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

[499] His name having been received with some dissatisfaction, he said he regretted that anybody should oppose his speaking in a Democratic convention. He was a true Democrat, and, as such, entitled to counsel with the members of his party. He was for State rights; and, whereas the Administration had said that a part of the States were put in the condition of territories, he desired to meet the Administration on that issue. He desired Democrats to go into this campaign with their banners inscribed to this effect,—that, when a State presents herself for re-admission to the Union, the doors should be thrown open, and she should be admitted.

You may feel wronged that your fellow-citizens are arrested, and that such outrages are perpetrated by the Administration. But they are those things which will pass away. There is one great thing: we are still free, sovereign, and independent States under the Constitution. Do they ask, Are we Peace or War Democrats? Tell them we are constitutional Democrats. This Administration will pass away as the idle wind. Its name will live only in history as an Administration which subverted the rights of the people, until they rose in their might, and overthrew it.

Richard S. Spofford, Jr., of Newburyport, was chosen permanent president. On taking the chair, Mr. Spofford made an address, of considerable length, condemnatory of the Administration, and in praise of State rights.

In the afternoon, a vote was taken for Governor, and a majority was given for Henry W. Paine, of Cambridge; and he was declared the nominee. The vote stood,—Paine, 750; Dr. Loring, 227; J. G. Abbott, 72; scattering, 5. Mr. Paine had never attended a Democratic convention before. He had been a prominent Whig in the palmy days of that glorious old party. In the speech which he made in the convention, just previous to taking the ballot by which he was nominated, he said,—

I find the record of the Democracy has pledged that party, from its earliest existence, to the perpetuity of the Constitution, of the Union, and of the rights of the States,—