The Portland daily press., 1864-01-09


lar course of legal studies, but not having a
taste for professional life never applied for ad-
mission to the bar, and never engaged in legal
practice. He was born in Fryeburg, and is
now Al years of age, full of vigor, good sense
and loyalty, and with large capacity for bust
ness, and an urbanity of manners and are
finement OF taste that make him an agreeable
companion and valued friend, is admin
istration,as presiding officer of the Senate will
be happy one.
Hon. NELSON DINGLEY, Jr., the Speaker OF
the House, is well known in the region where
the Press has its largest circulation. Mr.. ID.
was born in Durham, is now 81 year OF age,
graduated at Dartmouth in the class OF 1850,
was admitted but never entered upon the
practice of his profession. In 1856 he became
editor of the Lewiston Journal, and in that
position he has remained eveg since; and it is
no disparagement to the fraternity to say that
Speaker Dingley is not only a successful edit
or, but one of the most SO in the State, and
his paper has acquired wide and richly mer-
tied influence in the portion of the State
where it is published. Mr.. Dingley was first
member of the House in 1862; in 1868 he
was elected Speaker without an opponent in
his party, and now he has been again elected
after nomination by reclamation. He is
prompt, impartial, and dignifed presiding Of
fcer, and dispatches business with the facility
of a master.
Yesterday Gov. Coburn retired from official
position, carrying with him the respect and
good wishes Of every loyal heart. He has
proved a faithful, earnest, Woodworking chief
magistrate, and for his readiness to stand out
of the way Of an attempt-that proved SO en-
inently successful - to unite all the loyal cle-
ments of the State, his nobleness of soul and
the patriotism of his heart were more highly
appreciated than ever before.
The new Governor, Hon. SAMUEL CoNY,
is man whose record has been made and
needs no correcting He is a grandson of
the late Judge Daniel Cony, and son of the
late Gen. Samuel Cony, first Adjutant Cen
eral of the State. He is a man of fine person
al appearance, familiar and approachable in
his manners, with great good nature beaming
in his countenanee, and decision and firmness
indicated in every lineament OF his face. He
is fifty-two years of age, is a graduate of
Brown University, commenced reading law in
the Office of the late Hon. Hiram Belcher and
closed his legal studies in the Office of the
late Hon. Reuel Williams, after which he set
tied in Oldtown, where he commenced his ca
reer as lawyer. While yet young man he
was appointed Judge of Probate for Penob-
scot county, which Office he held for seven
years. He was subsequently appointed Land
Agent for the State, which Office he filled for
several years, and until elected State Treas
urer. IL is a fact alike remarkable i'm the his
tory of our State and creditable to Mr. Cony
that five consecutive legislatures elected him
to the office Of Treasurer, thus giving him
the longest period of service in.that depart
ment allowed by the Constitution.
He has been Mayor of Augusta, which city
he has represented in the legislature, and for
a series OF years he has been President of the
Augusta Bank, one of the Oldest institutions
of the kind in the State. He is man of un-
impeachable integrity; hospitable, liberal and
even generous; in full sympathy with the pop
ular heat; man correct in all his habits
forcible reasoner, and as his address shows, a
writer of more than ordinary polish, and as
Governor of the State predict that he will
give us an administration that will extort
praises even from those who politically oppose
him. SpURwINK.