The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-17

inclined to favor the election of Mr.. Fessen-
den to the Senate; but that defeat, brought
about as it was, by the action of certain
members of the Wing party, created so
much disaffection in their ranks that por-
tlon of their number favored an independent
nomination. These men thought they saw
in the minds of certain Wings secret in
tent to manufacture party capital, indepen-
dent of the new issues then being raised up
on the slavery question.
And what seemed to disturb the equanim-
ity OF both the old parties, and make them
more or less anxious, was the fact that the
Independents excluded everybody from their
caucus deliberations. excepting those who
could keep their discussions and action q
profound secret, and so well did they sue
coed in this that for week previous to the
Senatorial election no one belonging to and
~tlfen acting with either of the cid parties
knew what their action was to be.
Another little circumstance which hap
pened some two or three days before the
election created intense anxiety among some
John Hubbard, whe at that time would
have been pleased to have received the nom
ination from the Independents, was at the
Augusta House one evening and was invited
by some Of his old friends into the Indepen-
dent caucus. No sooner vas this fact
known when it was surnised that he was to
receive the Independent vote for Senator.
And what made this more provoking was
the silent assent givsn 10 this rumor by the
Independents when charged with this pur-
pose. But this taclt assent, as will hereaf-
ter appear, was more by design than acct
dent But while the outside political world
was cropping in the dark, and sincerely be-
lieving Gov. Hubbard to be the regular eau
Gus candidate Of the Independents, they were
secretly graphing with the great question
OF duty in the then impending crisis. The
Kansas-Nebraska bill, repeating the Missouri
compromise was then pending in Congress,
aud Maine was but half represented in the
Senate. The slave oigarchy was enthroned
in every department Of the national govern
ment, ard steadily fastening its deadly fangs
upon the very viials of the body polite, and
the North was being Inundated before the
gigantic tread of the slave power, acting
through the agency of the old Democratic
party.
These patriotic men saw the storm com
ing, and forgetting the defeat of their heroic
leader, for the gnbernatorial chair, and ris-
ing above party and party predictions, af-
ter long, calm, yet earnest discussion, de-
clded to take the responsibility and elect
Mr.. Fessenden And right here, desire to
give the principal reason why their action
upon this matter was kept secret from
both the old political parties. With the
votes they could give Mr.. Fessenden, it was
well known, that the contest would be a
very close one, especially in the Senate; and
it was equally we'll known that there were
certain straight Wings who while they would
vote for Mr.. Fessenden, with Ex-Goy. Hub
bard in the field, could not be relied upon in
single contest between the two regular
candidates. To save the possibility Of de-
feat in that direction, committee, Of which
the late George Libby of Westbrook was
chairman, was chosen by the Independents
to procure the printing and distribution of
votes for Ex-Governor Hubbard TN the day
of the election; and these ballots were pro-
fusely distributed in both branches before
the ballotings commenced.
cannot make this historic sketch COM
plete without relating an incident that took
place the night before election. About one
O'Clock In the morning messenger, sent by
Mr.. Fcssenden, called at the lodgings of
a personal friend-whom he knew
to be in the secrets of the indie
pendents-1ith a note requesting his
immediate attendance at his room. In re-
spouse TO This call he found Mr.. Fessenden
alone in his room, llboring under a good
deal of excitement under apprehen sion of
certain defeat the next day. Some of his
Wing friends had communicated to him the
Governor Hubbard story" which both they
and be believed TO be true, and he earnestly
inquired if anything could be done 10 avert
what seemed to him would be his sure de-
feat. Under the circumstances his friend.
under the pledge of secrecy, could but as
sure hin that he would receive a sufficient
number Of votes from the Independent
Democrats TO elect him. It need not be
said that this was grateful news to hi,u-as
re remarked, almost TOO good to be- true.n
The next day, during The ballodng-and
even after, while the committee were out
counting the yotes-''no choice'' was freely
through the House; and we we'll
that as the committee who had
received the votes were retiring, the Hon.
Lot M. Morrill,, then the Democratic cand-
date, remarked to us that of course there
would be no choice on that ballot" The
report OF the committee that William Pitt
Fessenden was elected flor the Senate had
just sent in q message that he had been
eh> sen in that branch) came upon the mem
bers of both the old parties like thunder
bolt In a clear sky. Fol- few moments the
silence of death ieigned throughout the old
Hall. and it was only broken
when Lot III. Morrill, slowly arose from his
seat, walked across the area in front of the
clerks desk and, taking Mr.. Fessenden by
the hand warmly congratulated him upon
bis election. The almost painful silence
Was then broken by words of congratuation,
In which none joined more heartily than the
little band of Independents, whose skillful
had 50 essentially aided in
bringing about successful result. And IL
is but an act of justice % the memory of an
old personal friend, who now sleeps in the
dust mean the late Hon. George Libby of
ssestbrook--to say that from the very start
he seemed to comprehend the situation, and
was the warm advocate of Mr.. Fessenden's
election. When others faltered he stood
firm and it was largely through his persist
emit efforts that a successful result was
reached, and in this he was backed up by
Bisbee of Sumner, Sanborn of Baldwin, and
others whose names have escaped my mem
Dry. In conclusion it only remains for me
to say that the election of Mr.. Fessenden
paved the way for complete consolidation
Of the anti-slavery sentiment in Maine into
one political organization, ever since known
and recognized as the Republican party: