The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-10-29
Hannibal HanlIn.

N.
10 his humanity, in favor of abolishing the
practice of fogging in the Navy. AS
chairman of the Committee on Commerce,
to which position he was elected 10 Deem
her ls49. and which he continued to hold
until he resigned it in 1856, Mr. Hamlin
gave Jaborious and faithful attention to the
subjects which came before him. Among
his more important speeches during the 3Ist
Congress, was one, at the first session, on
regulating the liabilities of ship owners. He
took a prominent and active part, in con-
nection with Senator John Davis, in pre-
pairing and urging the bill, first introduced
into the 32d Congress, providing for the
greater security Of lives on steamboats,.
During the first session of the same Con-
gress, he made two elaborate speeches on
the American fisheries, giving full history
of the negotiations on that subject and fur
nishing fund of information in regard to
it, nowhere else to he found in the same
space, He also made speeches in the same
Congress, defending the River and Harbor
hill from the assaults made upon it, and
favoring the Internal improvement policy.
He offered and actively supported an
amendment of the Pension laws SO as to
secure pensions to widows of Revolutionary
soldiers who married after 1900. He intro.
dnced a resolution authorizing the Codilica-
ton of the Revenue laws, and apprODriating
$4,000 for the purpose, which was adopted
Down 10 1886, Mr.. Hamlin acted regu-
larry with the Democratic party, uniform
ly voting nevertheless, against ali projects
for extending slavery. Having occupied
for several years, the position of Chairman
of the Committee on Commerce, to which
he was appointed by the Democratic ma
iority in the Senate, be felt it his duty to
resign that place, on resolving, alter til t
Cincinnati Convention of 1856, no longer
to act with party which he deemed to
have deserted the chiet landmarks Of Deaioc-
racy. In doing so he took occasion to define
his political position in clear and opposite
speech, the concluding paragraph of which
IS SO follows
SThese events leave to me only one I'M
nIaasant duty, which is to declare here that
I can maintain political associations with no
marty that insists upon sach doctrines that
I can support no man for President who
avows and recognizes them and that the
little of that power with which God has en-
doved me. shall be employed to battle man
fnlIv. firmly, and consistently for his defeat
demanded as il IS by the highest interests oil
the country which owns all my allegiance
Mr.. Hamlin was subsequently nominated
in lime 1856, as the Republican candidate
for Governor OF Maine. The Democratic
party had carried the State the year previou:
and were then in power. He commenced
the canvass in July, and traversed the State
making nearly hundred speeches in the dit
ferent counties. He was elected in Septem
Der by an absolute majority of about lS, OOC
over his two competitors, and $4,000 over
the Democratic candidate, more than double
the majority ever given to any other can.
didate in that State. The effect of tai!
brilliant triumph was electric, III the grea
Fremont canvass, and so remarkable q rev
olution surprised even the most sangHine o
Senator Hamlins friends abroad.
On the 9Th of January, 1857, he resigned
his seat ia the Senate, and was inaugurateC
the same day as Governor of Maine.
On the 10th day of January, little NOR
than week after his Inauguration, Gov
Hamhn was, for the third time, chosen
Senator of the United States, in which ofic
he had served nearly ten years. On tn
Goth of February he resigned the office c
Governor, and soon after returned to Wash
ington, resuming his seat in the Senate.
During the first session of the Saith Con
gress, March 9th and 9th, Mr. Hamlin mad
an extended and able speech on the Lecomp
ton Constitution and the Kansas question.
He also replied at the same session, point
eddy and eloquently, to the mud sill
speech of Gov. Hammond OfSouth Caroline
Tepelling his assaults upon The ia6orers Of IL
free States.
At the opening of this Congress, he ais
took occasion to express, in most effectiv
manner, the unfairness and gross sectioua
Partially Of the Democratic majority in th
Senate on the formation of the committee.
He made another able speech at this session
in defense of American rights in regard t
the hsherles-a question of much local lin
portance to his own State, and 10 other poi
tions of New England
For several years past Mr.. Hamlin ha
been an earnest and decided suppnrter of IN
Homestead policy; he was in favor of MI
Grows bill giving homes to actual settler
on public lands, which passed the Hons
at the last session of Congress- but whic
vas so amended by the Democratic Senat
as to destroy its efficacy, and was subst
quently vetoed by Democratic Presiden
James Buchanan.
10 the active discharge of his duties as
Senator, Mr.. Hamlin, since his last election
has continued without interruption until tn
present time
Mr.. Hamlin's nomination for tie Vic
Presidency at Chicago, in May last, was a
event as unexpected to him as any tina
could have happened The spontaneonsnes
nnanImity and cordiality with which thi
nomination was made, aud its universal &C
ceptaoleness, as since demonstrated, are cor
elusive evidences of the exalted characte
and eminently honorable national standiu
OF Senator Hamlin. He is also eInphaticall
one who has a strong hold upon the popu
lar heart His sympathies are with the pea