Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-09-10


caEep. H., III October 1906, and was thus ia
MS G3d year at his death. lie graduated a
B.Eioiu College IN le-3, was admitted 90 tie
oar i'll Isl, aud in $50 opened a law otaoe III
Portland. Ia 1881 he was elected TO the Le-isa-
tuIe, and though the youngest member, ro-e at
once To distinction as deba,er and leg ,lator.
From 1882 TO 1889 he devoted himself to his
profession, in which he soon rose TO the front
rank In l-33 he was again ee:tel TO the Legs
azure and though an uncompromisiug
Wing, WAS made. by Democratic House. chsir-
mau Of the House Committee to revise the
S.ltuts Of the State. Ia 1910 he s nominat-
ed for Congress by accamation, was elected,
a d nominated for reelection in si3. but de-
lined, preferriug to practice his profession. Ia
lol5 he Was again chosen to the Legislature, in
which he vas always leading member, and
twice received the votes of the Wings for the
office Of t.. 5 Senator. From 1913 TO $50 lie
remained in private life, with constantly in
c,eisiug practice and reputation as a lawyer.
BE was a delegate to the Wing National Couyeu-
Jiou which nominated Gen. Harrison in lei0,
also member OF the National Convention OF
Isis, which nominated zen. Taylor, and also a
m-mber Of the Con' ention Of lsl2, which n5mi-
mated General Scott In the Convention Of Isl,
he supported Mr. Webster for the presidency
but opposed him AID supported Scott in lsj2.
Ia lN53 and 1854 Mr. Fe->euden again repre-
seutel Portland ia tine Legislature, and in the
latter year was elected to the United State, SELL
ate. by a union Of the Wings ami Freesol Demo
crit-. This event was the preliminary step
toward the organization Of the Republican party
IA Maine, the necessity for which, after the
action of the Southern Wings On tie Nebraska
.l, Mr Fes-eui-n was among the first to ais.-
cate lie took Lis seat in the Senate 10 Fcgru-
AIRY, 1871, ia time to make one Of tie most
electric and effective speeches made -ain7J Tie
Nebraska bill, on Ihe night Of It's plssage. He
At once took rank as among the atiest members
Of the Senate. lecoming leading member ol
/ the Finance Committee, and taking prominent
/ part in the important debates ami business of
| the Senate lie was reelected Uaitel Stale,
senator in 1853 by unanimous vote If BIZ,
party in the Legislature, "a j was made char .
mtu Of the Finance Committee. H. 1861 heaas "a /
member Of the famous Peace Congress. IuJa.y, .
oj4, President Lincoln appointed Mr.. F,.sea-
lea as Secretary Of the Treasury ia the place Of
5. =. Chase resi-ueL Iae condition Of our /.
National finances al tina; period va, critical. and .
the acceptance of the portfolio OF the Treasury .
by Statesman OF Nj Fgssenieu'= ability 4ud .
integrity, wis exceedingly gratifying 90 tle
country ami contributed greatly 10 TIE support
II the Government. The responsibility and ai.-
noyauces resulting from the care The Treasury,
aoNe,er, we're too wearing for M FesseuI-i.,
and in lo6j he re-i gn,d his seat IL the aauet,
to resume his place ia To, S,ua,e, hayiag been
reelected to succeei Nathan A F.rse.l VIM
mad been appointed To the vacancy.
He was leaiins member Of tie committee ID
Foreign Relations, in both the Forti,th and Forty
First Congress, and IN the latter held the very
responsible plst Of Chairman Of the Committee
On Appropriatious-whlch committee, in the
death u Its Chairman and resignation Of Mr..
Grimes, loses It, Two most valuable members.
The later events of Mr. F,s,euIeus public
life, are familiar to mos, OF cur readers hi,
course during the Impeachment, Trial OF Presi-
dent johnson, viii be especially fresh in the
recollection Of all. Too honest a man and too
true patriot TO sustain Andrew johnson for a
moment in his course Of usurpation and betrayal
Of the party which e otei him, he Was Yet dis
posed TO endure HIM and make the best of il f,r
time rather than to run the risk If exciting
him, by opposition, to more fragrant acts OF
wrong, and be was one Of the seven Senators
who saved Mr.. johnson from conviction and re-
moyal. While amid the reused passions Of the
time he came in for share of the obloquy which
followed the decision Of the Impeachment Trial,
We believe that not one Of the seven suffered 80
little Mr. F,s>euden fir m impuiatioa Of uu-
worthy motives in the matter However clear
the MASSES Of the republican party we're that Mr..
johnson deserved conviction, they we're never 7
induced for lay to seriously doubt Mr.. Fes-
.endens integrity and conscientious obedience 20
his view of the law, and his honest convictions
as a judge and legislator And probably
few, who look back now aud consider ,
what would have been the effect OF
rev distribution Of all the Offices and
patronage Of the Government under Ben. Wade.
IT the opening Of the presidential campaign, bur .
Ire willing now TO own that the course Of TIL
even was the salvation Of the Republican party.
uiden illness from an attack Of bowel disease, N
everal days since, ard the country has awaited Il
nth alternate hope and fear the varying des- te
atchcs describing his condition from day to "
ay, until yesterday brought the sad intelligence tn
f his departure from earth. We are privileged ,,
present to our readers the following interest -,
ig and discriminating estimate of his chsrac- ca
.r, furnished US by one who knew him well.
al vho has had ample opportunity for forming
be Judgment Of him which finds expression in
lese truthful and appreeiative words: bu
Mr.. Fessenden possessed mind of singular to
earness Of perception and Of great logical power
ew theories or problems could be presented to hi
in without his Immediately seeing the essential We
1nciple involved in them, and detecting the tel
-ror or weakness IF there were either) con- tel
lined in them. He, therefore, generally under cal
God precisely what pending question was, and me
was able frequently by mere statement Of ola
proposition, disencumberel from its incidents hai
accidents, to make plain its soundness or the viz
verse, better than many men could do by long Of
sument. In the heat and press of debate, his ow
gic was as exact and faultless as in the pre- full
ranged and studied efforts of most men With frs
the compass Of the wide range of subjects to hor
lich he bad given attention land he did no; sop
lnge into others) he was always ready and sen
len reused by what he thought pretentious scr
norance or insincere sophistry in debate his fort
comfture Of his sdyersaries was sometimes des
erciless and unsparing. This characteristics. and
hough useful to the cause of truth, made him tina
quent enemies. And yet he was man who, our
heath his sometimes cole exterior, had heart pat
We to the most tender and gentle emotions Of we
T nature. Generous, sympathetic and charit- Car
lie, he never turned deaf ear to those who dire
re IN distress, or were the victims of injustice up
th these qualities. among those who knew and
n best, be could not fail to be beloved. In " b
~ this tenderness of his nature entered into not