Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-27
Correspondence of the Eastern Times.
Legislative Proceedings.

AUGUSTA, June %, 1850.
The present legislative week has been one OF
unusual interest--it being the week assigned
for the consideration of the Senatorial question.
The early part of the week found absentees re-
turning to their seat SO that on the eventtul
day-the goth of June-but one vacancy ex-
listed in the Senate board, (Mr. Dunn of York
being confined by illness at home) and but two
in the House, (Messrs. Millett of Paris, who is
confined to his room at the Augusta House,
and George w. Stanley, of this place, who was
"out of town"
Quite a number of "lobbys" were on the
ground-mostly of the "smaller fry" though.
In the Senate, on Thursday. the Goth, after the
morning business was disposed of, the order of
Mr.. Chase-that has acquired notoriety al
most equal to that Of Wilmot's Proviso was
called up by Mr.. PIcKARD. of Penobscot, who.
by the way, is one of Mr.. Hamlin's oldest and
warmest supporters in the Senate-when Mr..
Shepey offered an men1ment to the effect
that the Senate and House would separately
and simultaneously proceed on the morrow. at
IL o'clock A. NJ. TO ballot for Senator. OBJ
jections being made to the amendment as only
designed to produce delay, after some discus
sion, it rejected, and the original order
passed. A motion to reconsider this vote was
subsequently negatived-l3 to l6. Thus the
matter rested in the Senate until the following
Saturday, when very ingenious attempt was
made by Mr.. Reed, wing member from Lincoln
County, to effect the passage of a Resolve as
signing Tuesday next at IL o'clock as the time
for the Senate and House to 60 into stimuli
taneous ballot, with the provision that if either
branch see fit to discontinue balIoting, ii should
hare the pocer. Plausible reas ons for the pas
sage of this were adduced by the mover, but
the ever watchful Packard and Morrow soon
dissected the "critter' and exposed the ruse-
showing it to be no more nor less than covert
attempt on the part of the Senate to acquire a
power and control over the other branch. An
amendment was offered, striking out this objec
tionable clause, which passed-l6 to 14-when
vain attempt was made by some of the friends
of the Resolve to defeat its passage as amended.
So the Senate have agreed TO go into an cleo
ton next Tuesday and to ballot successfully
under the Resolve. This was a little more
than was "bargained for by the friends of the
movement, and shows that sometimes the 'biters
get bitten
In the House similar "sharp shooting" has
been practsed with very similar success. The
time assigned for balloting, L o'clock on the
Goth, by sufferance of the Speaker, as an act of
cour4ecv 70 Ar Rr,dbury ho x,.,s +bon small
ing upon the slavery resolves, was suffe to
pass-when. at the conclusion of his remarks,
the assigned business of proceeding to ballot,
was announced by the Speaker-when 10, and
behold, up jump the friends of Mr.. B. and raise
a point of order as to the right of the House to
proceed to business-a particular hour for the
transaction of which had been assigned but
,chich hour had passed! The ruling OF the
chair was given, that the objection was frivo-
lous and that the business was in order-from
which decision an appeal was taken, but very
wisely withdrawn.
Committee of five was then raised to re-
ceive, sort and count the votes and precaution-
airy arrangements adopted. such as ordering the
desk-each member, at the call of his name, to
step forward and deposit his ballot-and the
ballots to be counted in the bar of the House.
The first ballot resulted as follows: Hamlin
(dem) 67-Evans, (whig) ~ Hubbard, (dem)
2o-Saml Fesscnden, (abo) l5-Wm. P. Fes-
sender, (whig) 4-Blank LAO members vot-
ing, and Mr.. Hamlin lacking votes only of an
election. The balloting over, the House ad-
journed.
Tie Speaker on the following morning an
nounced the business to be, action under the
order before the House, when the House last
adjourned. Mr.. Sewall of Oldtown thereupon
moved to assign IL O'Clock A. NJ. as the hour
to go into another balloting. Mr.. Bradbury
moved to amend, offering an order that the
same time time be assisned-contending that
the former order had expended itself, applying
only to the day specified. This would require
joint action again, and give the Senate an op-
portunity for another 'skirmish of light arms"
The Speaker ruled this out of order, when, as
hours delay having occurred in the discussion,
which time might have been and was intended
to have been appropriated to morning busness)
I'd balloting was had, with the following re-
suit: Whole No. of ballots, l49-necessary to
a choice 75-IIannibal Hamlin had 63-George
Evans 33-S. Fessenden 26-J. Hubbard 23-
w. P. Fessenden III. W. Paine 2-John
Anderson 1-when the House adjourned
On Saturday the ballotings were again re-
sumed, and three unsuccessful trials were had.
as follows: Whole No, of votes l43-Hamlin
had 62-Evans as. Fessenden 23--J. An
derson 24-H. w. Paine BLANK 9.
I'd 6ailot-Hamlin 65-Evans 2S-J. Ander-
son 23-S. Fessendcn 22--H. w. Paine A.
Blank lib.
3dballot- Hamlin 65 Evans 2S--J. Ander-
son 24-S. Fessenden 24--H. w. Paine2.
Thus but little approximation seems to have
been made in five ballotings towards an election.
One thing has been demonstrated thus far, to
wit that determined opposition will be made
to Mr.. Hamlin's election. Well, this is free
country, of ours-and many of us are free soil
ers---but we can express but enc opinion as to
the propricty of this opposition, and that is
unqualified disapprova! Party usage, party or
ganization, party influence, party permanence,
all require and demand a support of Mr.. Ham
lin, nominated, as he has been. by SO respecta-
BILE majority. The hope prevails pretty gen.
orally here, that the "sober second thought"
will soon begin to ope! ate and sufficient num-
. 4 L. fo xxrtfh A