Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-29

who witness them.
The personal appearance of Gov. Hubbard
is commanding and noble, as his honesty and
generosity of character are conspicuous. He
is more than six feet in height, with large,
well-proportiened frame, evincing great mus
cular power. His head is very large, his fore
head bold and massive, features regular, brow
heavy, from under which his dark eyes cast a
piercing or singularly playful glance, ac
cording to the feeling that predominates. Our
artist has succeeded admirably in delineating
his features in repose. The likeness will at
once be recognized as truthful. The first i'm
preston on seeing Gov. Hubbard is, that he is
one of Natures noblemen, and subsequent ac-
quantance demonstrates that Nature made no
mistake in her stamp.
| His administration, though in most respects
corresponding 10 the previous Democratic poll
cy, will nevertheless mark an important era in
the history of the State.
Prior to 1920, Maine was province of Mas
sachusetts, and for many years after the sepa-
ration, her energies and enterprise contributed
more to the prosperity of that State, than to
the development of her own resources. With
in the last few years, however, Maine has
aroused herself, determined no longer to occu-
py the condition of a mere dependency, and has
put forth her best efforts to attain prominent
and honorable position among her sister States.
Already success to good degree has crowned
her efforts. Enterprise is awakened, and her
vast natural resources, for agriculture, for
manufactures, and for commerce, begin to be
understood and improved. The people of
Maine seem now to understand that "Dirigo," :"
the motto of her State arms, has meaning.
Their muscular energy, their intellectual abili-
ty. their sound morality, entitle her to lead
ing position among the States of the Union,
and she will ere long attain it.
Gov. Hubbard deeply sympathizes with the
awakened spirit of the people, and he has not
hesitated to throw his influence, personal and
official, in aid of all measures calculated to
improve the condition of the people, or to de-
velope the resources of the State. Encourage
ment TO education and to every branch of in
dustry finds it, him a jealous friend and adyo-
cate. Those interested in public improvements
well remember how Gov. Hubbard made his
influence felt, in this behalf, at the Portland
Convention of 1850, over whose deliberations
he presided, and the result of whose proceed
ings have excited marked interest and atten-
ton, both upon this continent and in Europe
No little of the enthusiasm of that great occa-
sion where the disting uishcd men of
British North America met, for the first time
in Convention, those Of the Northern States of
this Union, from which time the enterprise of
the European and North American Railway
takes its date,) was due to the fortunate and
earnest manner in which Gov. Hubbard pre-
sented the subject of this international railway
to the attention oflhe Convention.
| AT that time, this project was far from being
generally appreciated. 1t had for its object
the extension of railway communication east
ward from the valley of the Kennebec, in
Maine, to the city of Halifax, in Nova Scotia.
The enterprise, when completed, as it undoubt-
edly will be in the course of few years, will
connect the upper and lower British PROVING
es, and reduce the time of passage between
| New York and London to seven days, and
perhaps less; will turn large portion of the
business and pleasure travel between the two
continents, across the entire breadth of Maine !;
bring to notice and make available her rich and
varied resources; intimately associate her
with the neighboring provinces, and materially
lessen, if not entirely remove, the dsadvantag-
es of her present position as border State
Indeed, its beneficial results can hardly be
over estimated. Gov. Hubbard, with the sa-
gacious eye of patriotic statesman, foresaw
this, and has given TO the scheme all the en-
couragement and aid in his power to bestow.
Another important event of Gov Hubbard s
administration is the impulse given TO the tenn
pcrance cause by what is now, throughout the
country, denominated the "Maine Law" for
suppressing the traffic in intoxicating drinks
in common with a large portion of his fel-
low-citizens, he had doubts in regard to the
expediency Of so stringent law. There was
a question in his mind, also, respecting the
constitutionality Of some of its provisions.
Bnt he did not for moment fail to distinguish
between his views as an individual and his du-
ty as chief magistrate of the State. He con.
sidered the veto power placed in his hands as a
check to hasty Legislation, or to prevent viola
tons of the Constitution. For three years the
people had been asking for such law, and its
passage bv large majority in both branches,
could not be considered an act of hasty legisla-
ton. The provisions which many deemed un
constitutional were not clearly so. The lega
opinion of the State was divided upon the
question, making it rather matter for the de.
cision of the Supreme Judiciary than suita
ble occasion for the exercise of his veto. Ac
cordingly, although strongly urged by many
of his friends to withhold mis- approval of th'
bill, they believing it would be for his interes
to do it, and although his own views of its ex'
: pediency and of its constitutionality might a
the time have inclined him to that course, We
these considerations weighed not for momen
with Gov. Hubbard. His duty was plain, ant
he promptly performed it by appending hi
signature to the bill.
The wonderful efficiency of this law in sup
, pressing the sale of intoxicating drinks as
beverage, that most fruitful source of poverty
vice, and crime and the comparative eas