The Portland daily press., 1866-06-20
The Bangor Nomination.

The State Convention OF the Union he
publican party is to assemble tomorrow, to
nominate candidate for Governor. Either
Gen. J. l.. CHAMBERLAIN or Hon. SAMUEL
ESPRING will receive the nomination, and be
elected to the position. While the State has
claims upon its, citizens for their services in
official capacities, and the people have the
right to canvass the merits of all candidates
for the honors which they are to bestow, no
man has any special claim to the high honor
Of being the chosen chief magistrate Of a
State. Let us examine candidly the merits of
the two candidates for the nomination.
Gen. Chamberlain is known only by his mil
itary record, which is an honorable one, and
one of which he and his State may justly be
proud. He entered the service in 1852 as
Lieutenant Colonel,-a position which was
sought for by many, and which few would re-
fuse. His subsequent military career is too
we'll known to need recapitulating; he won
distinguished honors, and they were not with
held. He left the service full Brigadier and
Brevet Major General of Volunteers. Cen
erals Howard, Ames and Fessenden only,
among the surviving volunteer officers of our
State, received higher honors, and the friends
of Gen. Chamberlain will hardly complain
that any injustice was done him in that
regard. tg
Gen. Chamberlain then has performed dis
tinguished military service, and with Howard,
Ames, the Fessendens, Beals, Smith and 9TH
ers, has received distinguished military hon
ors as a reward.
The other candidate, the Honorable Saml.
E. Spring, of Portland, is an old and well tried
Republican, who has always acted with the
party and labored untiringly for its success.
He enlisted as a private and fought through
the political contest which ended in rescuing
the government from the hands Of conspirat-
ors and traitors, and placing the patriot Lin
coin at the helm. And when the tempest of
first question to be met was not one of men
but of means to place the men in the field, he
was among the veryfirst to come to the res
cue, placing his own abundant means at the
disposal of the State, and by his powerful in
1uence and example as a leading financial
man inducing others to do the same. The
governor, State treasurer and members of the
Legislature of 1861 can testify to his service in
that dark and trying hour of our history. If
Mr.. Spring had gone to the field the day the
first gun was fired upon Sumter, and fought
as calamity as did Gen. Chamberlain to the
day of Lees surrender, he could not have done
50 much service to the State, and through her
TO the nation, as he did by his exertions and
example at home. Were funds wanted to
procure men, to arm, equip and provision
them He was the first to volunteer, not only
his means, but what few business men would
give, his time and attention. Did the State
or the towns hesitate to incur the heavy liabil-
tiles necessary to raise men He was always
ready to advise, and vote-when he had vote
to give-for the payment of the highest boun-
ties, and the most liberal aid to support the
families Of those who enlisted. A heavy tax
payer, he never hesitated on account of the
burden which he was to bear, nor did his in
terest cease when the men had been raised
and sent to the front. The news of battle
ALWAYS found him active in raising the
ings which follow in the train Of war, and
when the paymaster ran short of funds to pay
areturned regiment, Mr.. Spring was the first
man applied to and never failed to respond
To no one man does this State owe her repu-
tation for liberality and public spirit in all pat
riotic and philanthropic movements more
than to Hon. Samuel E. Spring. He has had
extensive business experience, has served ac-
ceptably and wisely in both branches of the
State Legislature, is perfectly familiar with
questions of finance, has ever been a supnort-
er and advocate Of measures tending to de-
velope the resources of the State, increase ;ts
wealth and diffdse happiness and prosner;,v
among its people, and he is widely known and
acquainted through the community. and 10
trasted and respected wherever he is known
Such are the two men from whom our
choice is to be made. The close Of the war
has left for settlement great political and f.
nancial questions, the right settlement of
which requires men of political experience
and financial knowledge, and for which militia
ryrsnown is no guaranty or test OF fitness-
We want men not only of ability and expert
ence, but men Enown to entertain views in
harmony with the party which is to elect
them. Would it be prudent, in view of our
dear bought experience, to take man for
Governor of the State, who is not known ever
to have voted or acted with our party, and