He had built up what was
called a Butler party, in which he had had the aid of the
National Administration, and of all persons whom he could
either seduce by hope of reward or terrify by fear of his
vengeance. It was not a question in considering candidacy
for office with him whether the man had rendered honest service
in civil or in military life, whether he was a man of honor
or of good or bad character, but only whether he was a Butler
man. He conducted his own campaign for Governor in 1871 and
again in 1873. In the former he summoned his adherents to
the State Convention, issuing a circular in which he advised
them to bring three days' rations in the expectation of a
long and angry struggle.
I was invited by the State Central Committee to preside at
the Convention of 1871. It was quite likely that the Convention
might break up in disorder and the result would be two factions,
each claiming to be the regular Republican organization. I
told the gentlemen of the State Central Committee, who communicated
to me their desire, that I would do it on condition that there
should be provided one hundred skilled and trustworthy police
officers who would obey my orders, and, if it became necessary,
would remove from the hall General Butler or any other person
who should defy the authority of the Convention.
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