The Portland daily press., 1865-01-05
Glimpses of the Capitol.
0iAnpSoS Va sAo S"PAeoA'
AUGUSTA, Jan. 4th, 1855.

would be apparent that some unusual event Is
to take place. The streets are lively, and the
the eager and anxious looks of many Of the
pedestrians, tell you plainly enough that they
have not yet found boarding places. "Do you
know where l can board" is plainly written
on their faces, and you pass them with regret
that you cannot satisfy their doubts. The
terms OF the hotels are so high, that the major
ity of the Legislature seek more humble and
quiet quarters, which will not involve all their
means. That there is a scarcity of places,
there is no doubt. The high prices of the ne
cessaries of life make this absolute, and the en-
larging and refitting splendid hotels does not
o5viate the difficulty. That element of the
''Seat of Government" agitation continues.
The telegraph last evening, told you who
the presiding officers of the two branches will
be. To-day they will be elected. ME- Stew
art, Is an able legislator and talented lawyer.
Mr.. Dillingham; is a clergyman of celebrity of
the Universalist faith, and member Of form
er Legislatures. The selections are judicious;
and their ability, l trust, will be shown in ex
pediting the business, so as to exhibit, what
has hitherto been considered phantasy ofthe
brain, $50 long has 1t been promised without
performance, sshort sessions 1t has been
yearly prayed for, since the memory of man.
May the present generation live to see it.
The Senator question is fruitful and
prominent theme. Its Importance gives 1t
intensity. nay Judgment is that the cause of
Mr.. FEssENDEN has been steadily gaining
ground for several weeks. The sober second
thought is having its perfect work. The ar
guments why 1t should be SO. are irresistible.
They do not touch the hem of Mr.. HAMLIN's
garments. He is pure, patriotic, invaluable
statesman, whose record is studded with stars.
So is Mr.. Fessenden. The other arguments
preponderate decidedly in Mr.. F.'s favor.
will not rehearse them. They have been ably
presented. The result will be, as think, the
election of Mr.. Fessenden; and the State will
rejoice, irrespective of partialities, at result
Of which it may well be proud.
In these initiatory days of the Legislature
of 1866, the subjects for letter are not nu-
merous. 1t is not till the second week at
ACoo y eAO os7DoA0AA9 eoe Wv Il Cd Va
legislation begin to crop out. !, rsrra Fr
Turn we then to the Executive Council
while waiting for the organization Of the two
branches. What are they abouts Some
times at the close of the year, this question
would not be of much public import. But
what is there of Importance now3 II has
been the custom for the Massachusetts Exc
cutive, on the waneof each year, to pardon
two criminals. In December last, on the
anniversary Of the advent of the Great Master,
they repeated the gracious clemeney. One o.
the uplifted had committed murder. He was
life prisoner. Immured in his sepulchre and
dead to the world, his return to life and man.
hood, was like resurrection from the grave.
They had good reason for the mitigation of
this fearful sentence. q q p + -
The Council Of Maine, signaled the birth
of the new year with similar acts of clemency.
Two conVicts were pardoned One of them
was the Oldest resident in the prison, save
Thorn, and was none other than EDMUND HIG-
GINS of Denmark. A day since, and he was
under the ban of a sentence for life! Since
the middle of 1850, he has been dragging his
weary body from workshop to cell and back
For nearly is years he has been in prison. 1t
was ahsecond sentence, tool To how many
councils he has prayed for pardoni With the
natural aptitude of an able lawyer, and con-
siderable experience, his case has always been
prepared with much skill. Failing once, he
returned again and again, with the most in
domitable endurance, Nothing discouraged
him. How his eyes would glow, AFTER his ps.
ual preparation, to know that he could be
heard before a new board. How he will ex-
pand when he gets the news of his pardon
Judge Walton, (who was the prosecuting Of
ficer when he was convicted) went in and ex-
pressed his belief that Higgins had suffered
sufficiently for the crime. His opinion was
that the crime ofrape should be punished for
a term OF years, Gas in New York; and Eot be
made capital-thus not inducing the culprit
to conceal his crime by adding that of murder
to the catalogue, because the punishment
would be no more, as in the case of Doyle.
The walks that haveknown Higgins for the last
fifteen years, trust will know him no. more
foreverl and he says they shall not. He Ought
to know. ss aaa st29 ~ss
The other happy man, is STEPHEN PHIN-
NEY, of Cumberland County. He is a man
sixty years old, and has been in prison more
than two years, for assaulting an officer (some
ten years ago) while in the execution of his
duty. The length of time since the offence
was eommitted-the Misrepresentation as TO
the time of bis sentence, tit was supposed IN
til recently that ii was two years and not
three for which he was sent -oyer,) and his age,
all tended to open the prison doors to Phin-
ney, with full pardon. Thus has this unfor-
tunate man-noW fnthe sere and yellow leaf
escaped from those tolls which had entwined
themselves about him-and bis numerous and
respectable relatives and friends will rejoice
with him that he has Stree and full pardon"
PELHAM.
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