Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-01-13

Representatives.
In approaching the duties of another
session. it is we'll to impress npon the
mind due estimate Of their irnpos-
tance and acknowledging and invok-
ing the divine favor, seek for wisdom
in their faithful discharge. 1t is true
that the councils Of the nation have
more to do with the greater matters of
our common veal or woe; but the
questions which are within your con-
troll. and the duties to which YOU are
now solemnlv devoted are worthy Of
your rest thought and conscience and
wisdom.
While the dark burden Of the war
rolled its gloom ovey MS, the people were
not niggardlv in giving nor over critical
IN receiving whatever promised mnterial
for the common defence. and aid in the
great deliverance. With patti
which knew no class or section. with a
generosity which connted no cost, and
devotion that shrank from no sacri-
flee. they poured their choicest treasure
and ther most precious life into the
for the guarantees of liberty and
government OF law. Intent on This
they paid little attention To little
things: they did not st y to challenge
c'ther m"n or measures that came in
| the guise aud color "f the common
| cause. But the crisis now is past
| the field won. The times are Iii rcrcnt
our duties new. We mnst look back
! over the tumultuous track and see
where ruin can be repaired and abuses
| corrected; the false channels cut bv
| the wild overflow and sapping our
strength damned up; the true currents
of prosperity restored. We must look
forward. not only to see what must he
borne, bnt what must he done-stitled
energies to be set free. new powers put
/ in motion. No spiritless or timid re-
/ luctance to grapple with the vexed
| questions which may claim our atten-
| ton, should be allowed to settle upon
us from the too modest impression that
our acts are Of little consequence. On
The contrary never was sound judg-
mrnt and generous tot, AMI the clear
sharp scrutiny that runs before and af-
ter. more demanded by the exigency
of the times and the interests of the
people.
DUTIES OF GOVERNMENTS.
A government has something more
to do than TO govern and levy taxes
to pay the governors. 1t is some
thing more than apolice to arrest evil
and punish wrong. 1t must also en-
courage good. point ont improvements,
open roads of prosperity and infuse
life.
Ii should combine the insight and
foresight Of the best minds of the
State for ali the high ends for which
society is established and to which
man aSpires. That gives us much to
do. We sit down here to devise
things for the public good. Let US be
at the work early. and do it both well
and quickly. For both are possible.
/ Prompttude and activity will enable
Us to avoid n protracted session, omit
ting nothing and at the same time
considering we'll Where men are
thoughtful there will seldom he uaani-
NIFTY. Where men are hon st there
will be sharp individuality. Indcpend-
ence, if it is genuine, is no evil, blt
good. The great requisite. indeed, on
the part of those who make or admin
ister laws IS moral courage. We can
not expect much that is good from
laws enacted under clamor or To meet
some crisis. nor from statesmen who
are chiefly concerned in contriving to
keep their place and power. Ole
thing we NAV he sure Of the virtue in
the hearts of the people. that instinct
may be dcceiv ed but will not h. d.
fcatcd. 1t demands hon 'stv Al | yiil
pardon Us if in tnat cause we an over
bold.
SENATORIAL. MATTERS
One man in lie we hlye bat H.
active partici ,atiDl an ilil'l"' ii
our affairs. One voice is silent thit
was wont to SPEAK ONLY hpn st cplFlc-
ton without favor anl without tra".
William Pitt Fessendcn is goir. flr
race of men thrt dare be right has
E 1
" resolve and give Judgment with un-
derstandng, unmovel by the voice of
those who seeing not so clearly feel
more siolently-the man who aims for
the ultimate right rather than for the
near advantage-the man who in the
tremendous hour Of responsibility when
great issues hang upon his action, hear
ing above the tumult of tauntins foes
and aupplicating friends the deeper
voices of reason and conscience, fixes
his single eve on dutv and stakes his
all upon the blow-that man il is hard
to find and hard indeed to lose. One
by one the great men around whom our
hearts rallied in the dark days Of the
republic ar. passing from our view.
We feel that we are lost rather than
they. Happy will it he if the young
men now rising to their places shall
learn from their example and be able
when the day of trial comes to do their
dutv as unSelfi silly. as boldly. and as
we'll. The deeds of such men live after
them Their words are gone out into
the end of the world. Their light shall
shine along the heights of history as
the glory lives on the Alpine peaks
when the sun is seen no more.
The vacancy in the United States
Scnat, it became my duty to fill for tie
Il i inf all