Washburn. His plan then, I supposed, was
to find some excuse for breaking up the Convention under circumstances
which would enable him to claim to President Grant that he
represented the regular Republican organization and that his
opponents were the bolters. My duty on the other hand was
so to conduct the Convention that there should be no pretext
on his part for such a course. The Convention was in continuous
session from 11 o'clock in the forenoon until half-past one
next morning. There were several contests in which Butler
conducted the case on his own side. But his opponents held
together and nominated William B. Washburn. With the exception
of the National Convention of 1880, at which I also presided,
this was the most difficult duty in the way of presiding over
a deliberative assembly which ever fell upon any person in
this country so far as I know.
In the year 1873 General Butler made another attempt to get
the Republican nomination for Governor. A meeting was called
at Hamilton Hall, in Boston, of a few persons opposed to his
candidacy, which resulted in an address to the people recommending
the reelection of Mr.
Pages:
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623