Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15
Obituary.



WILLIAM PITT FEssENDEN.
Senator Fessenden, of Me, died last We'd
nesday morning. He had long suffered from
chronic dyspepsia, had been in fact for many
years, to a greater or less degree, a constant
invalid. The illness which resulted in his
decease began the previous Friday, and is de-
scribed as a stoppage Of the bowels.
We condense from the New York Tribune,
the following notice of his life and public
services
Mr.. Fessenden was born in Boscawcn
Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Oct.
10. loO6. His father was the Hon. Samuel
Fessenden, who with many of his other rela-
tives, did the State good service IN its earlier
history. Always fond Of study, he entered
Bowd1in College at the age of fla graduating
" ith high honors in 1873. Chotsins law ~
his profession, he began his stthies at once
and was admitted TO the bar IN lS27. lie
opened an office at Bridgeton. Ne, but. two
years after moved to Portland, where he az
terward resided until his death Chosen a
member of the State Legislature in 1881. he
at once distinguished himself, both as a leg
lslator and an orator.
Returning to his profession in 1892. he de-
voted himself to ittor seven years, rising TO
the highest rank both as counsellor and
advocate. He was offered a nomination TO
Congress in 1881 but did not accept. In
1910 he received the Wing nomination for
Congress, by reclamation, aud was elected by
a large majority in a district hitherto Demo-
cratic. HIS logic and ele~ar-sightedness at
tracted much attention. The next seven
years he devoted to his constantly increasing
practice, in which he built up a national
roprtarT,n Durin- - = ffuea no asSaaT-
ated with Daniel Webster in a very import
ant case before the Supreme Court at Wash
ington, involving a legal question never
before discussed in that Court, viz How far
the fraudulent acts Of an auctioneeT, in
selling property, should affect the owner of
the property sold, he being no party TO the
fraud. Although he had to contend against
the weight and influence of Judge Story's
decision in the Court below, he was success
ful, and the former decision was reversed
Mr.. Fessenden's argument on this occasion
won the highest praises from the most able
judges for Its logical force and legal concise
ness.
In 1850 he was elected to Congress, but
through an error in the returns his seat was
given to his competitor. He had in advance
expressed to the nominating conventions of
the Wing and Free Soil parties his unwill-
ingness to serve them in Congress, and ac-
cordIngly be refused to contest the seat. In
$40 he was a member of the convention
which nominated Gen. Harrison for the
Presidency, and in lS4S of the one by which
Gen. TAYLOR was nominated, he advocating
the claims of Mr.. Webster. Again, in 1852.
be was a member of the nominating conven
ton, this time supporting Gen. Scott in
opposition to Mr.. Webster. He. however,
was one of the 67 who opposed and voted
~ a. - A.
Wings Tn Kansas-N Nebraska question now
began to assume it's greatest Importance Old
party lines were lost sight of, and new ones
formed, the better to ward off that more seri-
Gus issue which was only realized when civil
war was upon us. Returned again to the
Legislature IN 1854, Mr.. Fessenden was
chosen u. s.. Senator by both branches, on
the first ballot, the Wings and Free Soil
Democrats uniting TO effect this result. Here,
dates the birth of the Republican party in
Maine, although Mr.. Fessenden refused to be
elected except as a Wing, he was one Of the
first to advocate the necessity of the new or
ganization.
He took his seat in the Senate on the 23d
of Feb, 1854, and on the night of March Sd,
made one of the most eloquent and effective
speeches delivered against the Nebraska bill
lie reviewed the whole history of the bill
showed its bearings and necessary results,
claiming that the South had already received
her dues. and the whole cause of discussion
was a desire on the part of the South to rob
the North of the little left her. This effort
made him at once a leading member of the
Senate, and his voice was heard whenever
any important question was in order.
Returned to the Senate for six years in
1859, and that without the formality of q pre-
yious nomination. he was at once made
chairman of the Finance and Library Com
mittees, and appointed a Regent of the Smith
sonian Institute. Throughout the war, MIR.
Fessenden, in his character as Senator, was
a firm friend and ally of the Union cause,
giving it the assistance of his counsel, and
aiding the Secretary of the Treasury in main
tanning the national credit.
Mr.. Chase resigned his Secretaryship on
the Both of June, 1864. An instant panic
eusued, and gold, that subtle index of public
feeling, rose from 80 premium IN June 80 to
I85 premium on July IL. The new Secretary
would be expected to quiet this storm, and
Mr.. Fessenden was chosen by Mr.. Lincoln as
the new Secretary. He hesitated to accept.
Senators and Cabinet officers urged however,