The trustees, without heeding the advice of Mr.
Mason to delay, removed Wheelock from the presidency, and appointed in his place the Rev.Francis Brown.

This fanned the flame of popular excitement, and such a defiance of the legislative committee threw the whole question into politics.

As Mr.Mason had foreseen when he warned the trustees against hasty action, all the Democrats, all members of sects other than the Congregational, and all freethinkers generally, were united against the trustees, and consequently against the Federalists.

The election came on.
Wheelock, who was a Federalist, went over to the enemy, carrying his friends with him, and Mr.Plumer, the Democratic candidate, was elected Governor, together with a Democratic Legislature.

Mr.Webster perceived at once that the trustees were in a bad position.