The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-05
PRESS
Tuesday Morning, January S, 1868.
Ma anibal Hamiin for Senator.


Hannibal Hamiiu for Senator.
EXPRESSIONS OF THE POPULAR WISH.
Our fathers were not so democratic as their
acknowledgements as the latter are sup
posed to be- If constitution were TO be
framed by the Americans of 1862 without any
prepossessions in favor of existing institutions,
provision would be made for the election of
both branches of the national legislature by
popular vote. The choice of Senators by
State Legislatures is a mild "Reminiscences of
aristocratic institutions. But strong is the
modern tendency to select public officers by
the direct vote of the people that the electoral
system provided by the constitution as means
of choosing the President and Vice President
has become mere npllity, and while the con-
situtional forms are scrupulously observed
their spirit is ignored and recourse is had to a
direct expression of the popular will. There
is not one man in hundred who can tell,
after he has dropped his ballot, the names of
half the electors that are printed upon it.
Everybody votes for Grant or for Seymour.
designating by his vote persons already pledg-
ed to one the other candidate. Another in
stance of this modern tendency is the growing
disposition to make the Judiciary elective.
The people are each year more and more
disinclned to delegate the power of ap-
pointment to any man or body of
Of men. Though there is as yet no well de-
hned movement for taking from State Legis-
latures the Office of electing Senators, the popu-
lar will justly and necessarily has recognized
influence on the action of those bodies. The
man that would receive a majority of votes in
case the election were by the people, is sue
eessful in all cases where wire-pulling and
corrupt political maneuvering are not allowed
to carry the day.
If the names of Hannibal Hamlin and Lot
NJ. Morrill, were submitted to the people, can
any one doubt that the former would be tri-
umphantly sent back to his seat in the Sen.
ate? We make a few extracts frsm the Jour.
nails of the State which may be regarded as
accurately rejecting the wishes of the people
in their respective localities.
The Rockland Gazette, in the course of q
long and able article, referring to perhaps the
strongest argument of Mr.. Morrilrs friends
namely, that Hamlin's election would be a re.
buke to.Nir. Merrill for having voted for i'm.
parchment, well says: '.
But if anything is wanting 10 show the
transparent insincerity and tremendous in
justice Of this argument as used against Mr.
Hamlin's election, is 10 be found in the fact
that the friends Of Senator Fessenden. al,nos
to man, are advocating Mr.. Morrilrs election
Mr.. Morrill, is to be complimented for his i'm.
peachment vote, and thereby Mr., Fesseuder
IL to be rebuked, is be? And Mr.. Fessepden's
warmest friends aud supporters are striving t.
do this very thing by securing Mr.. Morrill's
election! They are pressing an election which
IT it has any special significance at all, is Q
scathing rebuke 10 their favOrite man. 1t is
scarcely possible that clear.sighted and honest
members OF the Legislature can be influenced
b. such reasoning.
And now If there be needed anything more
10 brand this demand to endorse impeach.
ment, By electing Mr.. Morrill,, as hollow.
hearted and insincere, it is to be found in the
fact that If there is az unsound and doubtful
Republican with johnson proclvities in this
State land there is more than one.) he is an
advocate of Mr.. Morrill,. More than this. it Is
fact, that cannot be disputed, that prominent
and most radical Democrats in the State are
openly advocating his election. We challenge
contradiction TO these statements. And We
challenge the production of a man, now warm
ly in favor of Mr.. Hamlin, who did not come
squarely up TO the demand of the party,that
Andrew johnson should be impeached.
We are in a situation to know, that the G
s,tte's assertion that prominent Democrats are
working for Mr.. Morrill's election is trne-
Moses Mcdonald and another leading Demo
crat have been at work in York county in Mr.
Morrill's interest.
The Gazette mentions another fact that
should have its due weight with the Leeisla.
ture.
There is a consideration of the highest i'm
portance to the interests of Maine which calls
Tor the presence of such man as Mr.. Hamlin
from this State, in Congress. The CONNER
clal interests OF Maine are almost her first
For the want of proper congressional legisia
ton these interests are suffering to an alarm
ing extent. Nothing, since the war, thus far
bas been done. The commercial men of hi,
State very well know Mr.. Hamlih's large ex
perience and influence in Congress in these
matters; and we are confident that experience
together with his popularity and reputation
10 the West, qualified him as no other man ir
Maine is qualified, to secure from Congress
the relief we must now have, or suffer far more
seriously than we have.
TaANKLIN CoUNTY-IHE CHARACTERISTICS n,
MIR. HAMLN.
The Pennington Chronicle in taking its no.
s.tion in the contest, says
In expressing our own preference for the
election of Mr.. Hamlin, we believe we but re.
hect the sentiment of very decided majority
o. tne hep9bhcans of this county. Mr.. Ham.
lin is one of the few of our public men that of.
t?e has not spoiled, being the same plain, un.
pretending, approachable, honest man, in of
nee as Wen as out of Office; true to principles
and faithful TO friends. Tt lis proverbial of him
that during his long public service no man
has ever written him, without receiving a re.
specsful, direct answer; and if the request was
reasonable, bis faithful and efficient services
have, in all cases, been secured. His promises
are always iulhlled at whatever sacrifice to
Or foon k4o
10 our public men. AS statesman and a
legislator, he has in every position he has fill
ed, whether as Representative in the State
Leglsalufe, Governorof the State, Represen-
tatlve and Senator in Congress, or Vice Presi-
dent OF the United States, discharged his du-
ties, not simply acceptably to the people. but
with distinguished ability; SO that to-day his
standing and influence in the nation is univer-
deserving, in view of services rendered the
country and the Republican cause, as Mr.
Hamlin? For years before the Republican
party was formed, he was, both by speech and
battle for its principles. throughout his long
and successful public service, bis every act and
pots has been for Liberty and Humanity. 2
The Chronicle also makes another point of
which no one can fail to see the force:
Now if Mr.. Morrill, is emitted to another
election on the strength of that vote ION inn
pelchnent] and not to do it is 10 be construed
as Ceusure, tnen Gne r6pu0llcanS OF this and
the filth district have done Mr., Perbam and
Mr., Pike great injustice, for they voted for the
measure as we'll as Mr.. Morrill,.
OXFORD coUNTY-THR PEOPLE UNANIMOUS.
The Oxford Democrat comes out strong ON
the popular side:
A native of Oxford county, reared amongst
its hills from which he caught the inspiration
OF liberty for which he has ever been conspicu-
Gus in public life, and 10 which, thank God. he
has always been true, it is natural that the
people oil Old Oxford should take pride, as
tnty always have, in their noble and distin-
guished SON, Hannibal Hamlin
Situated as we are at the political centre of
the County, having a good opportunity. by
correspondence and personal interview, to as
certain the sentiments of our republican
friends on this question, we hesitate not to say
that tne feehng is nearly unanimous in the
county that Mr. Hamlin should be returned to
the Senate at this time. It is unnecessary tn
give the why's and wherefores or to discuss
the relative merits of the two. Between Mr..
Morrill, and most any other man in the State
the sentiment would be as strong for Mr.. M !:
but Hannibal Hamliu stands pre-eminentlv
the man above all others for the place and no
one else In Maine Just now is his peer.
YORK COUNTY HAMLIN THE POPULAR fcHo1cE