The Portland daily press., 1869-08-09
GOLD CLOSED in New York last night at
13632


ViSit VI Ccudhoi = ccrCu1Su ~ AFO03t0uk Inc
occasion of severe and uniustifiable attack
upon him. Mr.. Fessenden visited Tor the first
time part of the State he has long and ably
represented, at the earnest solicitation of his
personal friends, aud in fulfilment of promises
Of somewhat long standing. So ar,as his yis-
t was the occasion. of any public demonstra-
tons towards him of a political and official
character, they were the spontaneous express
sion OF the respect aud confidence Of his polit-
ical friends, nearly every man of whom in the
parts of the State in which be has travelled,
were the earnest supporters of impeachment.
While they were disappointed in the vote be
felt compelled to give upon that question, they
have respected his Judicial independence, aud
cannot, because they differed from him upon
political issue now entirely obsolete, forget his
rare integrity, his distins ability and
the commanding influence he, has won in, The
esteem Of the nation and the world by his inn
portant public services. -ss r. 4.
The unreasonable and spiteiul spirit which
dictated the Jsffersonians attack may be sec d,
when in one breath il accuses him of wrap,
ping himself up in icy, forbidding aid unap-
proachable dignity while he remains quietly,
at home, and IN the next, it charges him with
"gong about the State to nominate secretly
the members of the next Legislature" when,
at the urgency of his constituents, he goes
abroad 20 see them. I .s,s
But if such political Islmaelites as the Ban
gor Jeffersonian are not willing that our dis
tihguished fellow citizen shall have any other
range than the limits OF his house and garden
and choose to consider any over-stepping of
these bounds as a.premature opening of the
Senatorial campaign, his friends may not de-
cline the challenge so TO regard it. a
1t is not true that Mr.. Fessenden's friends
are only few Strait Wings, and johnson and
Johnsonized Office holders and ex-ofiee holders.
Let the Jeffersonian be informed that there
are Republicans who never he'd office, who
opposed and denounced johnson aud his lineal
predecessors years before the .Jeaersonian left
off upho'ding BY vote and pen their dirty. pro-
slavery work, who viii support Mr. Fessenden
because they know that his scorn of johnson
and Of his treachery and duplicity was deep an
outspoken like their own. They know that he
withheldhis vote for impeachment, NOT because
he respected an obnoxious, and mischievous
President, but because he believed the interests
of the.country and security of the republican
form OF government would suffer less, if his
punishment and degradation should be infiict-
ed by the fat Of the popular will. than ifeffcet-
ed by using doubtful and unusual expedient
permitted by the constitution. ~ "a
Some Republicans will favor Mr.. Fessenden's
re-slec,ion who believed, however guilty John
son may have been politically, there were no
good legal grounds for his judicial impeach-
ment. Many others will support him, who at
the time ardently desired impeachment, and
were sorely disappointed at Mr.. Fessenden's
vote, but who thoroughly respect the high and
honorable motives that controlled him, and
have since come to the conclusion that by
foregoing impeachment we ensured the sue
cess of Con. Grant, and the satisfactory settle
ment of reconstruction. When these man say,
that if johnson had been removed the Repub-
licsans would have lost control of the country
though everybody is at liberty 10 prophesy
what might have been, tho event is with them
Impeachment failed, and Grant was elected
Still further, many other men, wlo favored
impeachment at the time, and have not altered
their minds about it since, who believe the case
against johnson was strong in law, strong in
political expediency, and OF wholesome tenden-
cy as precedent, will promote Mr.. Fessen-
deus election, because they recognize the fact
that their Senator was in a judicial position,
acting under the restrait Of 40 instructions and
pledges, and bound to vote according TO his
conclusors and not theirs, and because they
are not disposed TO overlook the sterling patri-
otism, commanding influence, and weighty
services of public officer, because upon, one
single question, no longer capable OF becoming
an issue, he voted, not as they would yes, just
as they would in one respect, that is, Just as be
believed.
And for what purposes is the State of Maine
about to clothe with legislative functions in
her behalf Que Of the two members Of the SEN
ate, in which her will and purposes arc to be
represented? Isl idly to express speculative
opinions about the rightfulness of the En-
barge, the loyalty of the Hartford Conven-
tion, the validity of the Missouri compromise,
the impeachabilty of Andrew johnson, or any
other question Of the past? Is the Tennessee
hob-goblin up again, or likely to come up to
frighten members from their seats, and us
from recognition Of our friends, aud meritori-
GUS public servants? Or do we send Senators
to Congress to assist in shaping the legislation
and controlling the public policy Of the fu-
ture? W F AsAsf i3s'y 1ii4
Slavery isended. Reconstruction win have
been consummatcd by the adoption Of the 18th
Amendment and the restoration of all the
States But finance is still a chaos, and waits
the shaping hand Of legislation to give it q
form fit to be basis for the credit and pros
perity of.the country to stand upon. Who Ia
more fitted to aid effectively in this last work
of relieving the destruction and disturbance
occasioned by the war, than Mr.. Fessenden?
He has always voted forfaithfully maintaining
the public obligations, supporting the national
credit, diminishing excessive taxation, and
the most practicable methods of reaching spe-
Gle payments just values, and settled and
wholesome trade; while his counsels upon all
these questions, upon which he has been held
by his associates as an authority, have been
equal to dozen votes ffs a.
Maine is destined to see her-political in
fuence in the next House of Representatives
decline,by having fallen behind in that general
prosperity: which attracts population. How
shall she prevent legislation, that shall more
rapidly hasten her decadence at the expense OF
more favored States, unless her interests CON-
tinue to be represented by men, who speak
with the weight ofintegrity that belongs to an
.irreproachable public life, and the prestige Of
national statesmanship. ~ si
Not that the past may not be appealed
TO- We think Maine may find some reasons
for being proud of the long record Of her dis
tinguished son. 1t would have been some sat
isfaction to have dismissed johnson few
weeks before the expiration of his Presidency
under the oblOquy Of cashiered and disorsc-
ed chief magistrate. But il was mnch more 70
have organized all the loyal, patriotic and mn.
righqspirit of the American people against
him, and to leave him in offiee stripped Of all.
popularity, and of all power to do mischief, to
wear out to the end the honors soiled by his
treachery and public indecency, an object Of
national execration and Of the worlds contempt
The agency of Mr.. Fessenden in acbeiyipe
this has not been yet duly recognized. haf
Until the Report OF the Committee ON Re-
construction in the 39th Congress of wh;cb
Mr.. Fessenden as Chairman was the autbor
there had been no tenable ground disclosed a
opposition to Mr.. Johnson's insidious policy
of restoring the rebel States with the rebel Ell.
ement uppermost and slavery possible. Hs
began thunder the name and false claim of the
sanction of Lincoln. He was aided in it BY
the cunning of Seward The democratic party
applauded it, Venal men in and out Of Office
thought it was well enough to try it. Even
Congress could not be brought to square vote
against it. Johnsoif was fast actually est sb.