There were also individual places
that were subject to executive control. As a general fact, and I do
not recall an exception, all the officers were filled with Whigs. We
entered upon a policy of removing the incumbents and appointing
members of the Democratic and Free-soil parties.
I made one notable exception. John H. Clifford was Attorney-General.
I retained him while I held the office of Governor, and he became my
successor. A part of his capital was in the circumstance that I had
shown confidence in him. He was a good officer and an upright man, but
he lacked the quality which enables a man to reach conclusions. This
peculiarity made him useful to me. He would investigate a subject,
give me the authorities, and precedents, and leave the conclusions to
me. Next, there was no one in the administration party whom I wished
to appoint. Mr. Hallett was the candidate most generally supported.
He was full of prejudices and he was not well instructed as a lawyer.
In these respects Clifford was his opposite. I chose, therefore, to
retain Clifford and submit to the criticisms of my party supporters.
Among the persons removed was Mr. Fiske, register of probate for the
county of Middlesex. In 1854 the citizens of Fitchburg and the
adjoining town petitioned the Legislature for an act authorizing a new
county to be formed of towns from the counties of Middlesex and
Worcester.
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