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

SPRINGFIELD, 16S6-1S86. 4(33
held, accoinpauied by the most uiteuse excitement, before the angry
elements could come to an agreement as to the election of the rest
of the selectmen. On the day of the last meeting, April 28, even
the armory was closed, and a frigid stream of surly workmen Avas
thus turned upon the town-meeting. But the staying hand of reason
was upon the meeting also, and William R. Calhoun and Joel Brown
were added to the list of selectmen. INIr. Brown declined to serve ;
but Mr. Calhoun did not, and he did his town great service by a firm
and dignified bearing in an awkward situation. At a subsequent
meeting Theodore Stebbins was chosen selectman, but the town
failed to elect the other members. The friends of the Thompson
rioters had suri'ounded Clerk Ingraham and induced him to refuse
to administer tlie oath to this selectmen's board of three, but the
demand of Mr. Calhoun could not be resisted. "• Hold up your
hands, then," said Ingraham. The oath was administered May 5.
The town-meeting called for the 19th of that month assembled,
and in great excitement passed a resolution that the ''• attempt by
three individuals to assume control of the public affairs, in direct
opposition to the recorded vote of the town, is high-handed and revo-
lutionary, and calculated to seriously embarrass the business of the
town ; that we deny the right of such persons to act in our behalf,
and that their bold attempt can be excused only by the charitable
supposition that their eagerness for office made them blind to the
rights of the community and the interests of the town."
These resolutions were expunged by a subsequent town-meeting,
and the three selectmen had the honor of presiding over the adminis-
tration of the town affairs during the year.
The resolutions reflecting upon the select board of 1851 were
imjust to Mr. Calhoun, if they referred to him as president of the
board ; for although a public man, and repeatedly honored with polit-
ical trusts, he was for many years in direct antagonism to the local
sentiment on the subject nearest his heart, — popular education, —
and never used it to gain an office. Springfield must allow to Mr. Cal-