S. B. Hopkins,
Worcester; William Knowlton, Upton; Alpheus Harding, Athol;
Timothy Merrick, Holyoke; Wellington Smith, Lee; M. B. Whitney,
Westfield.
Of these, three were in favor of Grant, namely, Boutwell,
Eldridge, Marden; two were in favor of Sherman, and one for
Washburn.
The others voted for Mr. Edmunds in the beginning, meaning
to defeat both Grant and Blaine if they could, and were ready
to agree on any man of respectable character and capacity
by whom that defeat could be accomplished.
George F. Edmunds had a high reputation in the country as
an able lawyer, and a faithful and independent Senator. He
had unquestionably rendered great public service in the Senate.
If elected, I believe he would have administered the Presidency
on the principles which a large majority of the people of
Massachusetts hold. He was an excellent debater. He was
very fond of criticising and objecting to what was proposed
by other men. He seemed never so happy as when in opposition
to the majority of his associates. But he possessed what
persons of that temper commonly lack, great capacity for constructive
statesmanship.
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