The
impetus which the Know Nothing Party had received in the election of
1854 was sufficient to secure the re-election of Governor Gardner over
Julius Rockwell, the first candidate of the Republican Party in the
State. In 1856 Governor Gardner was elected as the candidate of the
Republican Party. Since the year 1856 the Republican Party has given
direction to the policy of the State.
In 1858 my friends made an effort to secure my nomination for the
United States House of Representatives. I was indifferent to the
movement, although I did not decline to be considered for the
nomination. Some of my best friends urged me to remain where I was,
and my opponents were certain that no one else could perform the
duties in a manner so acceptable. At the Convention I received sixty-
three votes, and my opponent, Charles R. Train, received sixty-six
votes. Train was declared the nominee, and as such he was elected.
After the Convention was over, some person of an inquiring turn of
mind found that if every portion of the district had been represented
the total vote could not have exceeded one hundred and eighteen. This
discovery led to some crimination, each party charging the other with
fraud.
When in 1860 notices were posted in the town of Concord calling upon
the Republicans to meet in caucus, to choose delegates to the State
Convention, Mr.
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