Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 2636~1S8G. 461
and agreeable couverse had ripened acted as the cloud that threw
Mr. Ashmun mto political retirement. P^vidences of his power lin-
gered, but the door of a statesmanlike career was closed upou him.
Both Webster and Ashmun contributed to the disintegration of the
whig party. The course of the latter reveals the impressionable
phase of his character. Ashmun was forced into private life by
an admiration for Webster's personality, which warped his private
convictions. The late Samuel Bowles used to say in private conver-
sation that the only man he ever felt dominate him was George Ash-
mun, and that the way he measured Daniel Webster was to remem-
ber that Ashmun himself had had the same feeling in the j)resence of
the distinguished statesman. We may remark, incidentally, that Dr.
Osgood was another chain linking Webster with Springfield. James
Osgood, of Fryeburg, father of Dr. Osgood, was the register of deeds
referred to in Mr. Webster's autobiography as having employed
hini. Dr. Osgood became well acquainted with Webster when the
latter taught the Fryeburg Academy.
Those who only remember William B. Calhoiui as the placid talker
at temperance meetings or before agricultural societies, may be sur-
prised to learn that he could tight, when put to it.
" Let us withdraw for consultation," said Mr. Calhoun, in the
spring of 1851, when Town-Clerk Joseph Ingraham refused to qualify
him, Governor Trask, and Theodore Stebbins as selectmen. They
withdrew, and Mr. Calhoun said to the other tAvo, " Now, I propose
to tell Clerk Ingraham that if he refuse to swear us, we will go be-
fore the justice of the peace and take the oath, and if then he refuse
to act as our clerk, we will choose another." Clerk Ingraham gave
wav.
The complications that led to this confliet are matters of history.
It was during the trying hours when the village of Springfield was
expiring. There may not have been au}^ connection between the con-
vulsions of the village and its death, but it certainly did die in a
spasm. Slavery was the thought of the hour. In February, 1851,