. Fillmore was President. He had
reorganized the Cabinet and endorsed the Compromise Measures, and
finally the Whig Party was divided, hopelessly. In this condition of
affairs, Greene and Hallett entered upon a vigorous opposition to the
election of Sumner. The Boston _Post_ called upon the Democratic
members of the House to oppose his election. About twenty-eight
members known as "old hunkers" followed the lead of the _Post._ After
a long contest Mr. Sumner was elected by a single vote. As far as I
know, Mr. Sumner was not a party to any arrangement as to a division of
the offices, and I am sure that I was never consulted upon the subject.
As far as arrangements were made, they were made by members of the
Legislature. The members had been elected by a coalition among the
people and they executed the will of the people. The vacant places
were filled by representative men from each of the parties. While the
struggle over the election of Senator was going on, the Legislature
proceeded to elect a Senator for the term that was to expire the 4th
of March, 1851. It was the seat that Mr. Webster had vacated to take
the office of Secretary of State under Mr. Fillmore. Governor Briggs
had appointed Robert C. Winthrop to the vacancy.

The Legislature elected Robert Rantoul, Jr., to the vacancy. Mr.
Rantoul was then in the West, and his address was not known to any one.
Mr. Ezra Lincoln, a friend to Mr. Winthrop, came to me and said that
Mr. Winthrop wished to have Mr. Rantoul's credentials sent to him, as
he should feel unpleasant if they were sent to any one else.
Accordingly they were so sent. In a few days Mr. Lincoln called and
said that Mr. Winthrop wished to know whether he should present the
credentials at once, or hold them until Mr. Rantoul appeared. I said
in reply that I was the agent of the Legislature for the transmission
of the certificate, and that I did not feel at liberty to give
instructions. Thereupon Mr. Winthrop presented the credentials of Mr.
Rantoul, and retired from the Senate. This act was followed by attacks
upon me, by Senators and by newspapers, the charge being that I had
driven Mr. Winthrop from the Senate and at a time when an important
question relating to the tariff was pending. Neither Mr. Winthrop nor
any of his friends made any explanation. Mr. Lincoln came to me and
expressed his regrets that the attacks had been made, and he
volunteered to use his influence with the _Daily