Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-10-30

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in 1854, was an important epoch in the
political history Of Maine. Many of the
men in our own State who figured large
ly upon the political stage Of that day
are gone 10 that - bourne from which no
traveller returns" As the history of the
events attending Mr.. Fessendens FRS,
election TO the Senate has never been
written, have thought brief reference
to some Of the incidents which at that time
came under my own personal observation
might be interesting to your readers
especially TO those who, thirty years ago
participated in the stirring political scenes
Of that day, and who still live" To
shoulder their crutch and tell how fields
were won"
Preliminary 20 this, however, in order
that your readers may have correct IN
ders:ardirg Of the political situation Of
TIA, day, and Of the relations Of the Po-
Utica. parties to each other, l will briefly
give 60 The State election Of the fall Of
1855 . passing understanding myself
20 the election for Governor and members
of the Legislature.
In the Maine State election Of 1853,
there were four parties in the field, and
four candidates for Governor Albert
PIlsbury, Democrat, received S6,Ss6
votes: William G. Crosby, Wing, p ,O6l;
Arson P. Morrill,, Independent Democrat,
1902: and Ezekiel Holmes, Free Soil,
S.9e6. No one Of these candidates re-
ceived a majority Of the votes cast, con-
sequently there was no choice Of Governor
by the people. The law then required a
majority vote in the election Of Senators.
and the multiplicity Of party candidates
prevented an election in several Of the
Senatorial Districts. OF the Senators
elected. the Democrats had bare ma
jOrity which gave them the organization
Of tina; body before the vacancies were
filled. In the House neither party had a
majority. The independent, or " Morrill,
Democrats" as they were then called,
had ten members; the Free Sellers eight,
and the remainder were divided up be-
tween the old Democratic and Wing par
ties, the former having the larger num-
Der, but not a majority Of the whole.
The Morrill, Democrats held the balance
Of power between the two old parties,
and consequently had the organization Of
the House in their own hands. The
regulars" understanding this, sudden
ly left off abusing the . boilers laid
down the party whip they had fourished
over their heads during the heated con-
test, out Of which they had emerged.
proposed peace on the basis of Demo
cratic organization Of the House, giving
qUd pro quo, in the division Of the Off
ces. But these independents" prompt
ly refused 70 entertain any propositions
of-the kind from their old party friends,
informing them they had left the old
Democratic party 20 sny-until j, was
radically reformed.
The result was an organization Of the
House BY the election Of Hon. Noah
Smith. II, Wing Speaker, and the
writer Of this article, Morrill, Democrat
Clerk, each receiving the entire vote Of
the Wing. Morrill, Democrat and Free
Soil parties in the House.
The vacancies in the Senate had 10 be
filed BY the constitutional method, that
Is BY electing one from the two highest
candidates voted for by the people, and
following the same rule where there were
two or more vacancies. A majority Of
these vacancies were filed BY men who
were friendly to a reorganization Of par
ties-as indicated BY the action of the
House.
From the highest four candidates vot-
ed for by the peple, the House sen, to
the Senate William G. Crosby, Wing.
and Arson P Morrill,, Independent, Dem
ocrat.
The Senate elected Crosby Governor
over Morrill, by one majority-the Demo-
Gratis IN that body, to a man, voting with
the straight Wings for Crosby. The
Wing Senator who held the casting vote
between these two constitutional candi- |
dates had. up to the time Of the election,
expressed a determination to vote for
Morrill,, but at the last moment was over
persuaded by his political friends to cast
his vote for Crosby. The Independent
Democratic party,-cOnsistiDg Of Henry
P. Torsey of Readfeld, Hiram Ruggles
Of Carmel, Job Prince Of Turner, and
Hiram Hubbard Of Paris, from the Sen
ate; and George Libby Of Westbrook,
Ephraim Legrow of Windham, Albert
Sanborn of Baldwin, Lewis Bisbee Of
sumner, Benjamin Tobin of Hartford,
Joseph Baker of Orington, Amasa X. |