The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-29
U. s. Senator.

EDITOR or TIE uNioN AND JOURNAL:
Although 1t Is yet early in the Political
Year, / notice that much interest Is mani
fest inpolitical matters, and the merits and
dement's Of many gentlemen OF the domi-
nant party in the State, are quits freely
discussed. and not always, I am sorry to
say. in u becoming manner.
I i think tho merits Of any candidate for
any place of homer or profit, when the
welfare of tho people Is concerned. are
Legitimate. objects for thorough inyestiga-
ton. hut that such Investigations should
be fair. honest and manly. Any Candi-
date that cannot stand criticism thus con-
Quoted. ought TO fall. and, In my opinion,
no one should be tried by any other.
This will DO an unusually eventfnl year
in Maine politics. The nomination Of
some new man for Governor Is probable.
Five Representatives TO Congress are 10 DO
elected. Many minor Offices are to be
filed, and hast but not least the successor
of the Hon. LotM. Merrill Is to be chosen,
to fill the seat so long held by Senator
Fcsscnden, aud II Is In regard to this, that
this article Is written. 1s.ra
First In the list of prominent names that
1 have seen mentioned In print for this
place. Is that of the distinguished gentle
man who now so ably fills 1t. Hon. j. G.
Blaine. yet q young man, by his rare abil.
ity and nutiring industry, has had q large
Legislative experience. and has achieved
an honor never before accorded to citi-
zen Of Maine--tl,at of boing chosen Speak
or of tho House Of Representatives-and
will be, undoubtedly, urged by his friends
for the place. Gov. Chamberlain, also n
young man, with his brilliant. military
record and his gubernatorial prestige, will
be prominent candidate.
1t Is with some surprise that have not
yet seen mentioned. by any writer, the
name of one, who only In the prime of life
now, has for many years filed some of the
most important offices In the gin Of the
people, and always filed them well.
Long before such an institution rs the re-
publican party existed, he from principle,
held all tho leading ideas which hn, ena-
bled the party To triumph over secession
and slavery. He was one Of the strong
men In the formation of the party. and It's
honest, able, and earnest adherent from
that time until now. Ircfcr to Ex-G0v.
Washburn. .'
Ten years successive service In Con-
gress, during which time his ability, his
great industry. and his uncompromising
integrity, made for him National rcpu.
tStion, enabled him to fill for two years,
with signal success. the Gubernatorial
Chair. .lf = ."ni .T1H
At a time when Governors had to take
the responsibility of raising armies intthe
face of bitter and powerful opposition.
had to clothe, equip, feed and pay them,
the hcrculean iabors required Of Gov
ernor could not be successfully performed
by q common place man. How well Gov.
w. discharged all these difficult duties, Is
n matter of history.
Aftcr two years OF service In this posi-
ton, matters Of personal nature, led
him to peremptorily decline another elect
ion.
The death of tho Hon. Jcdcdiah Jewctt,
in the fall Of 1868, caused u vacancy In
the Collectorship Of Customs ut Portland,
and President Lincoln, recognizing the
services and worth Of Gov. w. tended
him an appointment to TINT place, which
was accepted. and he has acceptably dis
charged the duties Of that important office
until now. .,
Such, in short, are n few of the consid-
erations which lead one to prefer him for
Senator, and which assure me that, If the
people accord to him the position which
he Is SO well qualliiedto fiji, heintercst Of
our State will DO well represented In the
Senate. OBSERVER