The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-01
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, January l, 1868.
The Meeting of the Legislature.

The Meeting of the Legislature.
Maine and Massachusetts, both celebrate
the commencement of the new year by the
assembling oil. their respective legislatures. In
another column viii be found the proceedings
of the Republican caucuses at Augusta, last
evening, and the names of the nominees of
that party for officers of the House and Sem
ate. The nomination of these gentlemen is
equivalent to an election, as the House stands
Notwithstanding the Democratic victory of
September-106 Republicans to 45 Democrats,
and the Senate 25 Republicans to Demo-
Gratis. The decision of the York County
election case by the Senate will add three
more to one or tn. other of the last two num-
bers. The Senate will first decide whether
there has been a choice for Senators in that
county. If it is found that the election al
ready held is valid one, the Democrats will
number six; otherwise the Senate will elect
the Republican candidates and bring the
Radical strength up to 2S.
Tonight or tomorrow night joint Repub-
lican caucus will be held for the nomination
of the officers of the Executive Departments.
The principal interest of that occasion will
center in the nomination OF a candidate for
Secretary Of State. Hon. Ephraim Flint, who
for four years past has conducted the af-
fairs OF that office with most exemplary fidel-
ity and integrity, refuses the reelection to
which his faithful services eminentIy entitle
him. There is spirited contest between
Hon. John Perry, of Oxford, and Col. Frank
lin NJ. Drew, of Brunswick, who has been for
several years Clerk of the House of Represen-
tatives, for the succession. Who will get the
"great seal' is yet matter of considerable
doubt. The only other department In which
change is even suggested is the Land Agen-
cy. The present incumbent, Hon. Isaac Il
Clark, will not withdraw, as has been errone-
ously stated in the papers, but viii "try titles"
with Hon. P. P. Burleigh, of Linneus, who
proposes to oust him if possible. Messrs.
Frye and Caldwell will be Unanimously re-
nominated for Attorney and Adjutant Gen
eral, respectively, beyond a doubt. State
Treasurer Hichborn will also be renominated
after his accounts have been audited aud
found correct-the custom being to delay ac-
ton on the nomination of Treasurer until
that formalty has been duly attended to- The
members of tine Executive Council are also
to be nominated and elected to complete the
official corps for the year 1868. One of the
seven Councillors, it is said, will be the out
going Secretary Of State-Mr. Flint.
A glance at the list of the names of the
members of the present legislature-for the
affectation of calling it the General Court
is not yet in vogue-will show that Maine has
this year, as ever, a body of lawmakers that
fairly represent the intelligence and virtue of
New England community. 1t is sad that
such things should be exceptional and mat
tiers for special copgratulation, but when we
see Senates bought up almost in the lump,
in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey,
and members of both Houses in Virginia, un-
der the old regime, making a cross do duty
for a signature on official papers, there may
be pardonable pride in the mental and NOR
al culture that New England affords. A cor
rupt and venal legislator or State official is as
astonishing an apparition in Maine as an hon
est custom-house officer would be in Cuba.
Some few there have been and their bad en-
inence has made them as immortal as Eros
tratus, who burned down the temple of Di-
ana for the sake Of becoming UNANIMOUSLY fa-
nous. In some States the other kind of man
is the exception, and if Brown happens to re-
fuse to put himself into the market and sell
himself to the buyers of old junk that throng
loOicIotiua 10hhsos t.
and special niche is expressly set apart tor
him in the temple of fame where with the pre-
nomen of "Honest' he is made the object of
the peculiar veneration Of his contemporaries
and ofposterity. To call John Smith of ours
Honest John Smith would confer no dis
tinction.
1t may SAVIOR little of pharisaical self
complacency to note these things, but the
communities which are the subject of dis
paraging comment have furnished through
their own citizens the evidence which con-
demns them. 1t is, moreover. source OF
qualification and Of pardonable vanity to
know that the matters of supreme impof-
tance which must come before our lie gislators
at this new era in the history of the State
will be decided honestly aud with view
only to the well-being of the entire public.
Among the most important of these matters
will be the encouragement of all measures
and enterprises looking to the development
of the physical resources of the State. The
Industrial revvat -srN,sss --.s. ir,aueuratad of
| the same time with Gov. Chamberlain, and
which is so fraught with bright promises of
future prosperity, should not be allowed to
suffer any decline, till Maine becomes what
she is destined to be, the great anufactur-
ing State of New England. There are many
other matters of great interest which will
engage the attention of the Legislature at
an early day. The Governors address, which
we hope to lay before our readers Friday
morning, will no doubt suggest legislation on
several topics not now before the public.