The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-10
Death of Senator Eessenden.


The announcement Of the death Of Mr..
Fessenden. though Il had been expected
daily. brings with il n painful shock. A
valuable life has ended. A commanding
intellect and pure character are remov-
oil from the public service.
Mr.. Fcsscnden was born ut Boscawcn,
n. H., Oct. 10th. 1906, and was therefore
sixty-threc years Of age. He graduated
Mt Bowdoin College In 1928 Mt the age oil
seventeen, and ut once commenced the
study of the law. At an early age he dis
played those powers Of mind and those
traits Of character. which have steadily
carried him. with the ever-increasing adj
miration and confidence OF the people,
step by step, from the Legislature OF the
State to the Senate OF the United States,
his fame spreading more and more wide
", till II has embraced the whole coun-
try.
He commenced the practice of law in
1927. In 1882 he made his first appear
ance in public as the Representative of
the city of Portland in the Legislature and
at once. though among the youngest of the
members, attracted marked attention.
Declining recollection, he devoted HIM
self to the practice Of his profession, in
which he ut once took high rank. He
afterwards served rs Representative Of
Portland in 1884, 1915 and 1854.
In 1871 he was nominated rs the Wing
candidate for Congress in the Cumberland
District and WAS elected by n strong vote.
He declined REORGANIZATION rendered him
in 1916. and resumed the practiceof law.
In 1878, he received. while n member of
the House. the votes of the Wings of that
body for the position of Senator of the
United States. In 1850, he was again
elected to Congress, but the seat was Civ
en- to his competitor, from some error in the
returns. In 1852 he was member of the
Convention which nominated Gen. Scott
for the Presidency. In 1883 the Kansas
Nebraska question breaking up party
line, Mr.. Fessenden, though Wing,
was elected Senator by Legislature NOM
inally Democratic.
This was the first step in establishing
the Republican Party of Maine, and the
commencement of that terrible war with
slavery in which Mr.. Fessenden has borne
so important and so brilliant part. "A
very few days after taking his seat as SEN
ator, he made speech against the pass
age of the Kansas Nebraska Bill, which
by Its f,'rvo aud ability gave him Mt once
high rank in the Senate.
Excepting brief term of service rs
Secretary Of the Treasury, he has continu-
cd to be a Senator by repeated reflections
TO the present time.
Mr.. FeSscnden, in advance of his party,
saw the aggressive intentions Of the Slave
Party of the South, and made up his mind
that they must be met and resisted. His
convictions. once firmly adopted, he risk
ell party denunciations and strong person.
al friendships to carry them out. What n
tower Of strength he has been in the ter
rible struggle, how important part he
has borne in shaping the varying and I'M
portant legislation which the crisis has
called for. how much he has done to build
up and maintain the financial credit of the
nation. the history Of these momentous
years has recorded.
But he gave not only his intellect and
his heart to his country's cause in her
great strugglc.-hc gave his sons-onc to
die upon the field of battle, one to be n
cripple for the remainder of his life, and
all to serve with honor.
Mr.. Fessenden's mind was cmincntly n
logical and judicial one. He would
have made an admirable Chief Justice.
1t was n delight to listen to an argument
from him upon any important subject, in
which he was himself deeply Interested.
Step by step. with the utmost clearness,
the points Of the case came out,-enliven-
ed at intervals by some quiet stroke OF
humor or flash of sarcasm, keen, Incl
sivc,-iixing themselves in the mind of the
nearer, and leaving u vivid impression OF
the commanding ability of the speaker,
and firm conviction Of his sincerity
and honesty.
To his honor be il said, Mr.. Fessendeu
was never ascrvant Of party. "Self-poised
and independent" he weighed all ques'
tons that came before him carefully and
deliberately. and then stood by the conclu'
sion his mind had reached, and carried II
out. regardless Of the effect il might have
upon himself. He mingled in politics
and passed years in political life, unfair
nished by the stains that are but too ap,
to mark those who tread those dangerous
paths.
A combination Of ability and honesty
ina public man is not so common. but that
one like Mr.. Fessenden, who had both In
such large measure. viii be sadly missed.
If the State honored him by making him
Its Senator. he honored the State by the
manner in which he filed that high office.