The Portland daily press., 1868-11-21
Death of Newell A. Foster.


sudden death, in Boston, of NEWELL a. Eos
TER. ESQ. the propretor of the Press, reachea }
this ctv Mr. Foster went to Boston, Wed
nesdav accomnanied by his wife, to attend thel
Woman Suffrage Convention. He was IN hlSE
usnal health when he left home, but died yes-E
terday at 4 Pm. of apoplexy. For several
years Mr.. Foster has been somewhat out OIL
health. Int not to such degree as to excite thel
serious apprehension of his friends. After his
arduous labors as a member of the Legislature|
last winter he found his strength impaired, but
after a few months he seemed almost entirely
to recover.
We have as yeS no details in regard to the
circumstances attending his death. Stephen
8. Foster, brother of the deceased, is expected
here with the remains to-day.
Mr.. Fosters death will be "A crushing do"
TO his wife and family. He leaves wife ana
two children, a son now at college in New York
and daughter who resides at home Nor will
the grief be confined to his own household.
No man was more fortunate than he gaining
and deserving the attachment of warm person
al friends In business and society alike he
gained the friendship and esteem OF all his as
sociates, and we know that these lines will ex-
cite feelings of profound regret in many read /
er who has known and loved him.
And of the feelings Of the employees Of the
Press Office who so long have been the daily
observers of his genial manner, who have al
ways received from him the kindest, most con
siderate and most forbearing treatment and
who have uniformly known him as kindly,
generous hearted gentleman, we cannot speak
yVOrrhilv 10 tn nS oil if ha6 O
parent instead of an employer, and with the
bereayea family and personal friends OF the
deceased we mourn with HEARTFELT grief that
he has left us forever.
The Excluded states.
Virginia, Mississippi and Texas are all the
States that now remain excluded from parti-
cipation in the affairs of the general govern
Inent. They have attained different stages of
progress in reconstruction and the decision of
Congress as to their present status and the
measures to>be taken to restore them is await.
ed with great deal of interest.
Virginia is perhaps more nearly ready to
take final action by voting on the constitution
aud electing members of Congress than either
of the others. A constitution was framed UNI
der the reconstruction laws early this year,
ami the Convention ordained that an election
should take place in June, but the authorities
could not complete the arrangements and no
action on the constitution has been taken
The political parties made nominations for
State officers and members of Congress who
were to be voted for at the same time that the
constitution was acted upon. Since the cleo.
ton did not take place at the time appointed,
Mr.. Huauicutt and other Republicans of his
party hold that new nominations must be
made. The friends Of the candidates are of
course opposed to this and the consequence is
serious feud between the two wings of the
party that cannot fail to la re a bad effect
when the time for action comes. The military
commandant, Gen. Stoneman, who has sue
ceeded Scbo6eld, adheres to the policy of his
predecessor and it is gratifying to know that
the future steps toward reconstruction which
must be taken under his supervision will be
taken fairly SO far as he is able 10 control or
influence the result.
In Mississippi-a State where there is a
larPe preponderence of negro voters-the con-
stttution was submitted to the people and was
rejected by means of the fraud, violence and
lawlessness of the ex-Rebels. Congress at its
last session accepted the result as final, and
took no steps whatever looking to a second
trial. Perhaps this will not be necessary, for
the canvassers appointed by the Convention
have recently reported that, throwing out
fraudulent voters, the constitution is adopted
1t Congress respects the decision Mississippi
has merely to complete the work of recon
struction by organizing government under
the constitution and electing members of Con-
gress. Ii not, the whole matter will be begun
de nopo.
Iexss is far in the background, constitu
ton has been framed, but no provision made
for Its submission to the people, Meanwhile
law,essness and violence reign everywhere ex.
cept the places that are under the immediate
control of United States troops.
Happy the day when all the 'erring sisters
come back into the happy family Of the I'm
ion. Their redemption has been bought with
great price, but if the reconciliation can be
made perfect and sincere the cost is not dis
proportionate to the value of the result This
Is the universal feeling, and it depends solely
upon the spirit in which the people of the
three excluded States receive Grants election
whether that fealiur sl1all no orati6ad