The Republican journal., 1870-03-31
LETTER FROM AUGUSTA.
Legislative Adjournment What was Done
and What Wasnt---Lew Barker, Dunning
and Ofhers

Legislative Adjournment What was Done
and What Wasnt--Lew Barker, Cunning
and Others.
The General Court, which boiled over last week,
has not distinguished itself by many brilliant or
wise acts Of legislation 1t has buried Peabody
consolidation and the division of Wcstbrook, be-
sides having several other smaller funerals where
the mourncrs Were less numerous. The Consolida-
ton and Wesbrook eases however, will not stay
buried, but will rise again at the next session-when
it is hoped other and wiser counses will prevail.
The report of the Valuation Commissioners was
swallowed Wholc.-but not without being seasoned
with an immense amount of swearing. Had the
report been presented earlier in the session. it
should have been, it would have been pretty
thoroughly disseced. According to the talk made,
cvcrybody's town has been rated too high and the
neighboring towns not high enough-yet, bitter AS
the dose was the members preferred to gag it down
and 60 home rather than stay amy longer at the
Hub" A dozen weeks board at Augusta prices
makes their $50 look sick, to say nothing about
the vrou. eXtra,-tho>e that appear on their bills
and some others that don't.
This Legislature, like lis precc, "ssors, has had
it, ''Swamp Angels" and it, pop@unS--its itayy
weights and its light weighto-tS ever lasting
~poute.e and its tongue-tie,l. The Grand Mogul
I "
| Whenever he rose to speak there was generally
pricking up of ears all over the house, although
what he said had such familiar sound that it
seemed like meeting an old acquaintance. No mat
ter what the topic or occasion might he, you would
be sure to hear something about Sumptcr-Old
John Brown and the Established soil of the
South The fact is, Jews great speech, which he
got MP several years AGE. Of which the above We're
! the principal ingredients, took we'll with the
faithful that he has kept it going ever Since-Wih
only Slight variations. IN the Legislature--on the
Stump-ft foot race, fimeral,-it is all the same
| When Bankers Jaws fly open the traitorous shot
aud Shell again Wliz around the doomed Sumpter,
John Brown, migratory soul starts into a lively
trot and the dear Old hle receives new pledge OF
his uneeasing Devotion
I He looks aott and tries To find
With weeping eyes, some starry flag
On which, i'll tones laoSt dear and Mind
lie vows devotion TO the rag,
And then ponrS forth live perkS al wind
| From out three peek bag.
Mr.. Barl,er had considerable influence with Il
certain elias, in the House and was generally dis
posed to help his friends all he couId-hut woe be
to his opposers. or to anybody who ever crossed his
track, either in polite, or poker, if hr got chance
at them. His God-son, Mr.. Peter Charles Keegan,
IS a promising youth, and may yet prove useful in
hosting him into John A. Peters place, by hearing
down on the Ma,lawa>ka end of the lever.
Mir. burning of Bangor. was also man oi
function" He is decidedly the greatest man of the
age He h.,, rolled of 4 larger og-iumped from
Il higher baru-seen bigger Snalle--n short,
knows more, has seen more and done more than
any oher man in the known world-PforG}ed Y"u
INthiB} TN II. He ,l not consume much time, but
generally spoke 10 the point, enVrning his re-
marks 10y stories of which has great fund-some
of Whrh he has told so many times that he almost
believes them himself. Mr. Duming is gooi
clcar-headel Legislaor--amo~ always on the
right side, giving good common Sense vote, eN-
cept on questions purely l;rt1ao, His cgotislni>
lparlonlbe, as he was probably born so.
Mr.. Bradford, of Eastpor. was rather Il brisk
member HI started in well, but lost what little
influence he might have had by talking too much
with his mouth. lie wanted to debate every thing
but it was very evident that debating was not pau
ticuarly his forte He lost me- opportunity for
making splurge
The most active member and the one who ha~
done the most hard work, is Mr. Nosc, OF nct-
port. The entire responsibility of running the
Legislative machine has rested on his shoulders.
He felt hi responsibility and did not shrink from
il. ON the whole hr rather enjoyed ii. Durine
the session h. had every thing amended that could
oe besides amending nearly I'LL his amendments.
Nh Hume, of Chcrytcld, has shown some gOod
points. lie is plucly and smart, and will do well
in the future, if he don't grow too fast
Prominent among The members who have been
industrious workers on Committees, and clear
headed sound lc&i~l ator-, invariably voting accord
ING 10 their convictions Of rgii-r@Arlless of par
ty feeling, on party clilucs have been Reed, of
Wall,horo'; Whit, Of Bangor; Rrawn, of Old
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