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[74] arranged by the leaders for the nomination of Benjamin Gorham, a highly respectable lawyer; but Mr. Garrison, who had lost none of his admiration for Harrison Gray Otis, and none of his chagrin and vexation over the latter's defeat by Governor Eustis, four years before, felt1 that the time had now come for the vindication of the great Federal leader, and that he should be chosen to the seat vacated by Mr. Webster. He accordingly wrote a carefully studied speech advocating his nomination, which he attempted to commit to memory, and then going to the caucus he seized an early opportunity to mount a bench and speak, as if extemporaneously. His memory or his confidence soon failed him, and he broke down; but the encouraging applause of his hearers evinced the interest and sympathy which his first words had excited, and, pulling his manuscript from his hat, he proceeded to read his speech to its conclusion. A strong sentiment in favor of Mr. Otis was at once developed, only one speaker undertaking to oppose him, from dissatisfaction with Mr. Otis's position on the question of the Tariff, or, as it was then styled, the ‘American System.’ The leaders felt that they could not ignore the manifest disposition to nominate him, and the caucus was accordingly adjourned for three days to allow time for consultation and an interview with Mr. Otis, who absolutely declined the overture, and the original programme was then harmoniously carried our.

A brief newspaper controversy ensued between Mr. Garrison and his opponent (who signed himself ‘S.’) in the columns of the Courier, the former taking the 2 initiative in a sharp rebuke of the latter for introducing ‘local interests and sectional prejudices’ to ‘a political assembly of high-minded, intelligent Federalists,’ by threatening to withhold his vote from the nominee of the caucus if he should not reflect his views on the Tariff. In this communication, which bore the thinly disguised signature of ‘G—n,’ Mr. Garrison undertook to explain his own views on the vexed question which was beginning

1 Wm. Eustis.

2 July 12, 1827.

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