Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-11-28

States Senate for six years. The impol
tance of this election is not easily apprt
ciated at this day. Senator Hale wa
the pioneer of the champions of freedom
in that Chamber. Two years later h
was joined by Chase and Seward, ant
four years later by Sumner; but thougl
single handed, and for long time deri
ded as outside of any healthy politica
organization, he WAS host in himself
A writer, who was not in sympathy will
Senator Hale's political views, has said
"When Mr.. Hale took his seat he wa
almost alone, and had to combat, singl,
handed, the political giants in those
days. Sometimes he was met with la
bored arguments. then subjected to bit
ter reproaches at times those who were
but his peers would affect almost t.
ignore his presence, and again they woulc
mercilessly denounce him as advocating
doctrines dangerous to the liberties o.
the republic. But the Senator from New
Hampshire was not to be intimidated OF
diverted from what he considered to bt
his duty. Adopting the guerilla tactics
he manfully held bis ground, and with
felicitous humor, pungent retort, or keen
sarcasm, made an impression upon the
phalanx against which he had to con
tend. So high were his aims, and SC
conciliating were his manners, that be.
fore the close of his Senatorial term, Mr..
Hale had beaten down the barriers oi
prejudice, and fairly conquered sectional
discourtesy. He was thus not only the
standard bearer, but the pioneer of the
North in the Senate"
At the close of his Senatorial term the
democrats had possession of the New
Hampshire Legislature, and Mr.. Hale
returned to the practice of his profession
in which his rare skill as an advocate
gave him much distinction. In 1855 he
was again chosen United States Sena-
tor to succeed Hon. Jared w. Williams,
democrat in completing the unexpired
term of Senator Atherton, who had died
while in Office. This term was finished
in March, 1859, when Mr.. Hale was re-
elected Senator for six years in 1865
making in all sixteen years of Senatorial
service in one of the most important
eras in the history of the republic.
1t would require much longer sketch
than we can give to trace the part which
Mr.. Hale bore in the great debates of
the times. Always true to the interests
of freedom, fearless, pungent and good.
natured, he made himself felt at every
crisis. Certainly his enemies gave him
tribute enough. Senator Foote prom
sed him a hanging if he should ever
come to Mississippi, and the great Cal
houn so demeaned himself as to declare /:
| would just as soon argue with ma
mac from Bedlam as with the Senator
rom New Hampshire" Mr.. Hale, how
aver, was much more than a brilliant
gladiator. He rarely failed to rise to
,he moral hight of the occasion. When
The Dred Scott decision of the Supreme
Court was rendered, he said " IF the
opinion of the Supreme Court be true, it
makes the immortal authors of the Dec.
aration of Independence liars before
God and hypocrites before the world"
Again, as if prophetic of the solemn or
Heal that was to come, he told the demo-
cratic leaders, intent upon the Kansas
niquity, that they were lighting a fire
hey could not quench-" they will raise
4 feeling in this country such as has nev-
sr yet been raised and the men of this
country will 60 forth, as they did of old
IN time, in another crusade; but it will
not be crusade to redeem the dead sep
llchre where the body of the Crucifed
mad lain from the proclamation of the in.
idel, but to redeem this fair land, which
God has given to be the abode of free
men, from the desecration of despotism
'ougat to be imposed upon them in the
name of perfect freedom and popular
sovereignty.
Soon after leaving the Senate in 1865,
Mr.. Hale was appointed by President
Lincoln Minister to Spain. On his re.
turn from Spain he was welcomed to his
home in Dover by complete ovation of
he people. Politics were laid aside, and
.he masses of both parties We'd with
each other in their efforts to give him
such reception as his distinguished SER
vices to the country deserved. In 1870
be visited the Legislature at Concord.
and was most weleomely received by both
Houses. The Senate formally welcomed
him while in session, an honor seldom be.
slowed in New Hampshire.
Mr.. Hale was an excellent speaker be.
fore public audiences, and was in great
in public canvasses. His man.
ners we're singularly genial and attrac-
tive, so that hosts of friends gathered
about him wherever he went. He mar