The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-12-28
Letter from Augusta.
Correspondence OF the journal .
AUGUSTA, Dec.

Like preceding ones in Augusta it was at
tended with q big mess of sleigh-riding,
few smash ups and the usual number of
heavy DRINKS
| In view Of the near approach OF the
meeting Of the Legislature, hotels and
private boarding houses are brushing up
and getting ready to gobble up their share
of the hard earnings Of the members who
have been Forced from home and I'LL lis
pleasures y
For Legislative offices there is the II sual
pulling and hauling for full teats or
any other teat, so often seen in pig-yard,
and with about the same amount of eager
ness and decency. 1t is somewhat excit-
ing and interesting at the present time.
The principal struggle centers on the
| Speakership of the House, for which the
contestants are +. B Smith, Of Sac0, Ma
}or Fred ROBBIE of Gorham, and Col Joe
| Porter of Burlington. Smith was Speaker
| last year, and filled the position with rs
much grace and ability as You could
naturally expect from the Third Assessor
OF an unorganized plantation. Having
| Congressional aspirations in the first Con-
gressional District, it is intimatcd that he
is in a quandary whether to sell ont to his
! Cumberland competitor for ''considera-
tom in that direction, or, by sticking. to
win laurels in arranging railroad commit,
tees and such matters which may do him
| most service at home, Smith is clever
fellow, and has had u rem.,rl<s,,,le ru,a oc
success in rising from Il second class
clerkship in the Adiutant Generals Office
| during the war, TO the Speakership last
year.
Major Robbie, who retired a few years
ago from the unsatisfactory profession of
healing the sick, and honest business of
laboring for the Democratic party in
Waldoboro, for the more lucrative posi-
tons Of Senator, Governors Councilman,
| and Army Paymaster in tue Republican
| party, and more recently As managing
proprietor Of the Portland Daily Press.
claims consideration on the special ground
of having been licked in previous CON
| test for the Presidency OF the Senate.
Barring his eXecrable politics, the Major
| is a highly respectable citizen and a. agre-
able and genial a gentleman rs can be
found anywhere.
Col. Porter has won credit in his party
az an indomitable worker, and has served
his country with distinction on the ,tulf
of FIX. Gov. Coburn, whose valise he
helped to carry ON several OF the Govern
or's official excursions. This. OF itself,
ought to elect him; but Republics are UNI
grateful, and the Colonel evidently appre-
| ciating the fact, exhibits commendabIe
modesty in the campaign, and As proha
bly, not over sanguine IS to the result.
For Clerk Of the House, Col Iemro A.
Smith, late OF skowhegan, Assistant
| Clerk last winter, and now ON the edltori-
al staff of the Portland Daily Press, has,
it is said, ''got the pole Having been
Secretary of the Republican State Com
mittee for the last tour years, IT is fair to
presume that ii is all arranged.
Another of the numerous Smith family,
residing in Litchtield in this County is
willing to sacrifice the comforts Of home
for the Clerkship or Assistant CIerb4hip
1t is evident he has no chance tor the
former. His success III the latter will
| uopu,.a uron a,. A.el'>'' VOC ''.> D.. -~'.,es
| clique, who pull the wires from their
homes in Augusta
The Presidency of the Senate lies he
| tween Hon. X. b. Foster of Wateryille.
and Col J. w Spaulding of Richmond.
with the chances in favor Of the former
Foster is a young lawyer, of pleasing
presence, fair attainments and much am
bition, the limit of which IS not yet APP
parent, and probably will not be for some
| time to come Spaulding is also in the
legal profession, and did gallant service
AS a line and field officer in the 10Th
Maine Volunteers He has the further
claim that Sagadahoc has always Been
left out in the cold in the distribution ot
state offices but the kennebec King
can't afford to disappoiat Foster again rs
they did when candidate tor another OIL
flee before railroad consolidation, and
therefore what the ring dictates must be
done. Besides, Richmond has q raudi-
date for Secretary of state, who enjoys
the hearty support of the kenneboc man
ipuiators, and whose election will make
all right politically in Sagadalor the
Col. to the contrary notwithstanding Ii
is thought, however that the gallant COL.
who, by the way, is the only true and de
serving soldier mp for Office, will submit
to his fate with becoming grace, because
the United States Pension Agency at Au-
gusta is held up by the Ring as q Paci
tying toy 10 his admiring gaze Ust As
doll or jumping lack is offered to a
little shaver 10 induce him to swallow
bitter dose OF physic. Hence the Colonel
unless his eyes are open, may waive Sen
atorial honors and accede to the arrange
ment which gives his towusman the office
of Secretary of State, and himself better
which, in the erd, whether he be
lieves it OF not, he will be cheated ont of.
The under offices in the Senate will re-
main, doubtless, the sameas last year
The only state once H., which tnorc
appears to be a big scramble is that of
Secretary Of State. The candidates are
Geo. G. Stacy of Richmond, the present
Deputy, and formerly State Librarian;
S. j. Chadbourn of Dxmont for some
years Assistant Clerk and Clerk Of the
House, and j. II. Cochrane of this city,
who was formerly Commission Clerk in
the Secretary's office under the late Noah
Smith, ,Jr., Joseph r. Hail. and Deputy
under Ephraim Flint. Stacy originated
at Porter, in Oxford Co., and was APP