Washburn, for example." He was grievously disappointed
that he was not appointed Judge of the Supreme Court when
Judge Thomas became a member of the Bench. A little while
afterward there was another vacancy, and Governor Clifford
took Merrick, another of Washburn's contemporaries and rivals
at the bar, although Merrick was a Democrat, and the Governor,
like Washburn himself, was a Whig. This was almost too much
for him to bear. It took place early in the year 1853. Mr.
Washburn sailed for Europe a few weeks after, and felt almost
like shaking off the dust of his feet against Massachusetts
and the Whig Party. But he was very agreeably compensated
for his disappointment. During his absence he was nominated
by the Whigs for the office of Governor, to which office he
was elected in the following January, there being then, under
our law, which required a clear majority of all the votes,
no choice by the people. He made an admirable and popular
Governor. But the Nebraska Bill was introduced in that year.
This created strong excitement among the people of Massachusetts,
and the Know-Nothing movement came that fall, inspired more
by the desire of the people to get rid of the old parties,
and form a new anti-slavery party, than by any real opposition
to foreigners, which was its avowed principle. This party
swept Massachusetts, electing all the State officers and every
member of the State Legislature except two from the town of
Northampton. They had rather a sorry Legislature. It was
the duty of the outgoing Governor to administer the oath to
the Representatives- and Senators-elect. Governor Washburn
performed that duty, and added: "Now, gentlemen, so far as
the oath of office is concerned, you are qualified to enter
upon your duties."

Governor Washburn was a thorough gentleman, through and through,
courteous, well-bred, and with an entirely sufficient sense
of his own dignity. But he had little respect for any false
notions of gentility, and had a habit of going straight at
any difficulty himself. To this habit he owed much of his
success in life. A very amusing story was told by Mrs. Washburn
long after her husband's death. She was one of the brightest
and sprightliest and wittiest of women. Her husband owed
to her much of his success in life, as well as much of his
comfort and domestic enjoyment. She used to give sometimes
half a dozen entertainments in the same week. She was never
disconcerted by any