The Portland daily press., 1869-01-02

Mrs. Augustus Dickens; The Maine journal
of Education; Varieties.
Fourth Paqe-The Gold Herb zaz
The Quilted sinses senatorship. tlNl
The office of United States Senator is one
Of the most important and responsible in the
gift of the people of Maine, and the State
ought to be represented in the highest legisla-
tive body in the world by those two of her
citizens who are absolutely best qualified FOR
the duties of membership in that august as
sembly. In a few weeks it will become the
duty of the Legislature to elect a successor to
Mr.. Morrill,, and it is useless to disguise the
fact that pretty warm contest is going on be
tween that gentleman and the friends of Mr..
Hamlin for the seat that is to be filed. We
do not regard the result as any longer in
doubt, but believe that Mr.. Hamlin will be re-
turned to that body which heard his eloquent
protest against pro slavery Democracy, wheh
he broke away from its toils,-the Dody IN
which he was for many years as leadins mem-
Der and of which he was made the presiding
officer by the suffrages of the American peo-
pie. Every consideration OF policy and jus
tice demands his return. A man of reputa-
ton and influence as wide as his country, the
nation is looking to see him once more in the
national councils. His opponent has not been
in his present position so short time as to
render his retirement mark of the disapprov-
al of his constituents. Eight years is more
than the average term of our Maine Senators
and is sufficient length OF time to indicate
an appreciation on the part of the people of
the merits of faithful public servant
uf hat IN dpr of
this time, though perhaps usually one of sec
ondary importance, is now, under the pecu-
liar circumstances of the case, primary con-
sideration. The question Of locality, when it
has been constantly ignored for long series
OF years, will finally demand recognition, and,
If persistently refused its proper influence in
the selection of public officers, gives occasion
for we'll founded impression that injustice
has been done. The people of the Eastern
part of of the State, with much show of reason,
allege that they have not been duly considered
in the selection of United States Senator. We
and this feeling especially active and aggres-
sive in Penobscot Country. If the claims Of
the East should be passed over in 1869, as we
have no idea that they will be, there comes an
other Senatorial election in 1871 when its
camor aoH be heard. 1t becomes very nee
essary, then, for the West to consider whether
it is willing to make its own defeat sure in 1871
by defeating the candidate of the East in 1869.
If there is any support given to Mr.. Morrill, in
Eastern Maine we believe that We are justified
in concluding that it is given for the express
purpose of placing beyond any possibility of
doubt or danger the prospects of some candi-
date from that section two years hence. We
do not exaggerate the warmth of the feeling
which this question of locality excites in the
prescribed locality as is abundantly shown in
the following extract from the Bangor Wing
Of Wednesday:
On the 4th of next March, Maine will have
been State for about forty mine years, and
the length of the terms of her Senators will be
in all SO years. Of these the section east of
Augusta and the Kennebec River will have
had Senator but for the period of 10 years,
while the section west of the Kennebec and
Augusta will have been represented in the
Senate by its own citizens 70 years, and the
county of Kennebec alone will have had
Senator Al years! If Mr.. Morrill, shall be re-
elected, she will have had a Senator for At
years, to 10 years for the entire State lying to
the eastward of her. In 1860 the population of
the State was 628,600. Of this number, 3O9-
300 were west of the Kennebec river giving to
the west the towns which the river divided)
and BIS, 300 were east of that river And vet
tu1J portion OF the OJdCe WHICH contains TWO
thirds of its territory and a msior part of its
population has had Senator but 10 years, |
while 70 years have been allotted to the sec
ton that is smaller both in territory and pop
ulation, and IL gears to q single county! |
The east certainly has been generous, even |
magnauimous, in the past. She has not ad- |
mitted her inferiority Of right, or that she bad |
not citizens as able and patriotic as the centre |
and the vest, She has yielded to the demands |
of other sections, and when defeated in her |
hopes, she has bowed gracefully TO the decision
which has nevertheless done her grievous
wrong. For the sake of harmony, she has sub
mitted to the results which superior tactics
and management and not political strength,
have produced. Is she to be punished for this
generosity, for this noble, self-sacrifcing aud
patriotic conduct? And If so, for how long?
Can she only be respected and recognized
when Kenneaec wishes for her own purposes
to mako compact with her against the west?
The county Of Penobscot gives about 5000
Republican maiority-larger by several him.
dreds than is given by any other county. She
has three Senators and eighteen Representa-
tives, and all are, and for many years have
been, Republicans. No other county is GER
tain to give year after year such strength in !
the LIE .islature. Is it the way to treat this
noble county, when she presents such name
az that of Hannibal Hamlin for Senator-a
man whose ability is beyond question: whose
character is without a blemish, whose fidelity
has passed into prOverb,-to tell her, "Your
desires are not to be considered; the position is
TO be ignored~ Is the East informed that an
other election is due to Senator Morrill,? She
cannot but remember that he has already been
elected twice to that off1ce-once for nearly
half Senatorial term, and once tor whole
Ierm-nearly nine years in all. 4
The Wing further urges Mr.. Hamlin's claims
Gains as follows: ... .
necessary that the Republicans Of Maine
should be reminded of his political history,
and Of the high position he now holds in the
esteem and confidence of the people. They
have not forgotten that after having given
such strength to the Republican electoral
ticket which bore his name in 1860 as render
its success all the more certain and easy, and
after having performed his part like q true
and honest man to the acceptance of the peo-
pie, for the four years that he was Nice-Presi-
dent, while Mr.. Lincoln was renominated, he
endured the injustice and modification OF de-
feat wrought by those insrigulng hands which
gave the nomination of Vice President to An
drew johnson. And they want the people of
Maine to tell the people of the United
States BY his election to the SEN
ate, that they have not forgotten the wrong
that was done him, or the indignity to his
State, nor abated one jot or little of their love
for or confidence in their distinguished fellow
citizen. .s -.....+ . i
And SO, appealing to their brother Republi-
cans throughout the State who love Justice
and good faith and who believe that the inter-
est, the integrity aud honor of their party are
best to be upheld and maintained by
straightforward and open course, treating all
men and all sections fairly and Justly, the Re-
publicans of Penobscot ask them to join in
the effort which they propose to make in be-
half of their fellow citizen and friend, Hanni
bal Hamlin.
The RESURRECTION IN CADIz having been
effsctually put down, the vigilance of the
Spanish authorities relaxes slightly; and we
begin to get CLEANS of truth in relation to the
causes of the revolt. The government, for its
own purposes, had allowed the impression to
gain ground that it was purely reactionary
movement. By exercising strict control over