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te flag run up above the stars and stripes。 They stood quietly in the crowd； while the meeting was organized； and a preacherMr。 Charles Smithwas invited to open the proceedings with prayer。 〃The Military and Civil History of Connecticut； during the war of 1861…65；〃 by W。 A。 Croffut and John M。 Morris； thus continues the account of the meeting：
〃He （Smith） had not； however； progressed far in his supplication； when he slightly opened his eyes； and beheld； to his horror； the Bridgeport omnibuses coming over the hill； garnished with Union banners； and vocal with loyal cheers。 This was the signal for a panic； Bull Run； on a small scale was re…enacted。 The devout Smith； and the undelivered orators； it is alleged； took refuge in a field of corn。 The procession drove straight to the pole unresisted； the hostile crowd parting to let them pass； and a tall manJohn Plattamid some mutterings； climbed the pole； reached the halliards； and the mongrel banners were on the ground。 Some of the peace…men； rallying； drew weapons on 'the invaders；' and a musket and a revolver were taken from them by soldiers at the very instant of firing。 Another of the defenders fired a revolver； and was chased into the fields。 Still others； waxing belligerent； were disarmed； and a number of loaded muskets found stored in an adjacent shed were seized。 The stars and stripes were hoisted upon the pole； and wildly cheered。 P。 T。 Barnum was then taken on the shoulders of the boys in blue； and put on the platform； where he made a speech full of patriotism； spiced with the humor of the occasion。 Captain James E。 Dunham also said a few words to the point。 * * * * 'The Star Spangled Banner' was then sung in chorus； and a series of resolutions passed； declaring that 'loyal men are the rightful custodians of the peace of Connecticut。' Elias Howe； Jr。； chairman； made his speech； when the crowd threatened to shoot the speakers。 'If they fire a gun； boys； burn the whole town； and I'll pay for it！' After giving the citizens wholesome advice concerning the substituted flag； and their duty to the government； the procession returned to Bridgeport with the white flag trailing in the mud behind an omnibus。 * * * * They were received at Bridgeport by approving crowds； and were greeted with continuous cheers as they passed along。〃
In the Spring of 1865； Barnum accepted from the Republican party a nomination to the Connecticut Legislature； from the town of Fairfield； and he did so mainly because he wished to vote for the then proposed amendment to the Constitution； to abolish slavery forever from the land。
He was elected； and on arriving at Hartford the night before the session began； found the wire pullers at work； laying their plans for the election of a Speaker of the House。
Barnum； with his usual penetration and shrewdness； saw that the railroad interests had combined in support of one of the candidates； and seeing in this； no promise of good to the community at large； he at once consulted with a few friends in the Legislature； and they resolved to defeat the railroad 〃ring；〃 if possible； in caucus。 Their efforts were successful and the railroad's candidate was not elected。
Immediately after the caucus； Barnum sought the successful nominee； Hon。 E。 K。 Foster； of New Haven； and begged him not to appoint as chairman of the Railroad Committee the man who had held the office for several successive years； and who was； in fact； the great railroad factotum of the State。 The speaker complied with Barnum's request； and he soon saw how important it was to check the strong and growing monopoly； for； as he said； the 〃outside pressure〃 to secure the appointment of the objectionable party was terrible。
Although Barnum had not foreseen such a thing until he reached Hartford； he soon discovered that a battle with the railroad commissioners would be necessary； and his course was shaped accordingly。 A majority of the commissioners were mere tools in the hands of the railroad companies； and one of them was actually a hired clerk in the office of the New York and New Haven Railroad Company。 It was also shown that the chairman of the commissioners permitted most of the accidents which occurred on that road to be taken charge of and reported upon by their paid lobby agent。
This was so manifestly destructive to the interests of all parties who might suffer from accidents on the road； or have any controversy with the company； that the farmers； and the anti…monopolist element united to defeat the chairman of the railroad commissioners； who was a candidate for re…election； and to put their own candidate in his place。
Through Barnum's efforts a law was passed that no person in the employ of any railroad in the State； should serve as railroad commissioner。
But the great struggle； which lasted through the entire session； was upon the subject of railroad passenger commutations。 Commodore Vanderbilt had secured control of the Hudson River and Harlem railroads； and had increased the price of commuters' tickets； from two hundred to four hundred per cent。 Many men living on the line of these roads； ten to fifty miles from New York； had built fine residences in the country on the strength of cheap transit to and from the city； and were now compelled to submit to the extortion。 Commodore Vanderbilt was also a large shareholder in the New York and New Haven road； and it seemed evident that the same practice would be introduced there Barnum therefore enlisted as many as he could in a strong effort to strangle the outrage before it became too strong to grapple with。 Several lawyers in the Assembly promised their aid； but before the final struggle came； all but one； in the whole body； had enlisted in favor of the railroads。
What influence had been at work with these gentlemen was； of course； a matter of conjecture。
Certain it is that all the railroad interests in the State were combined； and while they had plenty of money with which to carry out their designs； the chances were small indeed for those members of the legislature who were struggling for simple justice； and who had no pecuniary interests at stake。
Nevertheless； every inch of ground was fought over； day after day； before the legislative railroad committee； examinations and cross…examinations of railroad commissioners and lobbyists were kept up。 Scarcely more than one man； Senator Ballard； of Darien； lent his personal aid to Barnum in the investigation； but together they left not a stone unturned。
The man who was prevented from being appointed chairman succeeded in becoming one of the railroad commissioners； but so much light was thrown on his connection with railroad reports； railroad laws and lobbying； by the indefatigable Barnum； the； the man took to his bed； some ten days before the close of the session； and actually staid there 〃sick 〃 until the legislature adjourned。
The amendment to the United States Constitution abolishing slavery met with little opposition； but the proposed amendment to the State Constitution； giving the right of suffrage to the negro； was violently opposed by the Democratic members。 The report from the minority of the committee to whom the question was referred gave certain reasons for rejecting t