As to
myself, I had spoken in the House against the scheme. I was a member
of the Committee, of which Charles F. Adams was Chairman, that had made
reports adverse to the measure. The circumstances, however, availed
nothing. Mr. Clay's popularity was great, notwithstanding the
indifference or concealed hostility of Mr. Webster. Indeed, Mr.
Webster's popularity had suffered from his connection with John Tyler.
Mr. Polk had no strength in Massachusetts. He was the nominee of the
Democratic Party, nothing more. Before the day of election came in
Massachusetts the election of Polk was known and conceded. New York
voted the Monday preceding the Monday of the election in Massachusetts,
and the voting was not over until Wednesday night. There was a mass
meeting at Pepperell, Thursday afternoon, at which Benjamin F. Hallett
and myself spoke. Mr. Hallett was very confident of Polk's election.
I was in doubt.
That evening I spoke at Chelmsford, and upon my return to Groton, I
found several Whigs at Hoar's tavern, who were congratulating
themselves upon a Whig victory in New York. Their authority was the
Boston _Atlas,_ an authority not universally accepted at that time. As
I passed through the bar-room, after leaving my horse at the stable, I
was rallied, and the assertion was made with great confidence that Mr.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143