The Portland daily press., 1870-05-04

Wednesday Morning, May 4, 1870.
C.,atda,es for the senatorsbip.

Wednesday morulnS, AoJ y Ao'o
Candidates for the senatorship.
We published Monday communication TO |
the Oxford Democrat in which preference
was expressed for Hon. Israel Washbmn, ir.,
of this city, for United States Senator to sue
coed Hon. Lot M. Morrill, on the 4th of March
next. To-day we publish elsewhere an extract
from letter to the Biddeford Union and
in which the writer expresses similar
opinions.
we heartily concur in the views expressed
oy these two writer's. 1t appears to us that
OF the gentlemen AIMED in connection with
the Senatorship Mr. Washburn has peculiar
qualifications for the position. He has the
experience, the intellectual vigor, the inhu-
ence in higfrofficial circles in Washington anu
the honesty of purpose that will enaDie NM
elected, to be of the greatest possible service
to his constituents and to reflect honor upon
the State. He has the ability and energy that
are sure to make him prominent in the SEN
ate, and to give him place among the leading
members of that body, as they did among the
members of the House when he was many
years younger in years and in experience.
Perhaps the ablest member of one of
the most remarkable families that this
country has ever produced, Governor
Washburn is now in the prime of yigor-
GUS manhood, all his intellectual powers
trained by employment in public affairs for
usefulness in higher sphere, and entirely un-
impaired by any of those vicious indulgences
that have so often proved the ruin of our
American statesmen. There is probably not
a man of more temperate habits within the
limits of the State. Though not identified
with any special temperance movement, yet
SO far as his example goes, it has always
been on the side of abstinence.
Mr.. Washburn has been so long and so in
timately known by the people of Maine that
anything like formal biographical sketch OF
his life would be out of place. Every one
who has had any acquaintance with public
affairs for the last twenty-five years is well
aware of his active and efficient partcipa-
ton therein. His first legislative experience
was in 1912 when he was member of the
House. Elected to the National House of
Representatives in 1850, as a Wing, he served
continuously through the thirty-second, thirty
third, thirty fourth, thirty-ftth and thirty
sixth Congress, until he was elected Governor
in 1860. During the decade that he held
seat in Congress Mr.. Washburn was one of
the faithful few who neuer bowed the knee to
the slave power-one of the lew whose voice
and vote were always and everywhere for
freedom and justice, in spite of the threats,
intmilations or inducements that the race
Of naughty Southrons then in the ascendent
but now happily extinct, like the mesathe.
rum an plesiosaurus. knew so we'll how to
render effective with timid or insncere men.
In some of those stormy scenes that are now
historical, when the spirit of revolt agains
Southern domination would break forth.
when Lovejoy Mould speak, or some champ
ion of human rights would refuse to have
his lips padlocked by the pro-slavery majority,
Mr.. Washburn was an active participant. In
the thirty sixth Congress he was member
OF the Committee on Ways and Means, and
developed in that position capacity for hard
work and the conduct of practical business
second to none of his associates. Called al
the outbreak OF the rebellion BY the voice Of
the people from position for which he was
eminently fitted and which was congenial to
his tastes to assume the arduous duties of
Governor of Maine, he became SO conspicu-
GUS for the energy which he infused into the
military affairs of the State and for the
promptness with which he dispatched troops
at the call of the general government, that he
was everywhere throughout the country
ranked with those great "war governors
Andrew, Buckingham and Morton. During
the two years of his administration 30 repi.
ments were dispatched to the seat of war
and though the preliminary steps for draft
were taken, it never became necessary to re-
sort to itfor single man during his admins
tratton Names bfllslaas susesa ~, ,a.., ~ ~
is due in no small measure to the intelligent
labors of the man who happened to be her
Chief Executive at the beginning of the
struggle.
There is one striking popularity in Gov.
Washburn's public career that is worthy of
mention. In every case when he has been
elected to office, whether to Congress or to
the Governorship, the people have chosenhm
without solicitation or effort on his part. He
has in an extraordinary degree the confidence
OF his fellow-citizens. They believe that be is
trustworthy, having learned from experience
that he never deceiyes OR betrays them. In the
old ante beltum days when so many men sent
from The North as representatives of a rad
ical anti-slavery sentiment were corrupted and
Joined the enemy, Mr.. Washburn never was
even in danger of becoming "doughface."
Taking his place very early in the ranks of
the Republican party he has from first 10 last
maintained position in advance of the mass
of his associates Especially as the advocate
OF impartially suffrage has he shown the quail
ity OF his radicalism. Though he happened
to be an officer of the customs when Mr.. John
son came into power, he did not for moment
hesitate to express his emphatic dissent when
the President began his career of treacherv:
and when at last johnson was arraigned be-
fore the Senate to answer for his iniquities,
MIR. Washburn was openly and conspicuously
an advocate of impeachment. That be has
enemies we are well aware, but that they will
be able to convict him of single dishonest
or dishonorable act in public or in private life
we very much doubt.
1t not our purpose in advocating the
election of Mr.. Washburn to the Senatorsbip
TO disparage other candidates-least of all the
gentleman whose term expires on the 18th of
March, and who is a candidate for reelection.
Gov Chamberlain is understood to be can
didate for the Senatorship, as well as for Gov
ernor. The formal withdrawal of Mr.. Blaine
leaves the three candidates we have named in
the field. Wepropose to support Mr.. Wash
burn on his merits, and not on any weakness
es we observe or think we observe in his on
ponents. We trust that the friends of other
candidates will see the wisdom of taking the
same course, and thus preventing that imbit-
tered state of feeling that might otherwise
work much injury to the Republican party.
49,. Political Notes.
An ,nan'sitivo correspondent puts the ryi-
lowing practical question" which we eive
up without trying to guess the answer:
Will we fellows, who voted for Mr. Hitch.
~ nln