The Portland daily press., 1864-12-28
The senatorship---0noe More.

The Senatorship---0noe More.
We hear the friends of Mr.. Hamlin contin-
ually insisting that Mr.. Fessenden should re-
main in the Treasury Department. Do they
know that he can remain there If he is willing
to do SOP has President Lincoln informed
Cabinet9 Is it quite respectful to him to ar
range In advance who must be the members
Of his Cabinet, If he would prevent divisions
among his friends in the several States? Has
Maine any special claim above the Other
States for this interference?
Nor do we think these gentlemen arr quite
fair towards Mr.. Fessenden when troy tnus
persistently urge that he may, Dhe pieases'
remain in the Cabinet. They o'gnt 70 Know
because 1t has been repeatedD stated upon ms
authority, that he cannot remain IN ms pres
ent Office after the 4th q Marcn. 1h's IS has
.fred purpose. for tbs conclusive reason that,
however much he night be inclined to do so,
Che state of n, health absolutely forbids his
continuance IN position involving through
ont the rear such constant, arduous labor as
does fne PoHuono VI eno AI0asuky AZ tneso
times. At
Now, as he is to retire from his present Of
fee, which he consented to take only for this
brief term, for the accommodation of the Presi-
dent in an emergency, 1t remains for the
Legislature to say whether he shall be sent
into retirement under circumstances which
will imply the direct censure of his constiiu-
ents. To displace Mr.. Fessenden, or If this ia
stating the matter too strongly, to refuse to
make him his own successor, and to elect Mr..
Hamlin in his stead, would be to express in
the clearest manner dissatisfaction with the
former,-it would be.a most distinct mark of
disapprobation and want of confidence; while
not TO give Mr.. Hamlin Mr.. Fessenden's place
would imply no sort Of censure Of, or dissatis-
faction with, the former. We do not believe
the people OF Maine, or their representatives
in the Legislature, are prepared to infiict so
great wrong upon an able, faithful, public
servant as would be involved In the displace-
ment OF, or refusal to elect, Mr.. Fessenden I'M
der circumstances which would Ak a stigma
upon him which time could scarcely efface.
In this connection we commend to the care
full consideration of our readers the following
article, communicated to us by an able, influ-
entail gentleman of an interior county, who is
member elect of the Legislature.
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
Those who oppose the reelection Of Mr..
Fessenden to the Senate, affect to put it on
the ground that his selection will deprive the
State Of Cabinet officer, whereas if another
is chosen Senator, Maine will continue to
have her most distinguished citizen at the
head of the Treasury.
Wehave but little to say against this propo-
sition, and We shall say it very briefly. So
far from this being the true way Of securing
Cabinet Minister from Maine, it is obvious to
any one who appreciates the sentiment of self
respect that Mr.. Fessenden will not and cannot
remain in his present position, even If tender
ed him by the President, should he fail to re-
ceive the endorsement of his State through
the voice Of her Legislature. The policy Of
driving Mr.. Fessenden from the Senate 10
force him to remain in the Treasury, is simply
01ouAAs 4uO CnOSb Vi LIS OCIUdb Ill tu6 AcSlS-
lature would be to damage him intellectually
in the estimation of the whole country, and
would strip him of that prestige and influence
which have made his services as a statesman
SO efficient and 81 valuable.
Mr.. Fessenden was not an applicant for his
present position in the Treasury Department.
He accepted it, temporarily, at the urgent So
licitation of the President, with the SUPER
added pressure of his party friends and the
leading inanciers of the loyal States. In re-
turn for this extraordinary confidence in the
leading man Of our State, 1t is now seriously
proposed by some to withhold from him the
only vote of approval which his fellow citi-
zens have the power to bestow; and this up
on the silly presumption that, defeated and
discredited at home, Mr.. Fessenden, like any
other suppliant for place, might be allowed to
retain his post in the Cabinet. We have no
patience to comment at length on this absurd
and ridiculous theory. fst
Again. Ia view of the circumstances un-
der which Mr.. Fessenden accepted the posi-
ton he now occupies, 1t is doing only simple
justice to extend to him precisely the same
treatment that we should if he were now in
his seat in the Senate. To make his patri-
otto sacrifice Of his own earnest wishes
made at the risk Of his own feeble health, IAN
excuse for refusing to re-elect him would be
adding ingratitude to injury. Arguments
against Mr.. Fessenden's reelection drawn
from comparison of his his fitness and past
services with those Of another, are legitimate
and honorable; but arguments based on the in
vidious plea that another should be elected ov-
er him in order to secure his eminent abilities
in some other position, ought not in honor to
be entertained.