Eastern times., 1853-01-13
EASTERN TIMES.
Bath, Thursday, Jan. Is, 1853.
From the Capital.


The ingathering Of the members of the Leg.
islsture, the servants of the sovereign people
OF Maine, has given kind of livelness TO the
Capital, and filed the public houses and board.
ing places with politics and politicians. State
street is alive with pedestrians. and she hust.
ling and crowding in the lobbies and galleries
of the Senate Chamber and Representatives
Hall testify that not only the Legislature hal
arrived but all its accompaniments.
THE HOUSE.
The organization of the House was effected
on Wednesday. the first day of the session.
JOHN c. TALBOT, Jr.. of Lubec, was chosen
Speaker; ALANsoN B. FARwELL. of Farming
ton, Clerk ROBERT Lone, Of Surry, Assistant
Clerk and BENZ. b. THoMAs. of Newburs.
Messenger. Mr.. Talbot is gentleman of high
standing as a legislator, of influence in the
democratic party, and every way fitted for the
responsible post to which he has been promot-
ed. He presides with ease and dignity, and
while exhibiting decision and energy adequate
Ito the duties Of his position, combines mildness
of tone and manner with geAtlemanly bearing.
to such adegree that he cannot fail Of corn
manding the confidence and respect Of every
member of the House. MIR. Talbot and the
other officers of the House received the full
democratic vote. This is we'll. 1t shows that
the prophecies of the wings Of divisions and
differences in the ranks of the democracy, are
but prophecies, and that the harmonious and
efficient action Of the democracy Of Maine in
the presidential campaign is to be hoped for
in our State concerns. The party strength OF
the House is as follows democrats IS wings
6l Freesoil S; democratic majority over ALL
10.
THE SENATE.
The organization of the Senate was effected
as harmoniously and rapidly as that of the
House, but proved not of SO permanent char
acter. Mr.. West OF Hancock, called the con-
vention of Senators elect to order, and on his
motion Mr.. Eaton of Kennebec, was chosen
Chairman. The Governor then administered
the oaths of office, and the convention pro-
ceeded to ballot for a Secretary. LEWIS o.
CowAN, editor of the Saco Union, was elected.
A motion was then made to 60 into the cleo
ton Of President of the Senate. Mr.. Cary
moved to amend by adding the words pro tenn
pore. Voted down. Hon. SAMUEL BUTNAN, Of
Penobscot, was then elected, receiving l 3 votes
MIR. Butman was declared elected President by
the Secretary, and was thereupon waited upon
to the Chair by Senator Eaton with due grace
and Difference. After a neat speech in which
he accepted the post and alluded TO the par
iiaIity of the Senate in elecring him to the
high and responsible Office which he would
endeavor to fill to the best OF his ability. he
quietly took his seat, and the Senate was un-
derstood to be organized.
After the space of some minutes or more, one
of the newly elected whig members of Con-
gress, who acted as lobby adviser in the organ
ization whispered to Lincoln Senator who
talks good deal and largely, that they had
not got President, after all He, the Con-
gresham elect aforesaid, who by the way. had
something to do with 'secret circulars" in the
State election, thought there was ''cat under
the nneal." Thereupon the Lincoln Senator
sprang to his feet, and with his arms leisurely
folded abreast, stated it as his opinion that the
election of President was nullity because
quorum of 81 the full Senate, l6, had not vot-
ed. The whole number of votes cast was Is. of
which l3 were for Mr.. Butnam, and 2 for Mr..
Cary, not voting, the whole number of Sen
ators elected being %. Mr.. Butman declined
voting, which was the circumstance that
happily prevented quorum vote of the whole
Senate. Here was q fx-a decided, unfortu-
nate, vexatious fix! The President, who is
really man worthy of the Office, looked un-
easy; the Secretary looked into the eyes of
every Senator at once with kind Of contorted
glance; the lobby democrats grinned. and
whiggery generally came near going off in
'conniption' fit. Relief came at last, howev-
er 1t was limited to the President politely
as possible under the circumstances, that il
would be better for him to Uacate, and he f.
nally responded by moving his boots back 10
the Senate board, leaving the nice and easy
chair, into which he had sunk after the con-
clusion Of his neat speech Of acceptance, ell
tenantless and void.
This affair was extremely unfortunate, be-
cause the wings were determined to permanent
ly organize the Senate. They had thrown ii
out beforehand, and now when they had caught
the bird they found he could fly. They were
very anxious the work should be done up
"brown" beyond the reach of subsequent so
co. stratagem. And here they were, with q
President, and yet without one, apparently the
victims of concatenatlon of unfortuitous cir
cumstances, the result either of legislative
shrewdness and wisdom or legislative green
ness and simplicity. But on the principle Of
''soonest mended, soonest enGed,' on the mo-
ton of the Lincoln Senator who told the story
election Of President. Result, Mr. Butman,
Is votes. Mr.. Muzzy, /. A handsome majori-
ty of % Senators, but not a quorum of 3D.
Unsatisfactory to the wings. The democrats
complained that they were without Presi-
dent after electing one, and urged that Mr.
Butman re-occupy his seat. Mr.. Cary re-
marked that he would be satisfied TO be elect
ed President by IL votes. But no. Baloting
after balloting took place with the same result.
On Thursday, the House in the meantime
prepared and waiting to 60 into convention to
fill the vacancies in the Senate, the same sub
ject was continued, and the ballotings for Pres
ldent were followed with the same result
Ihe Secretary very indisereetly assumed the
powers OF presiding officer, and called Senators
to order. He requested one Of them to sit
down. This brought up the question Of the du-
ties of the Secretarv ara ~