Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-04
Correspondence.
AUGUSTA, Feb. lst. 1869.

live ACTON OF the last week. still Contiu-
ues. and those long accustomed to visit the
Capitol, miss the stir of full and inter
ested body Of legislators. the sound of
sharp aud earnest debate. and the throng
of spectators watching the progress of
some favorite measure: or the skilltul man
agement of some able leader while it pass
es the various readings, and escaping the
designs OF revisions and amendments.
cmergcs In the full success of a new and
valid law.
IL Is quite too strange 10 suppose that
the present Legislature. containing. rs it
does. a large proportion OF able men. will
discard speech-maAing altogether. and
confiue Itself solely 90 the more quiet RON
the of Legislative actin. and when the
Reports OF the Committees are made upon
the more important matters they now
have under consideration. we may expect
more lively aud interesting sessions.
Veiy few laws have been finally passed.
and these mostly such Is were recon-
mended by the Judges OF the Probate
Courts at meeting held here lew weeks
since TO consider and recommend certain
changes in the Probate Laws OF the State.
\ large nuuher OF petitions for the es
adjustment Of a State Police. have been
received during the past week, and re-
ferred ia the special committee on the
Prohibitory Liquor Law. and Constabulary
A.
by committee selected at the State Tenn
perance Convention. 10 prepare STATE
Police Bill. and urge il passage upon the
legislature.
Joshua Nye. Esq. formerly State Con
stable, Is chairman Of this committee from
the Convention. and all its members have
been long Identified with the Temperance
movement. and familiar with the history
of Legislation upon Prohibition In our own
and other States. and they will present the
views Oft g friends ot temperance. at con-
siderable length upon this subject. They
are 10 have a hearing the present week
The Temperance Convention met ou
Tuesday last and was permanently organ
izcd on Wednesday. hy the choice Of Hon.
Nelson DINGHY IT.. 81 Lewiston. Prr.i-
dent; and Mayor H. w ~horcy. Of Bath.
Secretary: and Ii; 81 Vice President
I from the several Congressional District,
of the state. Il has been We'll attended
and during It's ,,ion- much discussion
wa, had upon the Aiul anl amount OF
rrohibiio-y legislation necessary a. secure
I the greatest benefit u society. tn. de
{ bate showed that REGARDLESS, the establish
moui ~ State Police. Very positive differ
I cncc. 81 OPINION existed among Temper
| aucr men Thu Resolutions of the Con
/ ventiun declare THAI the hope 81 Progrcs,
/ Of the Temperance cause l. based upon
( total abstinence by the individual, and
| Prohibition 10y ihe state; ,hAt Willie the
/ constant. moral cGo,i. cNertcd i,r the
/ elevation ~ public scnilmrn,. Prohihi-
Y zion u essential 20 secure any permanent
progress ~ protecting the weak FRI IN
| temptation. They claim that thr value ~
| Prnhihnofy Laws depend upon Tie strict
ness with which they ARE executed, anu
/ that cause of alarm exists ia the unfaith-
/ FITNESS OF local officers elected by liquor
dealers and their sympaihi1ers, not only
as securing license, under the name Of
| Prohibition, but a. being destructive !"
good government, ~ encouraging the be-
Z lief ihatthe laws cannot b. executed
1 They claim that /, i, a, much tbs duty
/ OF the STATE TO execute. A. 70 enact the
laws. and that the State Government thai
sees its laws d-sicd By the power Of crimi-
/ mails, or .nefiiciency of local officers, /,
| unworthy the confidence OF the people.
! Also. that is not only the right. but
/ the duty of the power that makes 10 Sc
/ crre the enforcement OF all criminal Laws.
aud especially such as are opposed by the
pandcrs TO vice, and the deprived appe-
iites of their victims.
They claim no wish to organize Politi-
| cally. but that all parties may recognize
the necessity for Prohihitory Legislation.
yet il party organizations are arrived
| against temperance principles. they de-
clare "A counter organization. and counter
| political efforts 10 be their solemn duty.
| The aid OF the Christian Church is evoked
| ia aid TO the cause OF temperance, and
General Ulysses <. Grant, and Hon.
! Schuyler Coliax. President and Vice Pres
| idcnt elect. are complimented for their
powerful example against the use OF wine
or other liquors on social or Public occa-
sions. The indications are that the lead
Ing temperance men are quite averse 70
any establishment OF separate political
organization, confident that all can be Sc
cured without such course that could
possibly be obtained by il; SO that all Who
are watching for dissolution OF the Re
publican party 0: Maine, by separate
organization OF Temperance men, are .till
doomed to disappointment.
The Farmers Convention and the SEES
sion of the Board of Agriculture have at
tractcd no little attention. The friends
Of Agriculture have been in town in large
numbers.
The Potato Show " was at once a nov
city aud success. A large number Of
specimens were presented and the quail
ties of different varieties, for table use'
their liability to disease and their adapta
ton to certain soils, and localities were
carefully dlscussed. 1t appeared that
single variety was known by several differ
ent names. in different localities. Sever
al of the Fancy stocks " in the potato
market were on exhibition, but the opin-
ion seemed TO prevail that many of the