Boston, Charles Francis Adams, of Quincy, George B. Loring, of Salem, and H. L. Pierce, of Boston. On the third ballot Mr. Rice received five hundred and seventy-six votes out of nine hundred and ninety-eight that were cast, and was therefore declared the nominee of the convention. Horatio G. Knight was renominated for lieutenant governor.

On the 6th of October, the prohibitory party assembled in convention in Boston, "to consider their duty in the present campaign, and the best measures to be taken to secure the repeal of the existing law." After adopting a platform conforming to the views of the party, the convention nominated John I. Baker, of Beverly, for governor. On the same day, about thirty labor reformers gathered at Worcester, and after.adopting resolutions in favor of the concentration of effort on the reduction of the hours of labor, advising the workingmen to keep aloof from all the existing political parties, favoring the making of greenbacks legal tenders for duties and all debts, and denouncing the "national bank system" as one of the greatest swindles on a patient people, nominated Wendell Phillips for governor.

The annual election took place on the 2d of November; and Mr. Rice was chosen by a plurality of five thousand three hundred and six votes. Horatio G. Knight was reelected lieutenant governor, Henry B. Peirce, of Abington, secretary of state, Julius L. Clarke, of Newton, auditor, Charles Endicott, of Canton, treasurer, and Charles R. Train, of Boston, attorney general.

On the morning of the 22d of November, Vice President Henry Wilson died suddenly in Washington. Although he had been ill for several days, his death was wholly unexpected. The life of the deceased was full of lessons of surpassing importance to the student of American history; and

in many respects he was a representative American statesman, in that his birth and origin were humble and obscure, his name unknown to the great world, and in that he rose by means of his own individual exertions through successive steps to the brightest renown. Posterity will cherish his crowning virtues his humanity, industry, and honesty. He was born at Farmington, New Hampshire, on the 16th of February, 1812.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ERA OF REFORM.

THE annual session of the legislature of 1876 began on the 5th of January, and continued until the 28th of April. Most of the legislation was unimportant, though whatever was accomplished tended in the way of reform. A worthy act was passed in regard to state savings banks, providing that no person shall be an officer of more than one institution of the kind at the same time; that quarterly meetings shall be held by the trustees for the purpose of receiving the treasurer's reports, and that statements showing the financial condition of each institution shall also be made known to the public; and that interest shall not be paid upon sums greater than sixteen hundred dollars received from any one depositor. Restrictions were levied on investments in a way to give greater value to securities. The act was approved by the governor on the 27th of April.

Three important acts were passed relating to elections. One of these declares that any person voting, or attempting to cast a vote, upon any other than his own name, or giving in more than one ballot at a time, shall be punished by imprisonment in the House of Correction, not less than three months, nor more than one year. This act also declares that any person convicted of bribery at any election shall also suffer imprisonment and fine.

The second act provides for the preservation of ballots

.