William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[245] for Auditor, Levi Reed, of Abington; and for Attorney-General, Dwight Foster, of Worcester. Mr. Dickinson had been, in former years, a Whig; in later years, he was what was called a Conservative. He never had joined the Republican party. Mr. Frothingham had always been a Democrat, of the straightest sect; and was, at this time, one of the editors of the Boston Post. Mr. Oliver, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Foster were Republicans, and incumbents of the offices for which they had been renominated. On taking the vote upon the report of the committee, Mr. Frothingham failed of a nomination; the incumbent of the office, Oliver Warner, being the choice of the convention. The opposition to Mr. Frothingham was led by Mr. Moses Kimball, of Boston, who quoted part of an article from the Boston Post, of that morning, asking the convention ‘to drop such extreme men as Governor Andrew, and some of his associates, in the executive departments,’ in making up a new State ticket. The authorship of the article was attributed by Mr. Kimball to Mr. Frothingham. The effect on the convention answered the purpose of the gentleman who made use of it. Before the vote was taken upon the report, Richard H. Dana, Jr., of Cambridge, replied to Mr. Kimball. He said, ‘We are engaged in a struggle which the world has never seen equalled, either in its importance or its results; we have got beyond Wilmot Provisos and Dred Scott decisions; we have got to fight for the existence of the country. Let us rise above all personal prejudices, and nominate a ticket as men determined to serve the country; we are met here to send throughout the Union, and to the enemies of our institutions abroad, that the pattern Commonwealth is taking the lead in this crisis.’

A motion was then made by Mr. Russell, of Boston, to substitute the name of Hon. Josiah G. Abbott, of Lowell, for Attorney-General, in place of Mr. Foster's name. This motion was sustained by the mover, and by Mr. Usher, of Medford; and opposed by Mr. A. H. Bullock, of Worcester. Mr. Dana, of Cambridge, said ‘he could not see his duty in any other way than by placing a Democrat upon the ticket. The rejection of Mr. Frothingham involved a reconstruction of the ticket.’ He paid a high compliment to Mr. Foster; but, for public reasons,