The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-23
Three Maine Senators.
Pen Portraits of Fessenden, Morrill, and
----- Blaine.

From Ex-Sergeant-at-Arms French's New Lecture,
"Ten Years About the Senator
No ten years of the American Senate has
been marked with the discussion of larger
questions, or been more aff1uent 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 in any period of the Senate's
history. But of that galaxy of great men,,
whose able debates and brave leadership
made the ten years so illustrious, think,
by general consent, VIM. Pitt Fessenden
would be placed at the head. At this period
he was in the full meridian of his powers
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 untiring worker in com
mittee; in counsel he was pre-eminently
wise, and unmatched in debate. He was
not especially an orator; indeed he made no
attempt at eloquence. But no other mans
statement was SO clear; no other mans ar
gument SO impregnable. He had full
comprehension of the matter in hand. and
was able to make it as clearly understood by
every nearer. He was not an impassoned
speaker; he used few gestures, scarcely ever
raised his voice above a conversational tone,
and using common everyday words, talked
straight on to the full elaboration of his
theme, and the complete discontinue of all
opponents. 1t is told that Mr.. Fessenden
was once associated in the trial of a cause
with professional brother, who afterward
became one OF the Justices of the Supreme
Court. According to agreement Mr.. Fessen-
den was to state the facts, while his asso-
ciate was to urge the law, for which he
made elaborate preparation. Mr.. Fessenden
made his statement, whereupon the court
remarked that nothing further was necessa-
ry 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 man of fine presence;
little under six feet, slender, of dark COM
pex1on, his rather long iron-gray hair swept
back from square, strong forehead, and a
sharply cut intellectual face A man of the
most genuine modesty; the leader of the
Senate-the ablest man of the country: vet
he went out and in with less pretension
than the men who opened and shut the
doors. simultaneously with his advent in
to the Senate arose in Congress that class of
public questions whose discussion in the
subsequent years shook the nation 10 its
foundation, and afforded, Mr.. Fessenden
grand opportunity for the exhibition of those
powers of analysis, logic and invective,
which have rarely been surpassed in any
legislative body. Mr.. Fessenden had scarce
ly taken his seat when he found himself in
the midst of the fiery debate. His brave
and memorable speech on 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 leading part in the de-
bates upon all questions of Importance
which came before the Senate, and his in
fuence upon the legislation and policy of
the country during its eventful struggle of
civil war was as potent as it was wise. In
ternal Revenue, the Currency, the Banking
system, and finally Reconstruction, all re-
ceived the shaping influence of his strong
mind. One with slight acquaintance with
Mr.. Fessenden might tell you that he was
proud and cold; but those who knew him
we'll knew that he had an exquisitely sensi-
tive nature, which vibrated to the slightest
touch; and his love of kindred and friends
was as deep and tender as woman's. The
twilight hour of 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 respect and love with which he
spoke of his aged father Ia father most wor-
thy OF such SOM were touching and beau
tiful in the extreme; and those who were
present will never forget the moistened eye,
the quivering lip, and the stifed utterance
with which he spoke of his sons, living and
uead, on the solitary occasion when he rose
In the Senate in his own defence against
what he deemed an unjust imputation of an
undue exertlon of influence in their behalf.
And while this great debater had no superb
or in the Senate his appearance in the debate
was never heraded by any note of prenara-
ton. He never addressed the galleries and
made no speeches for distribution. His sole
aim seemed to be to forward the business
Immediately before 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
then that head which was usually slightly
inclined forward, was proudly thrown back
and he carried himself with an imperial