24 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Everett often. His genius in preparation and in the delivery 

 of his orations and speeches was quite equal to anything we 

 can imagine at Athens and by Athenian orators, excepting 

 only the force of the argument. 



In 185 1 or 1852 I was present at an agricultural fair at 

 Northampton and in company with Mr. Everett. After din- 

 ner speeches were made. When we rode to the fair grounds 

 in the morning a dense river fog covered the valley but at ten 

 o'clock it lifted, and the day became clear. At the dinner Mr. 

 Everett in his speech described the morning, the dense fog, the 

 lifting, the sun illumining first the hills and then the valleys, 

 revealing the spires of the churches, etc. For the moment I 

 was deceived. But when he had concluded I saw him hand 

 his manuscript to a reporter and the speech appeared the next 

 morning, verbatim as he had delivered it. He knew the river 

 towns, and he knew that every fair day in autumn was preceded 

 by a dense fog, and the speech was written upon that theory. 

 What alternative he had prepared in case of a rain, I know not. 



As a judge, and at the same time the candidate of the 

 Democratic Party for Governor for many years, the rank and 

 file of the party came to regard Judge Morton as a man of fine 

 abilities and sterling integrity. His abilities were sturdy rather 

 than attractive. In this respect he was the opposite of Gov- 

 ernor Everett. In the canvass of 1839 Morton was elected 

 by one vote in a contest of unusual warmth. This election 

 removed him from the bench, much to his regret, it was said 

 as under the circumstances he could hardly hope for a re- 

 election. The House and Senate were controlled by the 

 Whigs, and the Governor was surrounded by a council com- 

 posed of Whigs. The Fifteen-Gallon Law was repealed and 

 in other respects the government was not different from what 

 it would have been had Mr. Everett been re-elected. 



Governor Morton continued to be the Democratic candi- 

 date, and though defeated in 1840 and 1841 by John Davis, 

 he was again elected in 1843 by the Legislature, there having 

 been no choice by the people, a majority being required. 

 The Senate was Democratic by a considerable majority. The 

 House was equally divided at the opening of the session, and 



