Clay was elected. I could only say in reply that they had better wait
until they had some other authority for the claim. I went to my house,
however, with many doubts as to the success of Polk.
At that time there was no railway communication between Boston and
Groton. The first intelligence from abroad came from Lowell. My
friends there sent to me a copy of the _Vox Populi,_ printed during the
night, and which contained the truthful returns from New York. At that
time the _Vox Populi_ was not in very good repute, and I thought it
unwise to quote it to anyone. I thrust it into my desk without
mentioning its contents.
Upon the arrival of the stage from Boston, I received a bundle of
papers from my old friend General Staples, which confirmed the news
furnished by the _Vox Populi_. These papers I also thrust into my
desk, and went to the post-office. The outer room was filled with
Whigs--not one Democrat present. The Whigs were still reposing upon
the news printed in the Boston _Atlas,_ but my statement that I had
information more recent and that Polk had carried New York disturbed
their composure.
At length the postmaster, Caleb Butler, opened the slide door, and
passed out a copy of the Boston _Courier_. The receiver opened it.
There were no capitals, no signs of exultation, and without waiting
for the reading of the text, the assembly accepted the fact that Clay
was defeated.
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