The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-22

history he bore very prominent part. He
strenuously opposed Mr.. Madison's war, and
it was in debate on the Hartford Convention
question that he made the famous declaration
that he was ready to take the Constitution in
one hand and sword in the other, and de-
mand at Washington the constitutional rights
of the people," In the Senate in 1918 he had
a sharp controversy with Gen. King, a Demo-
cratic leader, on the subject of Waterville Col
lege, which was continued afterwards in the
public papers
His public life closed with the separation of
the State from Massachusetts, in 1919, except
that tor two or three years he repre- scented
Portland in the Legislature of Maine. His
nigh toned federalism found no favor in the
new Democratic State, which was launched
into the broad community of States under the
new auspices of those intense Democratic
leaders, Gen. King, John Holmes, VIM P.
Preble, Benjamin Ames and A. X. Paris. He
followed the fortunes of the Federal party
into its successive organizations OF National
Republican and Wing; but on the formation
of the Anti Slavery party he threw the whole
weight of his influence into that, and calmly
endured the "slings and arrows of outrageous
public sentiment, until through much tribula-
ton, he lived to see it triumphant and emil
nently victorious. He was two years-1843
and 1s45-the candidate OF this party for Con-
gress, and the four subsequent years its sandi-
date for Governor of the State; of course I'M
successful; his great merit and ability could
not overcome popular prejudices.
Gen. Fessenden, to grace and set off his high
mental endowmsnts, possessed tall and COM
manding figure, a full, round voice and per-
suasive elocution, such as could not fail to ar
rest attention and impress an audience, and he
had courage which never quailed in any
emergency. He was an early member of the
Maine Historical Society, and in 1916 received
from Bowdoin College the deserved distine-
ton of LII, D. For several years from 1919,
he was Major General of division of the
militia.
Our notice Of this honored and beloved citi-
zen would be incomplete did we not allude to
his admirable and rare domestic qualities As
a husband, father, son and brother he had few
compeers; kind, afectionate, amiable, upright
and honorable, he not only adorned the domes-
tic circle but shed the hallowsd light of a pure
example over the whole course of his long life.
and he was one of the few who, at the close of
life, could enjoy, as Madame de Genlis
said of friend, "the beautiful privilege of
looking back upon the past without remorse."
How he discharged his duties as q father we
need only to say that he gave eight of his nine
sons. public education, six of whom, at their
head our honorel Senator in Congress, are
filing prominent places in the community.
three as physicians, two as lawyers, and one,
formerlya clergyman and member of Congress
Two, both lawyers,-Oliver and. Thomas, have
proceeded him to the tomb; the latter, brilliant
and talented, a former member of Congress
and, at the time of his lamented death in
September last, member elect to the Legisla-
ture. His widow and ore daughter, the wife
of DR.. Lincoln, of Brunswick, also survive, to
do honor to a mush loved husband and father.
Had Gen. Fessenden conferred no other bene-
fit upon his country than the heritage of this
accomplished family, he would have been
deemed public benefactor; but he is twice
blessed, in the memory of his own useful life
and in the living merits of his children,
1t has been our sad Office to record within
sac tceeks the death of THREE aged, honored and
vsnerated members of the Cumberland bar
Everett, Sewall, Fessenden, all octogenarians,
and all fer more than half century largely
associated in the affairs of our Commonwealth.
death loves shining mark" two would not
suffice We few, their contemporaries, who
were companions in the early walks of these
venerable men and still remain have the mel
ancholy satisfaction Of reviving the memory of
those bright days when life was young, and
hope still beskoned US to new exertons and
noble enioyments But now as we stand
around their new made graves, we exclaim
"As narrow grows the earthly chain,
The circle widens in the sky;
These are the treasures that remain,
But those are stars that beam on high"