“FELLOW-CITIZENS,—­Deeply grateful for the honorable trust you have so long confided to me, nothing but the imperative duty of attending to my private affairs, seriously injured by my public occupations, would induce me to resign it into your hands.  But while his country may demand much of every patriot, there is a point, which every honest man feels, at which he may retire.  I should be deeply grieved to take this step did I not know how many abler representatives you can find in the ranks of that constituency of which any man may be proud.  I leave the halls of legislation at a moment when our party is consolidated, when its promise for the future was never more brilliant, and when peace and prosperity seem to have taken up their permanent abode in our happy country, whose triumphant experiment of popular institutions makes every despot shake upon his throne.  Gentlemen, in bidding you farewell I can only say that, should the torch of the political incendiary ever be applied to the sublime fabric of our system, and those institutions which were laid in our father’s struggles and cemented with their blood, should totter and crumble, I, for one, will be found going down with the ship, and waving the glorious flag of our country above the smouldering ruins of that moral night.

“I am, fellow-citizens, your obliged, faithful, and humble servant, WATKINS BODLEY.”

In pursuance of the call the meetings were held.  Jim, Tom, and Ned were early on the ground in their respective districts, with about thirty chosen friends.  In Jim’s district Mr. Gasserly was elected chairman, and Messrs. Musher and Slugby delegates to the Convention.  Mr. Slugby, who was present when the result was announced, said that it was extremely inconvenient for him to go, but that he held it to be the duty of every man to march at the call of the party.  His private affairs would undoubtedly suffer, but he held that every man’s private interest must give way to the good of his party.  He could say the same thing for his friend, Mr. Musher, who was not present.  But he should say to Musher—­Musher, the people want us to go, and go we must.  With the most respectful gratitude he accepted the appointment for himself and Musher.

This brisk little off-hand speech was received with great favor.  Immediately upon its conclusion Jim moved an adjournment, which was unanimously carried, and Jim led the way to a neighboring corner, where he expended a reasonable proportion of the money which Slugby had given him.

A few evenings afterward the Convention met.  Mr. Slugby was appointed President, and Mr. William Condor Secretary.  The Honorable B.J.  Ele presented a series of resolutions, which were eloquently advocated by General Arcularius Belch.  At the conclusion of his speech the Honorable A. Bat made a speech, which the daily Flag of the Country the next morning called “a dry disquisition about things in general,” but which the Evening Banner of the Union declared to be “one of his most statesmanlike efforts.”