As the son-in-law of
Judge Story and the brother of Judge Curtis, there was a general
expectation that his career would be distinguished. That expectation
was not realized. His self-conceit was unbounded. That defect made
him unpopular with his professional brethren, and at last it alienated
his clients. Even Mr. Choate, the gentlest of men, could not endure
Mr. Curtis. Of him he said, "Some men we hate for cause, but George
T. Curtis we hate peremptorily."
Charles P. Curtis was also a member of the House for many years. He
was a more genial man than either the Judge or George T. The three
constituted the fraternity known as _the Curtii._ Chief Justice Shaw,
who had married a Curtis, was also included in the brotherhood.
XV
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS AND MASSACHUSETTS POLITICIANS
1850-51 AND 1852
The defeat of General Cass in 1848 changed the policy of the leaders of
the Democratic Party in Massachusetts. These leaders were David
Henshaw, Charles G. Greene, and as an assistant Benjamin F. Hallett.
The first two had controlled the patronage of the general government
very largely during the administrations of Jackson, Van Buren and Polk.
They looked to the election of General Cass as a continuation of that
policy. These leaders considered the control of Massachusetts as
hopeless, and not unlikely they considered the national patronage as
more valuable than the offices of the State.
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