The Portland daily press., 1873-02-05
Letter from Augustn.

AUGUSTA, Feb. 4, 1873.
AN ANALYTICAL VIEW OF THE LEGIsLA-
Mr.. EDITOR The French Assembly is
divided, as you know, into the Right, the
Right Centre, the Left Centre and the ex-
treme Left. These words have reference to
The political opinions of those to whom they
are applied, the Right being conservative and
the Left radical, the former occupying seats
to the right and the latter to the left of the
chair In the Maine Legislature
THE. RIGHT,
or at any rate the extreme right, is occupied
by the Democrats alone. And even they are
restless in that position, as may be seen from
the desire of the younger element among
them to be known as Independents" The
leader Of this little band of ''legitimists, ,"who
are still ready to welcome back the Bourbons
with Emery at their head, is James r. Talbot
of East Machias. Mr.. Talbot was the Dem
ocratic candidate for Speaker. He is large,
dark man and looks like Thomas II. Benton.
He has had much legislative experience, and
is as firm as 'sOld Bullion" ever was. Then
there is Dr. Manson of Pittsfeld, another
large, good-natured man, who apparently die
vdes with Benjamin Adams, the North An
son lawyer and Liberal Republican, the re.
sponsibility of upholding Norridgewock's
side of the Somerset shire town controversy.
Mr.. Mason of Biddeford, another member of
the extreme right, is more quiet than DR..
Manson, who sits at the same desk or else
is simply ''biding his time" Bradford z.
Kelloch of Thomaston, is Democrat and
acds bachelor when the session begun, but
he is now married man, and is evidently
glad of it. Mr.. Kellock has long, black hair,
self-reliant, well-satisfed face, and rather a
fluent tongue for young man. Walker of
Brighton has already been celebrated in let
ters of your other correspondents. So have
Reagan and Reed of Waldoboro, who really
belong to the
RIGHT CENTRE,
instead of the extreme right. Here also
should place several other gentlemen who
are usually found receiving suggestions in re-
gard to progressive or reformatory move
ments, as if they were sure that society was
about to be toppled over if anything were
| really done to make it better. The Senate
has some representatives in the Right Centre
also, but forbear to name them lest they
should feel aggrieved. The
LEFT CENTRE
embraces large majority of both houses. In
the Senate such men as the older members
from Cumberland county, o. Brion and the fine
old Kennebec Senators, belong to this favorite
| division. And Kennedy, scholarly young
man, who holds a very influential place
among men who are almost all his seniors.
Burgess of Cumberland, is another note
worthy member-a good speaker, courteous
gentleman and an honest man. His face is
one of ten thousand, and would instantly at
tract attention anywhere, having Raphael
like purity in its expression. H
In the House we should place the Speaker
on the edge of the Left Centre, nearest the
right The Dingley of to-day would have a
seat very near him, and Vinton would not be
very far away Of all these your correspon-
dents have spoken, but not OF Titcomb of
Augusta, a most valuable member, who does
as much work in quiet unobtrusive way as
nalf dozen ordinary representatives Mr..
aNcomo is gentleman of ability and large
naf. peiience in the legal profession. He takes
s - uepate only when he feels that there
ho - s "a MS doing SO, but when he speaks
ne sure OF the attention of .1,o uo,,,o
will let no onnos, Uukland' is a rising man, who
to nromote ppoisanity bis go by that seems likely
conntenanoa a'' ,,a' Interests He wears smiling
eoan1enance, : makes short speeches % ILes 3
Joke and is, Ijudge, quite popular, NAvs d
nlston OF Boothbay, is bright, stirring vnnna vm
man. whose eloquence always puts the Honas
In good humor. He makes even his blunders
serve good purpose, and if he gets pernlexed
IN speaking is sure to emerge triumphant
Rand of Greenwood, Folsom of Oldtown and