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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 513
with a smile. Russell handed the astonished agent the money, seized
his hat, and carried it to Webster. It was a perfect fit. Daniel
Webster still owes Mr. Russell for that hat.
E. D. Beach refused to run a fifth time for governor, and this
opened the door for Benjamin F. Butler, as the democratic standard-
bearer, in the exciting elections of 1859. Springfield still had a place
on the ticket, however, Stephen C. Bemis being candidate for lieuten-
ant-governor. A Stephen A. Douglas resolution, presented by ex-
Mayor Phelps, was tabled by the convention. General Whitney was in
those days an active politician, and had much to do in pouring oil
upon the troubled waters. He was assisted by Postmaster Chapin in
the convention. The republicans put up Banks and Trask again, and
A. N. Merrick was made a member of the State Central Committee.
At the time of John Brown's attack upon Harper's Ferry, the su-
perintendent of Harper's Ferry was the guest of jMajor Ingersoll in
Springfield. Brown had been in Springfield the year previous, and
was free to talk to his friends about running off slaves. While the
judicious urged caution, they could not but pay him the tribute of re-
ligious courage of conviction, and respected him even in his contempt
of statute law. Men went to the polls here as in other Northern cities
ready to fight as the}' voted. Governor Banks's vote reached nearly
to 60,000; Butler about 35,000, and Briggs (American whig)
14,000, in round numbers. Springfield elected Daniel Gay and Rich-
ard Bliss, republicans, and Ezra Kimberly, democrat, to the Legis-
lature.
The republicans also had their own way in the city elections, elect-
ing Daniel L. Harris mayor. Col. Horace C. Lee also defeated Mr.
Ingraham, as clerk, the latter having held that position in town and
(city for seventeen years. He had been a faithful, painstaking officer,
jbut the desire for a younger man had asserted itself. The new board
of aldermen were Edmund B. Haskell, Erastus Hayes, Franklin
Chamberlain, John W. Hunt, William Hitchcock, John G. Capron,
William Foster, and George W. Holt, — all republicans.