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Spicer, William Ambrose, 1865-1952

"Our Day In the Light of Prophecy"



In the Connecticut Legislature
President Timothy Dwight, of Yale College, a contemporary, left the
following account of one of the historic incidents of the day:
"The legislature of Connecticut was then in session at
Hartford. A very general opinion prevailed that the day of
judgment was at hand. The house of representatives, being
unable to transact their business, adjourned. A proposal to
adjourn the council [a second legislative body called the
Governor's Council] was under consideration. When the opinion
of Colonel Davenport was asked, he answered, 'I am against an
adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching or it is
not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment; if it
is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that
candles may be brought.'"--_Barber, "Connecticut Historical
Collections," p. 403._
It was this striking incident that Whittier described with the poet's
pen:
"Meanwhile in the old Statehouse, dim as ghosts,
Sat the lawgivers of Connecticut,
Trembling beneath their legislative robes.


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