At this meeting a committee of
twenty-seven persons was chosen, of which the Honorable Samuel Hoar was
chairman. He had been a Whig of the Federalist school, he was a
lawyer of eminence, ranking all but the few greatest leaders of the
bar, he had had a career of useful public service, and he enjoyed the
respect and the confidence of the commonwealth. His associates were
Homer Bartlett, Charles Francis Adams, George S. Boutwell, Stephen C.
Phillips, George Bliss, H. L. Dawes, John Brooks, Charles Allen, Moses
Kimball, R. H. Dana, Jr., Marcus Morton, Jr., William H. Wood, W. S.
Breckinridge, James H. Mitchell, George Grennell, D. W. Alvord,
Increase Sumner, William Clark, Charles W. Slack, Thomas D. Elliot,
Samuel Bowles, William Brigham, Ivers Phillips, George Cogswell of
Bradford, John H. Shaw. At this date, June 12, 1900, three of the
signers are living: H. L. Dawes, George Cogswell, and the writer of
this volume. A very exact account of the proceedings of the Chapman
Hall meeting may be found in the Boston _Journal_ under the dates of
August 16, 17, 22, 23, and 30.

Mr. Franklin Dexter, a son of Samuel Dexter, was named upon the
committee. Mr. Dexter declined the appointment, and in a letter which
is printed in the _Journal_ under one of the dates named, he gave his
reasons. The one controlling reason was the fear that the persons
engaged in the movement would go too far and involve the country in
troubles and evils greater than those which the nation was then
experiencing. To these considerations, Mr. Winthrop, in a private
interview, added objections of a personal nature.

A supplementary call, signed by more than a hundred citizens, including
Senator Wilson, was subjoined to the call of the committee. The
impetus which the Know Nothing Party had received in the election of
1854 was sufficient to secure the re-election of Governor Gardner over
Julius Rockwell, the first candidate of the Republican Party in the
State. In 1856 Governor Gardner was elected as the candidate of the
Republican Party. Since the year 1856 the Republican Party has given
direction to the policy of the State.

In 1858 my friends made an effort to secure my nomination for the
United States House of Representatives. I was indifferent to the
movement, although I did not decline to be considered for the
nomination. Some of my best friends urged me to remain where I was,
and my opponents were certain that no one else could perform t