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��THE GRANITK MONTHLY.
��Dover. The duties of these offices were performed with his usual sense of justice, but in 1874 the Democratic party (being in power) "addressed" him out of both offices. In the mean time he had been judge-advocate, with the rank of major, in the military of New Hampshire, under Gov. Smyth, and held a position on the staff of Gov. Harriman, which gave him his usual title of Colonel.
Col. Hall had long taken a deep in- terest in political affairs. To him they represented principles. In 1873 he was president of the Republican state convention at Concord. He had been for some years a member of the Re- publican state committee, when, in December, 1873, his abilities as a leader and executive were recognized in his selection as chairman of that committee. He so remained until 1877, and conducted the campaigns, state and national, of 1874, 1875, and 1876. These were critical years for the Republican party. The nearly even balance of parties in New Hamp- shire, the vigor and intensity with which the battles are always fought, and the skill necessary in every de- partment, demanded abilities and ener- gies of the highest order. The years mentioned surpassed ordinary years in political danger to the Republicans. It is sufficient to say that Col. Hall conducted the last three campaigns to a triumphant issue. So decisive were the successive victories that the tide was turned, and from that time the state has not swerved from her Repub- lican allegiance.
In 1876 Col. Hall was chairman of the New Hampshire delegation to the Republican national convention at Cincinnati, being chosen at large, un- pledged, and with scarce a dissenting vote. Seven delegates voted from first to last for James G. Blaine ; but Col. Hall, with ex- Gov. Straw and Hon. Charles H. Burns, voted six times for Mr. Bristow, and, on the de- cisive ballot, for Rutherford B. Hayes.
In 1876 and 1S77 Col. Hall was, by appointment of Gov. Cheney, reporter
��of the decisions of the supreme court of New Hampshire, and in that honor- able position published volumes 56 and 57 of the New Hampshire Re- ports.
In 1877 he succeeded Gov. Harri- man as n ival officer at the port of Boston. This office is co-ordinate with that of collector, upon which it is a check, and, when properly adminis- tered, is of great value to the country. Col. Hall's business habits, his keen insight, his perfect accuracy, and the ruling principle of his life to do every thing well and thoroughly, there came into operation. He quietly mastered the details as well as the general work of the department. Regularly at his post, his office became a model in its management, and was com- mended in the highest terms by the proper officers. When, therefore, his term expired, he was re-appointed for another four years by President Arthur, with no serious opposition.
The office, under his management, is performing its functions to the ad- vantage of the government, participat- ing influentially in the collection of many millions of customs revenue, and insuring the faithful enforcement of all the revenue laws. Under him there has been no proscription, political or personal. No subordinate has been removed to make way for any favorite ; but the force, with some additions necessitated by the increase of busi- ness, remains substantially as he found it. It is believed that, without making any high-sounding professions of " Re- form." the head of the Naval office has been and is making a clean official record, and giving a practical exhibi- tion of the best kind of civil service, by appointing capable men only, and by keeping good men in their places, and making no changes among faith- ful subordinates for the personal ends of himself, or his friends.
Col. Hall married, January 25, 1877, Sophia, daughter of Jonathan T. and Sarah (Hanson) Dodge, of Rochester, and has one son, Arthur Wellesley Hall, born August 30, 1878. The beautiful
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