The Portland daily press., 1865-01-04
William Pitt Psssendsn.

1t is to be regretted that any one, in his
zeal to defeat the election of Mr.. Fessenden
to seat in the U. s. Senate, should have felt
called upon 10 intimate that he has been lack
Ing in sympathy for the progressive move
nents Of the age, and particularly that he has
allowed himself to sit still in the senate and
zee giant wrongs perpetrated Without raising
ais voice against them. It has seven been as
serted that he did not lift finger to avert
what his present party friends regard as one
Of the most fagitious acts of bad faith ever
)erpetrated. the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise, when the fact is, though he took his
seat but few days before that act was CON-
summated, he signalled his advent to the SEN
sste by one Of the most earnest and influential
speeches made in opposition to the measure.
But our purpose Is not to give history Of Mr.
Fessenden, but simply to introduce the follow
He was elected member OF the national
convention which nominated Gen. Harrison
or the presidency id lS40; was member Of
he convention of 1848 which nominated Gen.
Taylor, In which he supported the claims Of
ion OF 1852, which nominated Gen. Scott.
de was opposed to Mr.. Webster on the last
occasion, and advocated Gen. SCOTS nominal
lion, but was one of the 81 who opposed and
voted against the platform at that time set up
oy the wing party. In 1858 he was again re-
turned as member of the state legislature!
from Portland, and was chosen by one branch
llhe senate) as U. 8. senator. The democrats
aad majority in the house, and that branch
allied to concur in the election by votes a
concurrent vote being requisite to q choice, no
lection ex-senator was effected at thatsession.
The same house, though opposed to Mr.. Fes-
sender in politics, associated him with the
Hon. Reuel Williams 10 negotiating the pur-
chase of the large body Of wild lands OF
Massachusetts, lying In Maine, which was sue.
lcessfully accomplished. In the Succeeding
year ASA Mr.. Fessenden was again mem
Der Of the legislature, which was democratic
in both branches. The Kansas Nebraska
question operating as q disturbing element
Mr. Eessenden was now chosen senator by
both branches on the first ballot by union Of
the wings and freesoil democrats. Though be
declined to be elected except as whig, this
eventmay be said to have been the prelimina.
~ step toward establishing the republican
party In Maine, the necessity OF which new
organization, after the action Of the main
body of the southern wings on the Nebraska
bill, Mr.. Fessenden was one Of the frst to
proclaim and advocate, He took his seat In
the senate, Feb. %, 1854, and on the niebt Of
March following, at which time the bin was
passed, delivered one of the most electric and
effective speeches made against it. This a.
fort established his reputation at once as one
of the ablest members of the senate. OF his
subsequent speeches in the senate the most
important are on bill to protect U. s. officers
1855; on our relations with England; on
Kansas affairs on the presidents message
1855; on the Iowa senatorial election 1857 !;
aud on the Lecompton constitution t1S58).
Mr.. Fessenden has also taken a prominent
part In the general debates and business of the
senate, being leading member of the finance
committee. He was reelected as q. S. sena-
tor for years in 1859, BY unanimous vote Of
his party In the legislature, without the
formality Of previous nomination, Il being
the first instance Of the kind In the history Of
the state. ~ Nh $3.50