That authority he
refused to give. Alluding to the many names appended to the letter of
the Federalists, he said: "No array of numbers or of talent shall
induce me to make the disclosure sooner than my sense of duty requires,
and when that time arrives, no array of numbers or talent shall deter
me from it." After some remarks intended to connect the Whig and
Federal parties I repeated the conclusion of Mr. Adams' pamphlet and
made my escape in the smoke. Crowninshield sat upon the dais in front
of the speaker during the debate. I made no allusion to him, for I
commanded my faculties sufficiently to enable me to realize that if he
denied my allegations the denial would be fatal to my standing, and
that he would be seriously injured if he accepted my statement. The
event taught me a lesson, and thenceforward I have avoided all
reference in debate to private conversations.
[* Mr. Newell is the only member living, March, 1901.]
XIV
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1849
In the year 1849, two men were elected to the Massachusetts House of
Representatives who have had conspicuous careers in the State and
nation,--General Nathaniel P. Banks and Henry L. Dawes. General Banks
had genius for politics and the generalities of public affairs. As an
orator he was peculiar and attractive to an unusual degree. For a long
period his popularity was great in his town and district, and finally
in the State.
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