National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-07
RETAINING FAITHFUE SER.
VdRTg

There seems to be no doubt that the COM
position of the Legislature of Maine en-
sures the reelection of Hon. Hannibal
Hamlin to the Senate of the United States.
He is sixty-fve years of age, and has been
during the last thirty eight years almost
uninterruptedly in the public service either
as representative in the State Legislature,
in Congress, Governor, collector of the port
of Boston, Vice President of the United
States, or Senator of the United States. In
all the above-named positions he has served
with marked fidelity, first as Democrat,
and later as free-soil Democrat and Re
publican. He served ten years as Senator
previous to his election as Governor in
1857, which position he resigned after sery-
ing few months, upon being reelected to
the United States Senate. After retiring
from the Vice Presidency, in 1866, he was
appointed collector of the port of Boston, a
place which he also resigned after few
months service. He was again returned to
the Senate in 1869. and upon the Sd of
March next he will have completed twenty
one years service in the Senate, in addi-
ton to four years as Vice President Is it
not little astonishing, in view of such
record, that Republican Maine should now
determine to extend these twenty-five years
to thirty-on by his reelection to the Sen
ate for six years mOre3
Charles Sumner was chosen four success
sive terms to the United States Senate by
the people of Massachusetts,. Henry Viii
son was also four successive times elected
to the same high office. John Sherman is
now serving his third term of six years.
SIMON Cameron has been four times chosen
United States Senator from Pennsylvania.
Senator Howe, of Wisconsin, is now
serving his third term of six years
in the same body. So also are Senators
Anthony, of Rhode Island, and Chandler,
of Michigan. Senator COnkling having
served three terms in the lower House, is
now serving his second term in the Senate.
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, served twelve
years in the House before he entered the
Senate, where he is now serving a second
term. Mr.. Maynard is now serving his
eighth term in the House; Mr.. Dawes his
ninth consecutive term; Mr.. Fernando
Wood his sixth term; Mr.. S. S. Cox his
seventh term; Mr.. Hooper is in his seventh
term; Mr.. Niblsck in his seventh, as is also
Mr. Holman, of Indiana; Mr.. Sawyer in his
fifth, and Mr.. Marshall, of Illinois, IN his
seventh term. These facts go to show that
the people are inclined to keep faithful and
efficient public servants in place regard
less of the number of terms they
may have served because of the
greater usefulness that may be ex-
pected to be EdeCived from their long eI-
perience in public life. They have no ira
ditional fears of a misuse of power in these
elective officers. In the civil list we have
also some few illustrations of the efficiency
of officers having the benefit of large e1pe-
rience, the most notable of which at this
capital are Assistant Secretaries Hunter and
Hartley, Treasurer Spinnerand Second Au-
ditOE French, all of whom, we believe, are
now in their fourth terms of service in their
present positions. Our history presents no
legends or traditions in opposition to length
ened service except in the Office of the Chief
Executive of the nation. There We are
told third term would he monarchy.