The coalition had control of the State for the political years of 1851
and 1852. An act was passed which provided for a secret ballot, and by
another act the question of a Constitutional Convention was submitted
to the voters of the State. In March, 1853, an election was held for
the choice of delegates. A majority of the delegates elected were
members of the Democratic and Free-soil parties.
Although I had made a resolution to retire from active participation in
politics at the end of my term as Governor, I was so much committed to
the objects of the Convention, and so much interested in its success,
that I could not avoid giving my time to the canvass for the election
of members. It happened, however, that I gave no attention to my own
town, and the Whig candidate, John G. Park, was elected. My defeat was
due to my action upon the liquor bill, which was enacted at the session
of 1852. The Legislature passed a prohibitory law, subject to its
ratification by the people by the use of the open ballot. The question
of the secret ballot was one of the prominent questions between the
parties, and at the session of 1851 the coalition had passed an act
requiring the votes to be deposited in envelopes of uniform character
and to be furnished by the State. I vetoed the bill upon the ground
that if the bill was to be submitted to the people the secret ballot
should be used.
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