"
To which Henry Wilson answered, referring to Briggs's own
loss of his office, "that so long as the people were satisfied
with the trade, it did not become the oxen to complain."
Undoubtedly the ablest member of the Convention was Charles
Allen. He spoke seldom and briefly, but always with great
authority and power. Late in the proceedings of the Convention
a rule was established limiting the speakers to thirty minutes
each. Hillard, who was one of the delegates from Boston, made
a very carefully prepared speech on some pending question.
Allen closed the debate, making no reference whatever to Hillard's
elaborate and most eloquent argument, until he was about to
sit down, when he said: "Mr. President, I believe my time
is up?" The President answered: "The gentleman from Worcester
has two minutes more." "Two minutes!" exclaimed Allen. "Time
enough to answer the gentleman from Boston." And he proceeded
in that brief period to deal a few strokes with his keen scimitar,
which effectually demolished Hillard's elaborate structure.
There is nothing in the political excitements of recent years
which approaches in intensity that of the period from 1848
until the breaking out of the War.
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