The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-22
tFrom the Belfast Agel
Mr.. WaShburn and the SenatOrshin.

Mr.. Editor: In filling the seat of Mr..
Hamlin III the U. s. Senate, the first consid-
Grafton ought to be. what man, by his ability
and intellectual resources, will bring the most
effectual service to the nation and gain for
the s. ate the influence which it ought TO COM
mand. The facility with which inferior ones
have been able through party machinery 10
boost themselves into high office, has done
much to bring official station into popular
contempt. 1t is high time this farming out
Of responsible Offices demanding disinterest-
edness, high character and raIe ability should
be arrested, and that the people OF the state
should begin TO consider, not who wishes TO
go 10 the U. S. Senate, or whose turn il is.
according to fair and honorable understand
ing among presum )tuous competitors, but
who will do the country most service and the
state the most honor in the responsible posi-
ton.
Among the known and tried men of the
state, it seems to me that Mr. Wasbburn can
best represent the commanding ability. un-
sullied integrity and acknowledged reputation
which form the elements of our ideal of an
American senator. 1t is nearly fifteen years
since he left Congress, in which he acquired
not only local but national reputation, by
his ready resources in debate, the soundness
and earne,tness of his political convictions,
and the answering tenacity with which he
adhered to the great principles of freed 10
then in fearful peril, bu: which since have ev-
erywhere tTiuUIphed. From 1850 TO 1860,
Congress was the most conspicuous theater
of American history. The fearful issues
wh'clrwere afierward fought out on many a
bloody field, were made ID and rendered on
the floors of the national capitol. Ever after
1854 aud the repeal of the Missouri com'ro-
mise, it was evident that the contest between
slavery ami freedom was irTepressble; but
n order that frppIOm ShOnlI hn eno tul
that the patriotic heart OF the people might
be gen orally reused, that the better senti-
ment OF the nation might be enlisted in be-
half Of principle that had been looked upon
as only factious an sectional, it was neces-
sary to carefully adjust the particus ar grounds
of controversy, make the ultimGtum of the
long suffering North so just and reasonable
that VIII II tine frantic South spurniDg it,
rushed to arms, it ehotild pteciptale its ruin.
No legislation during our whole constitutions
al period, was so important as that which
preceded and prepared for the outbreak of
the rebellion. here were many new, some
OF them with the reputation OF statesmen,
who were dsmayed a. the formidable demon
strations of resistance on the part of the
South, and who were ready to surrender all
the substantial advantages that free govern
ment had gained over slavery N the election
of Mr.. Liucoln. The majority of the people
bad not believed in the sincerity of the seces
sion leaders, and had there been a new presi-
Dental election any time after secession be-
came fact, and before the attack upon Futt
Sumter, it is highly probable that he in
tmida'ed country would have reversed its
own decision, and taken a more tolerant po-
sition towards lave-Iolding for the sake OF
saving the Union.
Mr.. Washburn had been four terms in Con-
gress. His ardent feelings, his enthusiastic
devotion to freed )m and his courageous spir-
it, bad made him prominent among the anti
slavery leaders OF the House. His friends
knew that he would never compromise nor
surrender, and plotters of the rebellion,
though many of them on terms OF corda So
cial rela ions with hin, dreaded his influence
as they did that of Sumner. Giddngs, and
that school of Northern men, unhapnily not
large, who could neither be intimidated
through their fears, nor seduced through
heir ambition.
When Mr. Washburn left Congress in 1860,
he brought away from it, a reputation which
only the congressional careers of Mr.. Fes-
sehden and Mr.. Evans have surpassed. He
left Congress when the debate as sIcl was
fairly over. He had aided in so putting the
issue. that in fighting, the South were COM
PEELED to fight against all their patriotic in
stncts against all the feelings of national
loyalty. and against the humane sentiments
of all mankind. There were no more words
to be said; henceiOrward for few years Con-
eress was to be nothing but the minister of
tue President in voting hi.n supplies and le-
gaiizing his war policy
With some personal reluctance on his part,
Mr. Washburn came home and consented to
be a candidate for governor. His popularity
and reputation made his elt ction easy, and
he proved to be .hn right man in the right
place. He did for Maine what Gov. Andrew
for Macc ba
age and patriotism of the people into an
effective army, and adopted and admins
ter d in connection with The legislature, aud
effective system, under which, within four
years, fifty thousand men were put inio the
field as soldiers. His task was harder than
that OF Gov. Andrew who had, in his state,
the nucleus of a military organization, while
| in Maine the whole thing had fallen with
desuetude and contempt.
Mr. Washburn might bave stepped from
| the governors chair to the u. s. Senate,
| aid many friends ged him to do it. but he
refused to turl his back upon that public ser
vice for which lie had been elected. although
there were precedents justify such course.
| Since then the Maine senatorship has come
| to be regarded so much as the perquisite and
| natural right in pelpetuity of the incumbent
| that there has beer really no debate and lit
| tie consideration, except between the COM
pefItOrS themselves, Jne unexpected return
OF Mr.. Hamlin after his public life had seemed
to have been rounded off by the Vice Presi-
dency, making three standing candidates for
| only Two places. Without his solicitation,
| Mr. Wasbburn was placed in the Poitland
collectorship, a position not at all suited to
his tastes, tor he is public spirited rather
| than r:ercenary, and his ambitions like 5
| abilities, are literary rather than in the di-
rection of official ease and money-making.
In accepting this Office, he submitted to the
disadvantage of removal from an attached
constituency who believed in HIM, and knew
his rare capacity for public lite. But coming
from the East to the West he has carried
with him the attachment of old friends, and
has gained in community, honored by en-
| inent men, prestige which brings his name
spontaneously to the hearts of all wei! in
formed people as candidate for the u S.
Senate, whose election will be most heartily
acquiesced in at home, and will be acknowI-
edged outside of the state every Nhere as that
most eminently fitting to be made
| SULLIVAN.