ersons under sentence. Bowdoin was the
candidate of the "Law-and-Order Party," and John Hancock was nominated
by the friends of the convicts. Hancock was elected by a vote of about
nineteen thousand against less than six thousand for Bowdoin. The
convicts were pardoned, and a stay law was passed. The demand of the
Shays men was reasonable, and the Government was guilty of a criminal
error in resisting it.

The Shays Rebellion was beneficial to Massachusetts, and it contributed
to the argument in favor of the Constitution of the United States.

The town of Groton continued in the control of Shattuck and his friends
for many years after the suppression of the Rebellion. During that
period he was drawn as a juror. When his name was called the judge
repeated it, and said, "Job Shattuck! He can't sit on the jury in this
Court." As Shattuck came out of the seat limping he said: "I have
broken up one Court here, and things won't be right, until I break up
another."

Something of the spirit of Job Shattuck has been exhibited in the
larger portion of his numerous descendants. They have been devoted to
liberty and just in their dealings. These two qualities were
conspicuous in his grandson, Captain William Shattuck.

I took part in the canvass of 1840 and made speeches in Groton and in
several of the towns in the vicinity. I was also the candidate of the
Democratic Party for a seat in the House of Representatives. There was
no opposition for the nomination, although there were many Democrats
who thought my defection the preceding year had prevented the election
of the Democratic candidates. My temperance opinions were offensive to
many, if not to a majority of the party. On the other hand there were
a number of young members of the Whig Party whose votes I could
command. As a final fact, the political feeling was then so strong
that all considerations yielded to the chances and hopes of success.

My opponent, and the successful candidate, was Mr. John Boynton,
afterward, and for a single year, a member of the senate. He was a
native of the town, a blacksmith by trade, and the son of a blacksmith.
He was a man of quiet ways, upright, and known to every voter. He had
been in the office of town clerk for many years, he had been kind to
everyone, and he had no enemies. Boynton was elected, but by a
moderate majority. But for the excitement of the Presidential
election, the contest would have been very close.