The Union and journal., 1870-05-20
The SeHatorship.
Alettcr from Augusta, relative to MIR. Blaine's
candidacy, is published in the New York 7ri6-
une as follows:

Aletter from Augusta, relative to Mr.. Blaine's
candidacy. is published in the New York Tri6-
uRc as follows:
The truth is that. owing 10 the disappointment
of a largo number Of the Republican party AT Mr..
fessenden's vote upon impeachment, aud the hos
tlity his cOurse hal evoked, the discussion OF the
question who should succeed him In tho United
States Senate was prccipitsted upon the Republic
cans or Maine full year earlier than would other
wise have been tho case. The opposition To him in
the Spring AMI .aTIy summ,r of Is69 was quito
Formidable anl usually demOnstntiye, and only
lacked leader To- perfect powerful organization.
10 was found necessary to have aman To vote lor
several gentlemen were prominently mentioned IN
that connection. Among them were ex-senator
(nOw Senatnrl Morrill,, eN-6Oy. Washburn, keptes-
entatiye lynch, GOy. Chamberlain, and Speaker
Rlaine Mr. Morrill, was Mr.. fossenden's colleague
at the time or the impeachment trial. and favored
impeachment. Mr. Lynch hal made himself hen
orahy conspicuous In the House Of Representatives
~ an advocate of the mcasur = and Was very Popu-
lar not only In his own district but throughout the
state. Ex-Governor Nashburn was an ardent
imIrachcr, aud ono of the s-Ong men Of the state,
and ALL including Gov. Chamberlain, were warm
personal ffienls Of Mr.. fc-enden. ! presume
that SPEAKER Blaine was also upon terms oi per-
M so,n csmc 90 Le understood, however, that
MeSSrs Morrill,. Lynch, Washburn, and Chamber
lain would In no events he candidates ssainst Nun
The first three had differed with him upon impcaeh.
bis yrta AMI appreciat sd the sublime self abne1a
tioh which he hal oxhihitei. Then u was that the
oppOsition 10 Mr.. y. began IA rally around Mr
blaine. Whether his position was seiishosen OF
not h OF no CONSEQUENCE. lie was inthe Held, and
had Mr.. fessenlon lived, would probably nave
been a candidate to-day. As long ago as last sum
mer, in ,hose county conventions where s'..S Ssn
Mr. fessenden and Mr.. blaine was clearly present
81 and settled. the friends of one OF the other
prcdominated Could tho event Of Nlr. fsssenaen
death have been f0rcscen. II would have been FOLLY
for any aspirant b. enter the list 80 soon, but, rs
that event not anticipated, u was clearly the
only safe course Cor him who would enter the con-
test with any expectation Of success 10 do II season
ably fOr nOtwths 'nding the alienation Of large
sunber Of Republcans. Mr. fessendsn was pow
erfl competitor anil had elcmspts of strength pos
sssss.i hy mo- other man In the state. Few cf his
lifelong friends hal deserted him, and he number
cl among his supporters many oi the purei and
ablest men In tho state.
Moreover, Mr.. Fcsenden himself Considering
stituents, Was gathering up hh mighty energies 10
the end that the verdict might be the result OF nel'
ther Ignorance, caprice or chance but The dslheHte
Judgment Of the Republicans ol Maine, after time
had cooled the ardor Of rcsentment and eaimed the
stornY passions OF the hour Ills death changed
the entirO aspect Of Senatorial Affairs, and iet MT
Blaine the victim Of circumstances over which no
Tpm the foregoing Il viii 10 readily perceived
thai the naugHratlOn OF Mr.. Blaines candidacy
wa, no, in sc@,aon sor%. He probably da a1IsS. no.
ous not t6 assist 40 many party friends anxiousiy
seeking candidate. Hence he driited In. Could
he have drifted osi at TIE time Of Mr.. fessenden:
death. he would undoubtedly have done So but
that was found b. he not quite 80 easy, and making
virtue of necessity he has ielt his way along and
'triod the Ice" The act thai ffom the time oi Sen,
ator fssssnsien's death the tide rapidly turned
against him. when rightly understood, reflects IN
no wise upon his ability as q taeteian and s no M
dicstion of his strength Ex-senator Morrill, was
appolntcd b all the vacancy. and Of course was an,
nouncsd as candidate Tor the full term. lie lived
in the sane city with Mr.. Blaine, and would have
divided "old kennsbse'' with him, which would
make a had showing flr both 70 begin with. Mr.
WAshbarne, the little gisht' Of thai remarkable
hmlly, also put In an APPEARANCE. and soon drew
fearfOlly upon the Iarmer ft,cn.is Of Mr.. ID. Tho
friends Of Gov. Chamberlain were found 70 be any.
thing bat Idle spectators, and while not authorta-
lively entering him ier the raoe, they Kept .'pes-
ging away al The Speaker, and waiting f6r some-
Thing 20 "turn up.n The het thai Mr. Bianc Is
sbcaker Of The HOass Of Representatives operated
greatly u his dSaly antA-S, inasmach many who
would otherwise have favored hun. thought he had
better "lst voll enough alone while the friends Of
ting candidates thought TIA great pity thai
Maine shOald lose thehonor Of having the third OF
hec In The Go,srnment and gain nothing In rstsrn.