Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-08-12

we did, but that he voted in accordance
with his honest convictions. no sane.
sober. or honest man doubts. Then the
question. practically" comes to this.
shall public men be allowed, when
under oath. and when no possible
inducement is offered 10 swerve from
the plain path of duty, TO act according
10 their honest convictions. II will be
sad day for the country when the dom
inant party demands the heads Of its
ablest members because they dare actup
to their convictions Of duty. The ques-
ton j. not whether Mr.. Fessenden's
vote was. per Sc. right or wrong, but
whether our public men are to bc mere
automston-. and must vote thus and AZ,
or bow and retire ~ the bidding of an
irresponsible and cspriciou- public opin-
ion. for the time being. Mind. II i not
the '.sobcr second thought. but the
unreasoning. unthinkin-. oftervc-cing.
elamorous tumuli of the hour. that pub
lie men. according to the pattern 81 the
Jeflersonian. must succomh-
We had occasion. not many months
since. fo defend Governor Chamberlain
from the ou>laught- Of one sided mcn.
who had charged him with not follow
ing public opinion in some of his act.
The fact is. that the Governor was act
ing under his oath of office. and he
dared NOT a. no honest man darcs. 10
put hi conscience aud hi convictions
in the market 10 Ice struck oil 10 any
mountebank capable of stirring up 4
| popular tumult.
/ Mr. Fc--endcn may have been wrong
we certainly thought - then. in voting
I a. hc did. but to-dat. wiser men than
! Bro. Bartlett or our-,li. think that the
vote If Mr. Fcsseudcn and The IL
Others who voted With him. saved tia
\ part, in the last Presidential election
/ from defeat lIut thi- ha> nothing 60 do
with the question under discussion.
I We only aim 10 defend the right> 81 our
public men. when their conscience and
convictions are concerned to act and
vote a. these maH dictate.
We remember MIR Fc--rnd-n was an
able caruc-t and untiring adTocaic ~
wha, now are the principles 81 thr r.
publican party. when th" Jciler-onian
editor and our>clf were acting with the
Democratic party. the party that in"n
nearly antagonizcd with cur prinrip pie
F., of TODAY than any other. We rccuIlcci
/ that Mr.. Fe-senden Wa heart and soul
with IL through the h9n-a- trouhlc-. the
I iumuliuou- campaigu of l>,5. that hc
I has been named Tor the Presidency IN
/ influential quarter. that President Lin
/ colin Regarded him a. bring among tn"
ahlcst men of the country. and 20 regard
Z ing him. h. made him Iii Secretary ~
I the Treasury after the resignation 81
/ Mr.. Chase in June l~5i. that hc admin
[ i,tercd the affair vi tina; department
/ with the highest -kill and success. a.
much 80 that the monicd and loyal men
I 81 the country. A. well a. the President
asked him Ia remain at it. head; that
/ h. wrote and reported. and al-o defend
(. ed with ability, Ac majority Eeupri. ~
mcnded that Report In the highc-,
terms; that upon it, principles the
western elections were fought aud won
j in Oct. ~ il were settling the I'rc-idcu-
/ tial clectionof I>GN: that Mr.. Fe.scn,lru
tad a, antagonists ia HI contest, la
carry HI Report. both of line .Iohn-on,.
/ the President and senator Reverb, I
I that he has always been true a. NJ con-
viciions. I" his country. and the state.
and with these rccollertion> We cannot
I refrain from thinking that hr deserves
+ the thanks and the confidence OF the.
/ Parry and the country Certainly III any
other State and in any other party. hc
/ would lie honorcd and respected bl all.
A. 10 the Senatorial question wc do
not care to discuss that just NOW There
will be- time enough by and BY But
we regret that one public man. one Ger
| iainly who has never in a thirty YEAR
public service been charged with dema-
goguism or with being trimmer. should
now he told. "a il were In hi- face. that
he hangs on the parry for what be- can
make out Of H..