t of his subjects has been counter
usually to the general opinion of the country. As the son-in-law of
Judge Story and the brother of Judge Curtis, there was a general
expectation that his career would be distinguished. That expectation
was not realized. His self-conceit was unbounded. That defect made
him unpopular with his professional brethren, and at last it alienated
his clients. Even Mr. Choate, the gentlest of men, could not endure
Mr. Curtis. Of him he said, "Some men we hate for cause, but George
T. Curtis we hate peremptorily."

Charles P. Curtis was also a member of the House for many years. He
was a more genial man than either the Judge or George T. The three
constituted the fraternity known as _the Curtii._ Chief Justice Shaw,
who had married a Curtis, was also included in the brotherhood.

XV
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS AND MASSACHUSETTS POLITICIANS
1850-51 AND 1852

The defeat of General Cass in 1848 changed the policy of the leaders of
the Democratic Party in Massachusetts. These leaders were David
Henshaw, Charles G. Greene, and as an assistant Benjamin F. Hallett.
The first two had controlled the patronage of the general government
very largely during the administrations of Jackson, Van Buren and Polk.
They looked to the election of General Cass as a continuation of that
policy. These leaders considered the control of Massachusetts as
hopeless, and not unlikely they considered the national patronage as
more valuable than the offices of the State. Hence they were ready to
endorse whatever the Washington authorities demanded. Consequently
our platforms tended to alienate voters rather than to attract them.
This policy was very disagreeable to the younger members of the party,
but they were unable to resist it. The Boston _Post,_ owned by Colonel
Greene, was the leading Democratic paper in the State. Many of the
country papers followed its lead. The Worcester _Palladium_ was an
exception, but its influence was limited.

Greene and Hallett attributed the defeat of General Cass to the
defection of the South and for the time they were disposed to sanction
or to permit a policy of retaliation. Consequently the State
Convention of 1849 was disposed to utter the sentiments of the party
in regard to slavery. For many years Hallett had been the chairman of
the Committee on Resolutions. He was designated for that position in
1849. The Free-soil Party had already become a power in the State.