Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

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MEMOIRS OF JOHN ADAMS DIX.

under these circumstances, Mr. Wright felt reluctant to accept the nomination for Governor. He was strongly opposed
to the annexation, and therefore to the Baltimore platform;
yet if elected it would be his duty to keep in accord with the
new administration. There was no escape for him, however.
The life of the American politician is ever a life of sacrifice.
The fall elections decided the double question before the people: Mr. Polk was elected President, and Mr. Wright found
himself Governor of New York, and in an extremely embarrassing position.
Mr. Wright's chair in the Senate now became vacant,
though five years of his term remained. About the same
time the place of his colleague, Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, also
became vacant, on his appointment by the President to be
Governor of the Territory of Wisconsin. It was necessary
to elect a Senator to serve for the remainder of Mr. Wright's
term, and another for the six weeks of Mr. Tallmadge's term
which yet remained; and farther necessary to make another
election for the full term of six years, to commence on the
retirement of Mr. Tallmadge. For these purposes a Democratic caucus was held February 24, 1845. On that occasion
the feud between the two sections of the party was disclosed
in all its intensity. The conflict, which was sharp, ended in
the election of General Dix to be the successor of Senator
Wright, and Daniel S. Dickinson to succeed Senator Tallmadge, while Mr. Dickinson was also elected for the six-years
term, in spite of the strong opposition of the radical members
of the caucus. This was a triumph for the conservatives, and
a defeat for the friends of Governor Wright. The closing
years of the great statesman's life were overcast by shadows;
adverse influences were evidently in the ascendant, not only
at Washington, but close about him and at home.
Next to the Presidency, no place was so much desired, in
the times which we are now reviewing, as that of Senator of
the United States. The body was illustrious through the
fame of its members, who generally exhibited the very flower