The Republican journal., 1883-09-06
Three Maine Senators.


larger questions, or been more aft Eent in
brilliant craftsmanship, than the decade
to which this lecture is devoted The
senators of first class ability and large
| experience were as numerous as i'm any
period OF the Senate'S history. But of
that galaxy of great men, who's able
debates and brave leadership AIDE the
ten years so llustrous, think, bE gen
elal consent, VIM. Pitt Fessenden would
be placed at the head. At this pei Eiod he
was in the full meridian of his lowers.
Fifteen years Of Senatorial experience
| had been added to the admirable fitting
with which he first came to the Senate
and he was the recognized leader of the
party in power He was an II htiring
worker in committee in counsel he was
re-eminently wise, and unmatch bed in
debate. He was not especially an orator:
indeed he made no attempt at elOduence.
But no other mans statement WAS so
clear; no other mans argument $50 i'm
pregnable. He had a full compre[ tension
of the matter in hand, and was ]ble to
make it as clearly understood by every
| hearer. He was not an impa$sioned
speaker; he used few gestures, scarcely
ever raised his voice above a COZ versa
tlonal tone, and using common every day
words, talked straight on to the full clab-
Grafton of his theme, and the cOmplete
discontinue OF all opponents. 1t is told
| that Mr. FeSsenden was once SSpciated
in the trial OF cause with a professional
| brother, who afterWard became one of
the Justices of the Supreme Court Ac-
cOrding to agreement Mr.. Fessenden was
to state the facts, while his associl lte was
to urge the law, for which he made elabo-
rate preparation. Mr.. FessendeIt made
his statement, Whereupon the cOhrt re-
marked that nothing further was neces-
sary on that side OF the case. SO clear
and convincing was his presentation of
the facts, that no occasion was left for
argument Mr.. Fessenden was q man of
fine presence; little under six teat slen-
der, of dark complexion, his rath er long
iron gray hair swept back from a square
strong forehead, and sharply cut, intel
| lectual face \ man Of the most genuine
modesty the leader of the Senat te-the
ablest man of the country; vet he went
out and in with less pretension til Ian the
man who opened and shut the doors.
| simultaneously with his advent i hto the
Senate arose in Congress that dlass of
| public questions whose discussion in the
! subsequent years shook the natioh h to its
| foundation, and afforded Mr.. Fe$senden
grand opportunity for the eXhibF ton OF
those powers Of analysis, logic and invec
| tive, which have rarely been surpassed in
any legislative body. Mr.. Fessen{ Hen had
scarcely taken his seat when he found
| himself in the midst of the fiery debate
His brave and memorable speech ION that
| occasion was electric in its effect, both in
Washington and throughout the country
and from this time forward to the Sudden
close of his life, Mr.. Fessenden took lead
| ing part in the debates upon all questions
of Importance which came befbre the
Senate, and his influence upon THE legis-
| lation and policy of the country during
its eventful struggle of civil war was as
potent as it was wise. Internal r bvenue,
the Currency, the Banking tenn, and
finally Reconstruction, all recei ned the
shaping influence Of his strong mind.
One with slight acquaintance W Fth Mr..
Fessenden might tell you that he was
proud and cold but those who klb lew him
we'll knew that he had an eXd uisitely
sensitive nature, which vibrated to the
slightest touch and his love of kindred
and friends was as deep and tend er as
woman's. The twilight hour of d winter
afternoon which it was once my pleasure
to spend with him in his committee room,
| is among my most cherished memories :;
and the endearing terms Of resp ect and
love with which he spoke of Ills aged
fathe er "a father most worthy of such a
SOM were touching and beautiful in the
extreme and those who were present
will never forget the moistened eve, the
| quivering lip, and the stitled utterance
with which he spoke of bis sons, living
and dead, on the solitary occasid IN when
he rose in the Senate in his own defence
against what he deemed an unjust impu-
tation of an undue eXertiOn of Influence
in their behalf. And while this great de-
batter had no superior in the Senate his
appearance in the debate was never
| heralded by any note of prep Haraton.
| He never addressed the galleries, and
made no speeches for distIf fbution.
His sole aim seemed to be to for
ward the business Immediately be-
fore the Senate. He bore himself with
| graceful ease but as he warmed with his
subject and took fire at the Interruptions
and responses of his opponents Il ben that
| head which was usually slightly inclined
| forward, was proudly thrown back and
he carried himself with an imperial bear
| ing which attested the royalty Ofhs nat
| ure.
Few men have discharged the high du-
ties Of Senator with more hOnOI to their
| State, or to themselves, than did Lot NJ.
Morrill,. Both IN character and person,
| perhaps H1dNt12esS Is the term which
would best express his especial q dualties
vi good figure, erect, looking every man
and every question squarely in the face,
quick of judgment and resolute lh eXecu-
ton. man Of great nobleness of soul,
and as true to the right as the NJ fede to
the magnet. No sinister infuen&e could
swerve Lot Morrill, from the line of recti-
tude Il hairs breadth and he was never
stumbling about in search of bis path
lnstinctively he knew the right al Id walk
ed bravely in it's narrow way. He was a
frequent and brilliant debater- b bften il
Eliminating his periods of hearty senti-
ment and ringing eloquence with gleam-
ing shafts OF corruscatng sarcasm and
humor. Sharp in his denunciation of
wrong, but never sour or bitter Indeed
his spirit was tempered with rare kindli-
ness, his soul seemed fountain Of gener-
Gus emotion. Mr. Morrill, added to his
great abilities the most social disposition
and real love of men. He was one of
those favorities of society whom we call
"Whole sOuls"-"men who fill the hour
and the company, whatever the o. ecasion,
contented and contentingly." A man of
"clean grit" of whose honorable conduct
his friends had no anxiety, whatever the
responsibility or whatever the tenn ptation.
One day when there was high debate
upon the question of Reconstruct ion and
the status Of the freedman, | fou Ind Mr..
| Morrill, in the great Rotunda of the Capt.
tol walking to and fro in front of the old
historic paintings which hang upon those
high walls. He had left the Senate and
IFS heated wrangling for half hours
communion with the great men and the
great events of our earlier history. He
! took me by the arm and led me to the