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

SPRINGFIELD, 2636-1886. 509
said to tliat body, " I have no new pledges to make to you, no new
theories to advance, no new principles to follow. The principles ]
maintain to-day I have maintained always. They are as old as
Jefferson's."
General Whitney was bitterly taken to task for refusing to reemploy
armorers who had applauded Dr. Chaffee's course in opposing the use
of United States ti-oops in suppression of the Kansas freesoilers.
This was used as a Fremont cry in the town with some effect.
At one of the largest Fremont gatherings in this memorable cam-
paign, Mr. Patterson, fresh from the Missouri, exhibited on the
platform the very chain with whicli John Brown was led for thirt}'
miles in a hot sun after his capture. Its claukings touched a cord,
and the City Hall was thundrous with emotion.
One hundred women had foi'med a sewing club with Mrs. George
Bliss president and Mrs. Charles Merriam treasurer, for the purpose
of preparing clothing for the emigrants there. The first meeting was
held in the Unitarian Chapel, and pins and needles were enlisted for
the cause.
But the decree of the nation was for Buclianau and democracy.
Springfield's share was small. Mr. Beach polled about 40,000 to
over 92,000 for Gardner, the Fremont candidate for governor. Con-
gressman Chaffee was triumphantly returned to his seat. The
Fillmore ticket fiatted out. Homer Foot, the candidate for lieutenant-
governor, ran over 8,000 ahead of the Fillmore ticket. W. S. Shurt-
lelf, Fremont candidate for register of insolvency, ran about 4,000
votes ahead of H. B. Lewis, in Springfield, and was elected. The
Fremonters elected as Representatives Henry Vose, Eliphalet Trask.
Daniel L. Harris, and John H. Fuller.
If Springfield, by the incident of John Brown's wool agency, was
connected by special and local ties to the Kansas embroglio, an odd
incident linked her with the equally famous Dred Scott decision.
This negro and his family had been the slaves of Dr. Emerson, a
United States Army surgeon. After Dr. Emerson's death, Dred