The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-27
Letter from the Federal CAPITAL.


disappears"
Letter from the Federal Capital.
Our Representatives. Victory and Rsoic-
INSTRUMENTATION The Camden and
Anaboy Monopoly. JI3tl9 sg
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1865.
To the Editor Of the Press: go
In few days more the Thirty Eighth Con-
gress will have passed into history. One
third of the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentatives, pass from political existence along
with the National Executive on the 4th of
March. It seems not inopportune to advert,
however briefly and impertectly, to the part
borne in the counsels and labors OF the popu-.
lar branch Of Congress, SO soon to expire, by
those whom our own State has sent to it.
OF the Representative or rather mis- Repre-
sentative of the First Congressional District,
have little to say. Mr.. Sweat has at least
been faithful to his political associates. Some
votes he has given which sort too well with
those of Littleheld and Gerry for the slave
hunting infamy of 1850, and with that of Nc
Donald for the Nebraska swindle little later.
His course having been such as to satisfy the
most ultra of his party, will not lack COM
mendation of certain kind, nor, as I think,
the condemnation of a constituency devoted to
the sublime principles of national unity and
universal freedom. Happily in the next Con-
gress, Maine will give no vote to screen such
unworthy members" as Harris of Maryland,
and Long OF Ohio, or to defeat such a mea-
sure as the Constitutional Amendment.
Hon. Sidney Perham, from the Second
Maine District, took his seat in the present
Congress new member though having serv-
ed in 1856 as Speaker of the Maine House of
Representatives, he was not without legisla-
tive experience. He has served in Congress
upon the Committee on Agriculture and ON
that upon Invalid Pensions. Though he
does not often speak, he is able upon occa-
sion, to compete with men Of more snowy
pretensions. His speech of May Sd, 1864,
upon the subject of the Rebellious States,
was an able, thorough, and conclusive vindi-
cation of the Union party from the RESPONSE
bility OF having originated the war, and of
the Union Administration from the asper-
sions, SO frequent and bitter, cast upon it re-
specting the conduct of the war. Born and
reared amid the toughest hills OF sold Ok
ford" an agriculturist and teacher by pro-
fessioD, a thoroughly selfmade man, Mr.. Per-
ham is good sample of the genuine, ire
pressible Yankee, and has brought to the !
deliberations Of Congress the shrewd intelli-
gence and strong good sense of the class.
1t is doubtful if any other member of the
House has, during the present Congress, Civ
en- more consistent and conscientious attention
to his official duties, has sat more hours, or
given more or better votes. No incIemency
OF weather, or urgency of private matters ever
keep him from his place,-no lateness of hours
or dullness of debate ever drive him from it.
The reelection of Mr.. Perham is well de-
served endorsement.
Hon. j. G. Blaine, like Mr.. Perham. never
sat In Congress before last session, though as
member of the Maine Legislature, and as
Speaker of the House during two sessions, he
had, like him, seen something of public life,
de has served in Congress upon the .Com-
mittee on the Militia" and upon that on "Post
Offices and Post Roads," and upon the "Se-
lect Committee on admitting the Heads of
Executive Departments upon the floor of the
House OF Representatives" He is a fine
speaker, and keen and ready debater. The
habits OF ready thought and facile expression
natural to him, and cultivated through wears Of
editorial experience, as well as his clear per-
ceptions and steady selfcommand, promise
him forensic distinctions promise of which
he has already realized somewhat Though
fennsylvanian by birth, he is true and wor-
thy son of his adopted State, and his District
mas complimented itself as well as him, in his
election to a second term.
hon. John 81. Rice has served one term in
Congress previous to the present, acting on
the committees on Revolutionary Claims and
on aIents. In the present Congress he has
served as Chairman of the "Committee ON
Huonc Buildings and Public Landsv az n |
member OF the Committee on Tarritor;os -
and as Chairman of the "Select corrn,;.too -,
tne Licences OF the North Eastern Boundary. j,
Having in former years followed lpmbor;nr
acted as Dept. Sheriff, served as STAFF oeicen
during our Boundary troubles, practised lau
served astState Attorney, &C. de-, he NAV ba
sad to have fairly graduated at the peoples
college, and may safely be set down as a Yam
kee OF no mixed or degenerate sort. The good |
and faithful service he has rendered orr State |
in the present Congress and the two nraced;no |
Is the guaranty of what we may expect of hin,
In the next.
bon. F. A. Pike also began his Congression.
al career with the Thirty Seventh Congress
though he had seen several years. service in
Inc Maine Legislature, dnring one of which
ne was Speaker of the House. In the Thirty
seventh Congress he served upon the Som
mittee on Naval Affairs" and in the present |
ne mas served as Chairman of the Committee
IN the Expenses of the State Department and
ipon the "Committee on Naval Affairs -
Though like Mr.. Rice he does not often sneal
ne is, like him, known and priced in the House
as faithful, dilligent and able member. We
are gao to be assured OF his services in Tie
next House. f
AnlS week mas thus far been one of rejoice
my. VINO "i'uin few days have come the
doubly welcome tidings of great and blood
less success. Surely sherman,s hove have
been promenading to some parpose. whatb-
or or not that sternest OF reformer. ond 49,.
lndeiatigable of pedestrians, "old ossawotto
ME Brown" who recently in spirit set ont
rom tnls city for tour of the States, with