The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-23
COMMUNICATIONS.


@sEW PouAfe AOFf4spOuOeHCcs
-CoAcoED, Jan. Is, 1864.
To the Editor qr fhe press,
In the Granite State the campaign Of 1854
is fairly opened, and a warm contest we are to
have, hut not long one. Seven weeks from
next Tuesday our annual election will occur,
and any amount Of pecuniary aid desired, viii
be contributed by prominent Democrats in
other States, as our election is considered of
vital importance to that Of the Presidential
election so soon TO follow; and II the Demo-
Gratis can triumph here, then will they hope to
triumph in Connecticut whose election will
occur but 6our or iiyc weeks later in the year
than ours. Last year the vote in this State
was close one, the maiorities on Governor,
Councillors, Senators and Railroad Commis-
sioner, averaging less than 500 in vote of
over G0.0o0. Two candidates for Governor
were in the field against the Democratic can
didate, and this year there win be but one.
At the late Republican State Convention
resolution was adopted approving Of the poll
cy Of the Administration, and, virtually re-
nominating President Lincoln for the next
Presidential term Many Of our friends dis
approve Of the latter part Of the resolution, as
they deem its Introduction uncalled for and
premature, and We have many among Us who
tenaciously adhere 10 the principle of one term
70 the Presidency. AT any rate the matter
should be left open to free action on the part
Of the National Convention
Our State has filed its quota Of enlisted
men In answer to the last call Of Government
upon it for men. The bounties given TO the
men averaged about s5a5, $500 by the general
Government, 300 by the State, and the bal
ance By the cities and towns. We are very
confident that the last call for men has been
made by the Government, and thar we shall
have more men in the army in May next
than we shall need. There will he little if
any more fighting west OF the Mississippi
river, and not much more in Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, or Florida, and / think Tennessee,
Northern Georgia and a portion Of Alabama,
have seen and felt most OF the fighting inten-
ded for them, whilst North Carolina and two
thirds of Virginia will sustain the cause of the
rebels not much longer.
We are to have in the next campaign much
black, andin my opinion the lighting will be
mainly over by the 4th of July next, but GER
tsinly Immediately upon the close of the Pres
idential contest in November next. The lead
ers Of the rebellion woald like TO keep the war
alive as long as they have but The faintest hope
that their friends in the North may possibly
triumph in the coming Presidential contest,
but when they shall have lost all hope of the
election Of their friend Gen. Mcclellan who is
sure Of defeat, their courage will fail, their
hopes die, and to them all viii be lost, and the
leaders will leave the country.
We have been having cold fifteen days Of
winter here, with most excellent sleighing,
and never did the farmers havea better time
to do their winter work than they have had
thus far, In this passing winter. Business in
this city is remarkably good, and officers of
the army are here in great numbers, the why
and the wherefore they are here, SO many of
them. we do not fully understand; but we
know 1t is somewhat so IN all parts of the
country, wilhelm Washington the streets are
crowded with them, as are The hotels saloons,
and gambling places IN that wicked and cor
rupt city.
Why are so many officers away from duty
while the priyates cannot obtain furloughs TO
visit their suffering families? And why have
so many poor officers been placed In command
of good and brave priyatcs? Intrigue and
management have had much TO do with the
nomination OF candidates for State senators
thus Ear, as we have but twelve and The votes
Of seven of them are necessary 10 the cleo
tion OF a U. S. Senator, and we shall have "a
senator to elect next June 10 flll the seat now
occupied By Senator Hale. This same matter
will lead TO much intrigue and bargaining in
the election Of many of our 334 Representa-
tiyes to the popular branch OF the Legislature
The candidates to be successor 10 Mr.. Hale
are already nine in number and "still they
come" The contest for that seat will be as
was that Of 1924, when no election could be
made, and the next year new candidate was
brought out and elected at once over all oppo-
sition-the late eminent LEVI WOODBURY.
The people In this State are beginning 10 re-
solve that in the future the Office shall seek
the man aud not the man the office, aud this
Ia all cases where the people need honest and
faithful public servants.