ities and towns
where the stockholders resided with the amount of stock held by each,
could not be overlooked by those who had suffered. The recollection of
my part in the business was still fresh in the minds of the victims.
Next the scheme for the annexation of Texas was treated as a Democratic
measure, and every Democrat suffered for the sin of the party. As to
myself, I had spoken in the House against the scheme. I was a member
of the Committee, of which Charles F. Adams was Chairman, that had made
reports adverse to the measure. The circumstances, however, availed
nothing. Mr. Clay's popularity was great, notwithstanding the
indifference or concealed hostility of Mr. Webster. Indeed, Mr.
Webster's popularity had suffered from his connection with John Tyler.

Mr. Polk had no strength in Massachusetts. He was the nominee of the
Democratic Party, nothing more. Before the day of election came in
Massachusetts the election of Polk was known and conceded. New York
voted the Monday preceding the Monday of the election in Massachusetts,
and the voting was not over until Wednesday night. There was a mass
meeting at Pepperell, Thursday afternoon, at which Benjamin F. Hallett
and myself spoke. Mr. Hallett was very confident of Polk's election.
I was in doubt.

That evening I spoke at Chelmsford, and upon my return to Groton, I
found several Whigs at Hoar's tavern, who were congratulating
themselves upon a Whig victory in New York. Their authority was the
Boston _Atlas,_ an authority not universally accepted at that time. As
I passed through the bar-room, after leaving my horse at the stable, I
was rallied, and the assertion was made with great confidence that Mr.
Clay was elected. I could only say in reply that they had better wait
until they had some other authority for the claim. I went to my house,
however, with many doubts as to the success of Polk.

At that time there was no railway communication between Boston and
Groton. The first intelligence from abroad came from Lowell. My
friends there sent to me a copy of the _Vox Populi,_ printed during the
night, and which contained the truthful returns from New York. At that
time the _Vox Populi_ was not in very good repute, and I thought it
unwise to quote it to anyone. I thrust it into my desk without
mentioning its contents.

Upon the arrival of the stage from Boston, I received a bundle of
papers from my old friend General Staples, which confirmed the