news
furnished by the _Vox Populi_. These papers I also thrust into my
desk, and went to the post-office. The outer room was filled with
Whigs--not one Democrat present. The Whigs were still reposing upon
the news printed in the Boston _Atlas,_ but my statement that I had
information more recent and that Polk had carried New York disturbed
their composure.

At length the postmaster, Caleb Butler, opened the slide door, and
passed out a copy of the Boston _Courier_. The receiver opened it.
There were no capitals, no signs of exultation, and without waiting
for the reading of the text, the assembly accepted the fact that Clay
was defeated.

The Whigs of Massachusetts and indeed of the whole country were deeply
grieved by the defeat of Mr. Clay. In many instances his popularity
had ripened into personal friendship. His defeat came to many families
as a real loss. Among the disappointed Whigs who had met at the post-
office that morning was a neighbor and friend of mine, Mr. Aaron
Perkins. In his excitement he said with an oath, "Next Monday we will
give you a whipping." His declaration was verified. Many Democrats
whose names were never disclosed to me voted for the Whig candidate,
Deacon William Livermore, and he was elected by a majority of more than
seventy votes. The next year he was re-elected by a diminished
majority.

In 1846 the Whig Party nominated a new candidate, Edwin Coburn, a young
lawyer then in the office of George F. Farley, with whom Coburn had
studied his profession. Coburn was a man of good parts intellectually,
a fair debater, and an intimate friend of mine. The town was canvassed
thoroughly. Two ballots were taken during the first day. I received
one hundred and ninety-six votes, and Coburn received one hundred and
ninety-six votes at each ballot, and there were four scattering votes.
The meeting was adjourned to the succeeding day. That night there was
a rally of the absentees. The Democrats sent to Lowell, Manchester,
N. H., and Boston, there being an absentee at each of those places.
Upon the first ballot the second day I received two hundred and eleven
votes and Coburn two hundred and seven. Of scattering votes there were
none. From that time forward the town was Democratic. In all the
previous contests I had contended against a Whig majority. My success
had been due to the friendship of a number of Whig families, to my
strength among the young men, and to a more perfect