Ralph Waldo Emerson called at the office of George M.
Brooks, who was an active supporter of Mr. Train, and said:
"I see there is to be a caucus to choose delegates to the Convention,
and I have called to make an inquiry about it, as Mr. Boutwell was
cheated out of his nomination two years ago."
Mr. Brooks said in reply:
"This caucus is for delegates to the State Convention. The District
Convention has not been called. But we thought the cheating was on
the other side."
"Ah!" said Mr. Emerson. "I see that you are not for Mr. Boutwell. Do
you know of anybody in the village who is for Mr. Boutwell?"
Mr. Brooks did not give him the information, and he went away. When
the evening came for the district caucus, the leading men who managed
the caucuses usually, went to the hall, and to their surprise they
found the transcendentalists in force, surrounded by a deep fringe of
farmers from all parts of the town. The meeting was organized. Four
delegates were to be chosen. Upon the nomination of candidates the
names were placed upon a sheet of paper, and then the citizens passed
around and each one marked against four names. The friends of Train
secured the lead, in making nominations, and my friend followed with
four names. When this ceremony was over, Mr. Emerson rose and said:
"The first four name on that paper are for Mr.
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