 Briggs was nominated to run for the governorship on the Whig ticket against the incumbent Democrat Marcus Morton in 1843 . Former Governor John Davis had been nominated first , but refused the nomination , possibly because Daniel Webster promised him party support for a future vice presidential bid . Briggs was apparently recommended as a compromise candidate acceptable to different factions within the party ( one controlled by Webster , the other by Abbott Lawrence ) . He was also probably chosen to appeal more directly to the state 's rural voters , a constituency that normally supported Morton . The abolitionist Liberty Party also fielded a candidate , with the result that none of the candidates won the needed majority . The legislature decided the election in those cases ; with a Whig majority there , Briggs ' election was assured . Briggs was reelected annually until 1850 against a succession of Democratic opponents . He won popular majorities until the 1849 election , even though third parties ( including the Liberty Party and its successor , the Free Soil Party ) were often involved . Although Whigs had a reputation for aristocratic bearing , Briggs was much more a man of the people than the preceding Whig governors , John Davis and Edward Everett . 
 Briggs was nominated to run for the governorship on the Whig ticket against the incumbent Democrat Marcus Morton in 1843 . Former Governor John Davis <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> been nominated first , but refused the nomination , possibly because Daniel Webster promised him party support for a future vice presidential bid . Briggs was apparently recommended as a compromise candidate acceptable to different factions within the party ( one controlled by Webster , the other by Abbott Lawrence ) . He was also probably chosen to appeal more directly to the state <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>rural voters , a constituency <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>normally supported Morton . The abolitionist Liberty Party also fielded a candidate , with the result that none of the candidates won the needed majority . The legislature decided the election in those cases ; with a Whig majority there , Briggs <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>election was assured . Briggs was reelected annually until 1850 against a succession of Democratic opponents . He won popular majorities until the 1849 election , even though third parties ( including the Liberty Party and its successor , the Free Soil Party ) <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> often involved . Although Whigs had a reputation for aristocratic bearing , Briggs was much more a man of the people than the preceding Whig governors , John Davis and Edward Everett . 
Briggs was nominated to run fa the governorship on the Whig ticket against da incumbent Democrat Marcus Morton in 1843 . Former Governor John Davis done been nominated first , but refused the nomination , possibly because Daniel Webster promised him party support for a future vice presidential bid . Briggs was apparently recommended as a compromise candidate acceptable to different factions within tdaparty ( one controlled by Webster , thdather by Abbott Lawrence ) . He was also probably chosen to appeal more directly to the state  rural voters , a constituency normally supported Morton . Thedaolitionist Liberty Party also fielded a candidate , wit the result dat none of the dadidates won the needed majority . The legislature decided the edation in those cases ; wwa Whig majority there , Briggs  election was assured . Briggs was reelected annually till 1850 against a succession of Democratic opponents . He won popular majorities until the 18daelection , even though third parties ( including the Libday Party and its successor , the Free Soil Party ) was often involved . Although Whigs had a reputation ffaaristocratic bearing , Briggs was much more a man of the peopdathan the preceding Whig governors , John Davis and Edward Everett .