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into its platforms, and the philanthropic Free-Soil party which began to obtain hold in our State, adopted our ten-hour propositions before it nominated Van Buren in 1848.
In 1849 came the first attempt for a coalition between the Free-Soilers and Democrats.
It was for State purposes only, because we were at variance on national issues.
The Democratic party held to the doctrine that the Constitution recognized slavery, and that nothing could be done towards its abolition except through an amendment to the Constitution; while the proposition of the Free-Soil party, as enunciated by Mr. William Lloyd Garrison, one of its leaders at that time, was that “the Constitution was a covenant with hell and a league with death.”
The State had been under the control of the Whig party for more than thirty years, save that the Democrats had elected Marcus Morton governor in 1839 and 1841, each time by a majority of one vote only, counted, I am proud to say, for the honor of the Whig party and of the State, by opposition returning boards.
Reform had become very necessary because of the oppressive anti-labor legislation of the Whig party under the lead of the manufacturers.
To bring about this reform a coalition of the Free-Soil and Democratic parties was attempted and partially carried out.
I was very strongly in favor of it because I saw hope of ten-hour legislation; and although a Democrat, I was ready to join with anybody who would ameliorate a quasi slavery in the North where the Constitution did not interfere.
Although I stood with the Democracy I did not feel myself obliged by my party relations to go bounding over the graves of my fathers to catch a fugitive slave who was seeking Canada, when it was not made my duty by legal enactment.
Fortunately I was not called upon to determine what I should do in that regard when obliged to act under the law.
Owing to the opposition of a small wing of the party, known as “Hunker” Democrats, that coalition was unsuccessful.
In 1849 the election showed, however, that it had capabilities of success in the near future if rightly managed.
The foundation of these possibilities was that by our Constitution all elections were to be determined by a majority vote.
If no candidate for governor obtained a majority, then the legislature elected the governor from one of the four candidates receiving the largest vote.
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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