The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-08
The q. s. Senate Question.

The legislature to DO chosen this fall
will have rs part oftheir official duty, to
elect u. S. Senator for six years, In
place of Lot NJ. Morrill,. who Is now
serving out the unexpired term OF Mr.
Fessenden. which closes on the 4th oil
March 1871. As we were called upon nj
our late convention. TO ignore locality,
and vote for one who had experiences to
recommend him. which vast experience
was of incalculable benefit to his constit.
ucnts, IL will be well for the republicans
of York County, to bear this fact In mind
in the selection of candidates for Senator,
and Representatives 20 the Legislature Of
this State, and nominate such men only
rs are in favor of this theory; for ifthe
arrangement Is valid one In the choice
of n candidate for representative to Con-
gress, it certainly Is equally 50 for Soma
tors. We have two persons spoken of as
candidates for the ensuing senatorial term
to wit: Hon. Lot M. Morrill,. who has
been member about ten years, and Hon.
Israel Washburn, collector of Portland.
We have been inclined TO believe in the
doctrine that locality is sometimes to be
considered in these matters, I'm fact we be-
lievc II fully under some certain circuni.
stances, but have now become convinced
by tho forcib.e arguments OF our friends
from Portland in the convention, that we
were wrong and now announce our con-
version TO the mo locality" doctrine, SO
far Mt least rs refers to the question of ".
s. Senator. We now proclaim that our
opinion is, that the experience acquired
by Mr.. Morrill, during the past ten years,
is of the utmost Importance in the consid.
Grafton ofthis question, and that he Is en-
titled to our support, not only at the next
election but ever after when the same oc-
ours. ..,.....
Perhaps we may say to our Portland
friends who advocate the claim of Mr..
Washburn. in reply TO the great argument
that he belongs to the "Washburn family"
which we readily acknowledge. "wait, in
four years Mr.. Hanlin's term expires,
and rs 1t is understood that no does not
desire reelection, yon shall then have
our support for yonr man."
Let us look ahead to that time. Mr..
Washburn' S friends, (among them Judge
Davis and Gen. Neal Dow,) come up to
Augusta and claim fulfillment of the ar-
gument, but in the meantime many per-
sons who have watched the brilliant ca
rccr of Mr.. Blaine. are desirious that his
experience should be of farther use to the
people of Maine. and that he be placed in
the Senate. What would our Portland
friends reply to the argument in favor OF
Mr.. Blaine's experience
"Oh that wont do. Augusta already
has one Senator and now this belongs to
Portland .on the ground of locality. Port.
land is the commercial metropolis OF
Maine, and always should have repre-
sentative upon the floor of the Senate"
Yes. but the doctrine expressed by
Judge Davis in his resolution offered to
tho District convention ut Saco June 90,
1870, upon this point and voted for en-
masse by the Cum 1erland delegates, is
this, "that in all such matters, the Dis
trict q. @. the State) should be u unit
and that "any attempt to limit the choice
to any particular section of this District
(Statc) would be 10 Obstruct the free eX-
preston of the popular will, to create sec
tional discord and strife. and would de-
grade the Office and cndanger the public
welfare by making the incumbent the
representative of local interests instead OF
the whole constituency"
The answer to this by our mo locality"
advocates must be furnished by themselves,
we cannot give it, but will remind our
York friends in conclusion, that inasmuch
rs they have been so unfairly treated by
Cumberland in this matter of representa-
tive, 1t behooves them to look well to their
nominations of candidates to the legisla-
ture, and select such only rs shall repre-
sent the feeling of York upon this ques-
ton, and TO show Cumberland that she
cannot always .whip us into the traces"
rs was thought to have been done last
week mt SacO. YORK.