The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-08
AUGUSTA.
HamIin Nominated for Senntor.
Great Excitement.

Especial dispatch by international Line'I
AUGUSTA, Jan. 1.-THE Republican caucus
met this evening at 30 o'clock for the purpose
of nominating a candidate for onl1eo states
Senator, and every member OF ootn branches
was in attendance. Charles II. Wnlouen, OF
Calais, was called to the chair.
On motion of Senator Lang, of Kennebec, a
committee of seven was appointed by the chair
to receive, sort and count the votes for Sena-
torial candidate. The committee was compos-
ed of Messrs. Lang of Kennebec, Hersey of
Penobscot, West of Hancock, and Lindsay of
Somerset, on the part of the Senate, and Ran
dali of Stockton Drummond of Portland, and
Clark of Lewiston, ON the part of the House.
The roll of each branch was then called by
Mr.. Drupnmond, of the committee, and each
member came forward as his name was an
nounced and deposited his ballot in the box at
the clerks desk in front of the committee
When all had voted and the committee had re-
tired, feeling of the most intense anxiety and
suspense was perceptible throughout the hall.
The chairman respectfully requested that when
the result was announced the friends of the
successful candidate should refrain from any
demonstrations of applause. After an absence
Of fifteen minutes the committee reported as
follows; Whole number of votes 49, and one
blank; Hannibal Hamlin Is; Lot M. Morrill,
"a. The report was accepted and Mr.. Drum
mond stated that it was provided by the Stat
utes of Maine that in case of blank votes which
were thrown in election, the blank shall not
be counted. He saw no reason why the rule
should not be applied in this case, and felt JUS
tilted in moving to make the nomination Of
Hannibal Hamlin unanimous:
Mr. Reed, of Portland thought it highly de-
sirable that the matter should be settled on a
basis satisfactory to all. The Statute of Maine
had no bearing on the question. 1t seemed to
him no more than fair that there should be
another ballot, and he hoped that the motion
of his colleague would not be passed.
Mr.. Lang, of the committee, stated that he
saw the blank was deposited, and marked the
name of the member who threw it, and that on
being Intercepted the member had declared
to him that he intended to vote for Lot M.
Morrill,.
1t was then demanded that the member
should come forward and make the statement
before the caubus, but he failed to do so. At
ter prolonged discussion, in which Messrs
Hersey of Penobscot, Goodwin of York, Stone
of Kennebec, Farwell of Augusta, and several
others participated, the caucus adjourned with
out day.
Although no nomination was formally an
nounced, the friends of Mr.. Hamlin claim that
he is fairly and justly the choice of the caucus.
1t is stated on good authority that the member
who threw the blank was seen to take the piece
of paper from his pocket of different size and
form from the regular ballot, and it is accord
iagly claimed that he must have thrown it by
design. The friends of Mr.. Morrill,, however,
came away loudly declaiming their determina-
ton to have another caucus, but it is now I'M
derstood that the nomination of Mr.. Hamlin
will be conceded.
Thus terminates the most exacting political
contest ever fought in Maine. No such scenes
have ever before been witnessed here at the
capital by the veteran hierarchy of east or west.
DIRrao.
ITO the Associated Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. TAT the caucus of the Re-
held this evening" Hon. Charles R. Whidden OF
Calais, was chosen to preside. The whole num-
Der of votes was 149-one blank. Hon. Hannibal
Hamin received 70, and Hon. Lot M. Morrill,
a. The statutes of Maine hold that q blank
vote is no vote. The widest excitement pre-
walls.
Later-After strong debate of two hours
the caucus adjourned without date leaving
Mr.. Hamlin the regular nominee.