Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-06

The party majority thought proper to bring
forward resolutions relative the then L.
S. Bank. Clifford reported them, and advo-
/ Gated them in carefully prepared speech |
well remember his peculiar manner. He
would rise and make gesture With his right
/ hand before he said a word. His arguments
were elaborate rather than captivating. Fes-
sender replied TO him. He was master of his
| subject. and held the close attention of his
/ audience with a power of fascinating elo-
quenee which if it did not convince COM
manded the admiration of friend and foe. Ii
was party question, and the eloquent speech
es changedino votes.
| When Fessenden was member of the
| House, had frequent occasion TO notice the
singular power that he had in debate. In
those days party lines were strictly drawn.
and the apostle Paul or the golden mouthei'
| Chrysosrom could not have affected IA Yates
on question previously settled in caucus.
But on a non-psrtissn question Fe.,endrn
would almost handle the members at viii
/ When all the indications showed that the
| House was against him. he would commence
| BY relating some pleasant anec'iSie far from
the subject, get the ear of the members please
/ them by his ingenious illustrations. crsdu ally
come round TO the subject in hand, and carry
a majority with him. To bring out his high
est powers You should corner him up: he was
then al his best; his eloquence' WAS like flash
es of lightning. He had not drop OF cow
srdiy blood. He went into the United States
Senate in the midst OF the Wilmot proviso de-
bate. He hsd scarcely taken his seat, when
/ he felt called upon 10 speak for freedom. Ii
was a midnight session. Butler of Sluth
Carolina, tire-esting Southerner. interrupted
Fessenden BY threatening the dissolution of
h.a IFpin Hha ID
moment TO the white haired, hot-hlooded vet
eran, Il beg the gentleman will not delay a
moment on my account"
Such scenes as occurred at times in those
days do not take place in the legislature now
The times have changed, and the fashions
with them. On one occasion the democrats
brought forward resolutions on the protective
tariff. There was some debata, and the wings
wished to continue it. But the majori,y de-
termined that the vote should be taken be-
tore the House adjourned. Speeches were
made until after midnight. The House would
not adjourn. The late Parker Sheldon of
Gardiner took the floor, and after the exhaust
ing days session he spoke four >urs in favor
of protection He was q fluent speaker, and
well posted on the subject, and his speech
would probably have been good reading, but
it was thrown away at that time.
AT another time | think it WAS one Sa,ur-
day afternoon. and do not remember the
subject, the late William Clark OF Haliowell,
deeming himself not well treated by the
House. took the floor and held it seven hours
in an ingenious argument on his side of the
question. Naturally the effort cost him a
tortnights sickness.
David Dunn of Poland was for many wears
a prominent member of the House, and at one
time Speaker. How scornfulIy he used to
ask his opponent. "What does the gentleman
know about war;" As speaker he was prompt
and despatched business; he was very sure to
despatch any matter he was interested in
Once when he was not Speaker, but a mem.
Der. and IN a minority on some question, the
previous question was sprung upon him. and
he spoke four hours against the question
being put, and then voted in a minority of
one against the whole house.
was there when the lamruted Jonathan =.
Cilley was elected represent i'e. There had
been split in the democratic party, most
unusual occurrence. Two candidates were
run tor Governor. Cillty was chosen repre-
sentative by the minority faction. His seat
was contested. If ! recollect rightly the
committee on elections reported against him
| well remember his speech in favor of his
right to the seat lie was an eloquent and
vehement speaker, rather brilliant tnan logi-
cal, and about as difficult to report as it is
said Phillips Brooks is in these times. He
was subsequently, elected to Congress, aud
lost his life in a duel into which he wa.
dragooned by fiery kentuckian, who hmse:
survived the contest to hnger a few years in
shame and rem rise and then die, and il NAV
almost be said that duelling by congressman
died with him. II. X. b.