The Portland daily press., 1867-09-18
The Next rsesidsat Of ,hs iIs,,ea states.


man who through his antecedents can AWAKEN
the fear that he NAV BIO disposed to conduct
and direct the government in the spirit of the
nrasent administration = in word, to pur-
ana that policy against which the Congress of
the United States has SO distinctly declared
The obstinacy which President johnson has
displayed during his struggle this year with
the representatives of the people, has CONSOLE
dated the Radical party North and South, and
their numbers have been increased by a strong
Reinforcement through the bestowal of the
suffrage upon the colored people. There is no
longer any doubt that the Democrats and the
incorrigible Secessionists have lost all chance
OF raising to the presidency next year man
after their own hearts; but it is to be expected
from the well-known persistency of these enc
mics OF truly liberal craftsmanship, the present
inconsiderable minority but prospective
BLACK Mans Party" that they will not sur
render the victory which may be clearly fore
seen, without a violent struggle. Under such
circumstances it is of interest even for Europe
an politicians to direct their eyes to the man
who has every prospect of becoming Johnson's
successor, and of whom the great Republican
party, the true defenders of the constitution,
dare to believe, that he better than any other
is fitted with noble moderation and steady
hand to carry through the work of rec0nstrue
ton wisely begun by Lincoln, in the spirit of
that immortal patriot. Il Be- 4aH Isj ijie
The Republican party has only two candi-
dates who have any prospect Of receiving the
nomination, next spring or summer, of the
freedom-loving citizens of the Union, for the
highest honor which the people of the United
States have to bestow. OF these one holds a
military and the other a civil position. If one
could rely upon the present humor of the
most influential circles, then the gallant Gen.
ULYSSES S. GRANT has the best prospect of
becoming the next president of the American
Union. The gratitude of his fellow citizens
for the extraordinary services which he has
rendered and is still rendering to his country,
has made him one of the most popular men
now living in the Union. But should Grant
prefer to retain his present post and decline the
candidacy, then it may be predicted with abso-
lutte certainty, that WILLIAM PITT FEssEN-
DEN, now Senator in Congress from the State
OF Maine, will be the next presidential candi-
date Of the Republican party. -.
Attached since the beginning of his political
career to the Republican party, Fessenden has
under all circumstances adhered to it with
unwavering fidelity. During all the storms
which, in the course of the great rebellion,
swept over the United States, he stood in the
front rank, discharging with tireless ardor and
self-sacrificing resignation his duty towards'the
Union, aud in the most threatening circum-
stances never doubling the final victory of
the good cause. When Chase, during the
civil war, resigned the management of the
Treasury, at a time when the greatest respon-
sibility was attached to the administration of
that post and all depended upon the sole cordi-
tion that the confidence of the nation in the
financial ability of the Government should not
be. disturbed, .Fessenden was the only man to
whom Lincoln dared entrust this office. and
public opinion pointed with perfect unanimity
to the chairman of the financial committee of
the Senate as the man who was able to meet
the immense difficulties which at such time
rendered the management of the finances an al
most superhuman lsk. Then Fessenden show
his patriotism in the noblest way Though
suffering from bodily pain, and never of a
strong constitution, still he yielded to the gem
. ",
dertook the gigantic task. How honorably
and conscientiously, with what perseverance
and prudence he bore himself the leaves of
American history will in future bear witness.
During year of great endorsements for the
Union, Fessenden remained faithful and stead
fast in his high and responsible position. Then
regard for his health forced him from
his post and restored him to the Senate.
to which body, meanwhile, the boundless con-
hdenee OF his fellow citizens in his own State
mad elected HIM for another six years J u
Fessenden does not impress one as an orator
through the charms of his eoquence, but his
speeches are nevertheless, pleasing for their
clearness logic, and sharpness Of expression and
fu'iness OF thought. The practical is his element,
REPRESENTATIVE. His judgments are formed by
the aid OF store of experience, and while he
never shut out a nsw view which seems to
him wise, good and practical, yet he never al
lows himself through the influence of another
to abandon purpose which after mature con-
sideration he has reco snized as right. Like
Lincoln he possesses great calmness and self
control, even in the most serious situations an
answering integrity, that tact with which a
great genius leads his party without pushing
himself forward as their exclusive spokesman
and above all that clear vision with which
prudent, sensible public man follows the popu-
lar thought and when the conditions are favor
able carries public opinion with him. Even on
account of these rare qualities, which so pow
erfrlly remind us of 'honest old Abe" Fessen-
den is the most suitable man, should Grant de-
cline the candidacy, TO succeed Lincoln, and to
complete the work which the honored martyr
of freed ON would have accomplished.
Like President Lincoln Fessenden was law
yer before he became q statesman Born in
Boscawen, in New Hampshire, on the 10th
of October, 1906, he was graduated at
Bowdoin College in 1928 began in 1897 the
practice of the law in Portland, Maine. was
there elected in 1882 and 1910 a member of the
Legislature, and later at different times MEM
Der of Con gress and SENATOR 1T was in july.
1864, that he was called to conduct the depart
ment OF the treasury in the place of Judge
Chase, in which Office he remained until March.
1855. Since that time he has been chairman of
the reconstruction committee, upon
which was imposed the blessed AMI
sublime task of composing the strife
between the Northern and Southern
portions of the Union and of directing the
movement for the emancipation of the slaves
into the paths of freedom. @ "'
While Lincoln had in his personal appear-
aoce something trifle awkward, angular,
something OF the back woodsman, Fessenden is
on the contrary in his whole bearing gentle
man, who's social tact may be called faultless
A settled habit of caution appears in his beha-
vior, but this reserve in his demeanor is never
felt as a blemish. His soul is full of elastic
energy, and were his disposition unveiled, thew
know who have been found worthy to come
near to him. worthy of his friendship, that he
has heart noble, feeling, warm, and that pure
worth and goodness of which only a nature
susceptible to all that is noble or beautiful il
capable.
Such is William Pitt Fessenden, the man
who, it the Republican party take their candi-
date from civil life, judging from the regard
which he everywhere enjoys, has the surest
prospect of the presidency. The American ma
ton honors itself when it hOnors hun. Next to
Grant it can elect none worthier to succeed to
the sacred national trust left by Abraham Lin
coin. -
MUNICIPAL WAR DEBTs.-The Augusta cor
respondent of the Bangor Wing sends the fol-
lowing information respecting the movement
Tor the assumption of municipal war debts by
the State: W ft.
The committee on the assumption of munic-
Ipal war debLS held session here last week
W neither or not the State shall change the