Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-02

HANNIBAL HAMLIN told his neighbors at
Bangor Wednesday night that he could
conceive of no emergency powerful enough
TO draw him again from the home Preside;
and he doubtless means il. Perhaps he Is
going TO be collector OF that port. Uncle
Hamlin makes picturesque figure any
where, and he tells how very kind men,
beers OF the reiguing house Of Spain have
been to him. 1t would be interesting to
hear how the venerable and unconvention-
al Yankee impressed the Spanish court.
Certainly nothing like him was ever seen
there before. Hannibal Hamlin's career
has been full OF struggles and successes,
and II bridges a lot OF history. He was
horn of sturdy New England stock at
Paris. Me-, ~ years ago, and after learning
the rudiments Of things at the district
school. entered Hebron academy at the
age of l2. where he was known for indus
try and leve OF country froiics. He was
a tall. dark boy with handsome features,
and tradition says that the pretty girls at
huskjng bees were we'll content when Han
nibal found the ''red ear" While he was
vet a mere boy, he began to show taste
and capacity for the law, and after win
ming case against himself and several
mates before q country justice whom he
dszed with authorities and technical terms
decided TO study it. He was constantly
baked by duties which called him home,
and it was only after long term OF farm
ing. a little school teaching and taste OF
Journalism on a political weekly, that he
was able to enter a lawyers office. In
1898 he was admitted to the bar. and on
the day Of his examination won his first
case in the higher court against Judge
Emery, a distinguished jurist who at once
took liking to the young lawyer aud az
terward accepted him for a son.in.law.
Though his father was a wing, young
Hamlin was a strong democrat, aud after
he had married and settled down at Hamp-
den. was elected to the Legislature. He
held his seat for five successive terms, and
showed so much ability as to be three
times chosen speaker. The democrats
nominated him for Congress In 1910, but
he was beaten by his whig opponent AMI
personal friend, Allen. Three years later
the tables turned, and Hamlin was sent to
Washington with Is majority Of 1000. The
tourney to the capital was something or
an undertaking in those days, and the
Maine man made it by boat, saddle, stage,
rail and on foot. His good looks and
ready wit gave him access to the best So
ciety OF the city, anu ne at OuCe oeCame
prominent in the House. He supported
his party on all questions except those re-
lating to the extension Of slavery, and one
| OF his earliest speeches against 1t caused
tumult among his associates, during which
John Quincy Adams went to his side,
offered him his hand and exclaimed,
"Light breaketh In the east, sirI light
| breaketh In the east!" His second term
In Congress saw stormy times. The anti
slavery agitation had grown formidable,
and the democrats were making desperate
efforts against it. Mr.. Hamlin stood out
| for proviso to the Three Millions" bill,
| which was to end the Mexican war and
| annex Texas. The proviso which the
auti-slavery men proposed was to embody
an amendment prohibiting slavery In the
| new territory, apd 1t was almost lost; fol