shower of eggs and stones. There were two or three personal encounters, and several blows struck, but no one was seriously hurt. A number of men were arrested and a long trial ensued. The Thompson brothers were fined fifty dollars and imprisoned six months. The cost to Mr. Ira Twiss, who kept the tavern, was over a thousand dollars.
The affair created a great deal of excitement throughout the state. At a church meeting, February 24, 1838, a resolution was offered by Mr. Fenner Bush, expressing the satisfaction of the church with the course pursued by Mr. Granger in relation to the "Meriden riots," and that they were fully convinced that he advanced no doctrine unauthorized by the word of God, or opposed to the dictates of humanity. Twenty-eight voted for this resolution, and a solemn protest signed by fifteen members of the church was presented; and a committee
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was appointed to carry the vote of the church before the Consociation. The following was the
"Decision of the Consociation, March 14, 1838, in reference to difficulties submitted to them, growing out of opposition to the Anti-Slavery cause.
"TO THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN MERIDEN:
"dear brethren:-We have patiently and prayerfully considered the difficulties between you and your Pastor, and have arrived at the following unanimous result.
"While the difficulties are a subject of deep regret to us as friends of Zion, we feel that they ought to lead you to serious self examination; for the Saviour hath said, 'it must needs be that offences come, but woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh.' Your difficulties do not seem to have originated with your Pastor. They commenced among yourselves. We conceive that your complaint against him arose from the decided stand he was compelled to take after the disgraceful riot that occurred here in October last. In the course he then pursued, we feel that he is to be justified. He exercised his right to plead a cause, against which the hand of violence had been raised. We consider that he would have been an unfaithful watchman, if he had not lifted up his voice in defence of a privilege which is dearer than life itself.
"The erroneous principle which lies at the foundation of your difficulties we discover to be this-an opinion among some that the subject of slavery is not proper to be introduced into the pulpit. It is the judgment of this Consociation that a minister is at perfect liberty to introduce into the pulpit all subjects that pertain to the relations which men sustain to each other and to God. On all these subjects the Bible has abundant instruction, and Ministers must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear.
"Your Pastor maintained his neutrality on this subject of slavery, as long as we think he consistently could with a sacred regard to the welfare of this place, and the interests of
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eternal truth. Considering the peculiarly trying circumstances in which he was placed, we admire the wisdom and prudence which your Pastor exercised. We know not how any one could have conducted better for the interests of this community. And now, we discover no insuperable obstacle to his influence and usefulness. We regard your Pastor as an able and faithful minister of the Gospel. He has been useful among you; - he may be still. We discover no good reason why your Pastor should be dismissed. We do think the source of existing evils is among the people, and they should strive to remove it.
"But had your pastor been guilty of such conduct as should dissolve his connection with this people, we can not too strongly disapprove of the measures adopted in the present case. In any society a few individuals might inflict irreparable injury on a minister and on a community by circulating for subscription a paper drawn up in an informal and illegal meeting. In this way impressions may be made and reports may be spread, such as would never proceed from a regular meeting.
"When difficulties arise between a Pastor and his flock, efforts should first be made to heal them. They should become the subject of conversation and prayer between him and the persons aggrieved. Then if they cannot be removed, and if they are such as call for a separation between the parties concerned, the Church and Society should proceed in the same open, manly and Christian manner to remove their minister, as they did to settle him. In this respect, the Consociation judge that an improper course was adopted by those who moved in the recent transaction before the regular meeting of the Church and Society.
"In drawing our results to a close, we are constrained to express our surprise and joy to find no more serious grounds of complaint between you and your Pastor. By cherishing towards each other a spirit of brotherly kindness and charity, the way will be prepared for mutual happiness and usefulness.
"We entreat you, brethren, remember to be kind and courteous,
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forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a ground against any. Forget not your relations to Christ, to one another, and to your Minister. In all these, cherish the spirit of Him whose you are and whom you serve."
This was followed with a "declaration of general principles" and signed by "Leveritt Griggs, Scribe of the Consociation, Meriden March 14, 1838."
Mr. Granger published
"A sermon preached to the Congregational Church and Society in Meriden, at the request of several respectable Anti-Abolitionists."
In the introduction Mr. Granger states that
"The preaching and publication of the following sermon, have been occasioned by a humiliating scene-a scene that will be incorporated into the future history of our hitherto quiet and peaceable town, and go down the line of posterity to the latest period of recorded time."
"April 15, 1846. The Church met this day by special appointment, and after deliberation adopted the following vote. Resolved, that the system of Slavery, as it exists in the United States, is essentially sinful and admits of no justification from the word of God."