Charles Bartlett Andrews was an American jurist, politician and the 49th Governor of Connecticut.
Background
Charles Bartlett Andrews was born on November 4, 1836 in Sunderland, Massachusetts, United States, the son of Almira (Bartlett) Andrews and Rev. Erastus Andrews, pastor of a church in North Sunderland, Massachussets, and a descendant of William Andrews, one of the earliest settlers of Hartford, Connecticut.
Education
He prepared for college at Franklin Academy, Shelburne Falls, Massachussets, and taught while studying.
He graduated from Amherst College in 1858, studied law while teaching school in Sherman, Connecticut.
Career
He began practise in Kent, Connecticut John H. Hubbard, a leader of the bar in Litchfield, was elected to Congress in 1863 and invited the young attorney in Kent to be associated with him in Litchfield and to take charge of his large practise while he was in Washington. Andrews proved deserving of the faith placed in him, advanced rapidly, and himself became a leader of the bar of the county.
The April following his removal to Litchfield he argued six cases before the state supreme court. One of these was the famous case of Webster vs. Harwinton. During the Civil War the town of Harwinton had voted to pay a certain sum to each man drafted from the town. A taxpayer petitioned for an injunction, claiming that the town did not have the power to make such an appropriation. Andrews, arguing for the defendant, claimed that under our government ultimate sovereignty is in the people and that the towns as the simplest organizations had all powers except those which had been expressly granted away. He was defeated but gained a wide reputation because of his remarkably learned and powerful argument.
When he had been in Litchfield about five years he was elected to the state Senate and later to the state House of Representatives; in each body he served on its judiciary committee. He was governor of Connecticut from 1879 to 1881. In the latter year he was appointed a judge of the superior court by Gov. Bigelow.
Some of the most important cases in the history of the state came before the court while he was a judge. His opinion in the case of State ex rel. Morris vs. Bulkley is well known. Luzon B. Morris had received a majority of twenty-six votes over all other candidates in the election for governor in 1890. On several past occasions a Democratic candidate had received more votes than any other candidate but not a majority over all, and the Republicans in the General Assembly had exercised the constitutional privilege of electing a governor.
In 1891 the Senate was controlled by the Democrats and the House by the Republicans, and questions arose over certain votes which had been rejected. A deadlock ensued. Finally, the state's attorney brought an action of quo warranto on behalf of Morris against Morgan G. Bulkley, the Republican governor, who was holding over. Andrews in his opinion stated that a declaration by the General Assembly is the only authentic evidence of the result of the election, and as there was no such declaration in this case, Morris was not governor. He also indicated that the General Assembly had power to go back of the returns and pass upon the validity of the ballots cast.
Andrews's last public service was as chairman of the constitutional convention of 1902, to which he was unanimously elected by the people of Litchfield.
Achievements
Personality
He was a man of tireless industry, remarkable energy, and extensive knowledge of men as well as books; personally he was genial, a good conversationalist and storyteller.
Quotes from others about the person
Hopkins Clark: “Judge Andrews has often and fitly been cited as a fine illustration for the younger men of what chances there are for those who have the sense and ability to improve their opportunities. He started as a poor and unknown boy and he reached our highest and most honored offices by doing as well as he could what came upon him to be done, and by avoiding nothing that did come. When others declined the empty nomination for governor, he accepted, ready alike for defeat or victory; and, when he was elected, he filled the office so well that other things naturally followed. He proved equal to whatever came and so honors kept coming. "
Connections
He was twice married: in 1866 to Mary J. Carter of Kent, Connecticut, who died the following year; and in 1870 to Mrs. Sarah M (Wilson) Osborn of Bethlehem, Connecticut.