Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-07


noted speech of Delesdernier of Baileyvilie
the Hon. William Pitt Fessenden, Elm
Young man. He displayed q most wonderful
power. and l always remembered him with q
great deal Of feeling.
could talk for an hour or two of one of
tine wonderful young men that have come
up and passed away, in my day; young men
of perfect health. that have passed away
almost without sickness. while l, myself,
| have lived a long while, never having had
very robust health, vet slways well; never
having had a physician. and never having
| taken any medicine.
But. gentlemen. will not weary you; there
are others who desire to speak, and l there
fore close Applause
Hon. Hiram Ruggles.
Hon. Hiram Ruggles said
Mr.. President There is nothing that sur
prises me more in public assembly like this
| than to be called upon for remarks. While |
am perhaps quite we'll known throughout the
State, yet you will all say that nv silence
more than my words, perhaps, would attract
attention. | came into this House 40 years
ago. We had a summer session, commenc-
| ing, think, in May. l was then upon the
democratic side, think the Wings were q
few in the minority, but both sides were rep
resented by distinguished men. Fessenden
| was here, Barnes was here, the
Aliens were here, and so | might
60 on and enumerate large number of men,
who have since been conspicuous, that be-
longed upon that side of the House, but upon
our side, although we could cast the most
votes, we had DO professional men; 10 men
to make speeches, but We let the Wings
make the speeches, and then we would vote
as we felt to be the right thing to do, without
regard to the speeches. 1t so happened that
| this was the very legislature ! was in when
this distinguished gentleman was a candidate
for the United States Senate. was the ar
dent friend of Hannibal Hamlin. The House
toiled hard to give him an election, but in the
Senate that same Allen. with that straight
| hair, was in eur way every time. 1t was a
| sore disappointment 10 me that that hair
should stand in the way SO as to cause the
| defeat of that distinguished man, at that
time. Gentlemen, am not speech maker.
| Applause.
Hon. Joseph FarweIl.
| Hon. Joseph Farwell said:
Mr.. President: am very sorry indeed that
YOU should call upon me, as am not poll
| tician, although have the honor Of having
| been in the Council with my friend, Mr..
Cony, one of Gods best men, an honest man,
if ever one lived, in my Judgment l was
associated with him in the Council for two
years Our associations were very pleasant
indeed during that two years, although it was
| in the time of the perils of this government.
| In that Council each year there were ten of
US, and what was most peculiar thing the
members of both Councils were all what were
called 'ram-rods," every one of US temper
anct men. l do not think that ever hap
| pened before or since, since we have been a
State. Laughter and applause. But that
is solemnly true, Mr.. Speaker, and | stand
before you to-day almost a pensioner on
Gods bounty. In some few months shall
DE seventy years Of age, and l never drank a
glass of intoxic lting liquor in my life, APP
plause] and am six feet in my stockings
| have travelled over the country good deal
and have never wet my lips with intoxicating
| liquors, and that is why am so straight
Now, if | had the time would be glad to
tell an anecdote, but have not time. Cries
of 600 on; go Or 1t was a very peculiar
circumstance. The legislature had instructed
| Governor Cow to entertain General Grant.
There are many men here who
were in that legislature, and will remember.
The Governor invited Gen. Grant and his
staff to the capital, and we were to have a
good time. The Governor said that he
would make the whole council a committee to
make the arrangements. | was chairman of
the committee on military affairs, and it was
thought better to refer the matter to that COM
mittee. | said to the Governor-whom |
| loved, and whose memory | love still, -
| for if ever God made an honest
| man Samuel Cony was that man, and
know that when he left that office, he was
not worth so much bv SIS, 900 as when he
entered, is there to be any liquor on the
tablet" said he. 'Of course there is.
! should not think of entertaining General
Grant without having liquors. | said, "You
will please excuse me, MS | shall have moth
ing to do with it." He said that it belonged
to the committee on military affairs, but |
said should decline. The old gentleman
asked what he should do, and | suggested
! that he select a committee outside, from the
citizens of Augusta. and this was done.
Don't you believe it? Laughter. ]
That is true, so help me God, laugh
ter and applausel. At the entertainment
there were one hundred plates set The
Governor sat at the head of the table, and
his Council on his left, and every one of the
seven OF us turned our goblets over. and
they sat there, and don't know but they a-e
sitting there yet. Upon the other
side sat General Grant and his staff
and they had good time, suppose.
When the entertainment was finished the land
lord came up with his bill of S2500, and
wanted it audited by the committee. | said
that should not audit that bill. The ques-
ton was asked. what are you going to do?'
l said that | was not going to do
anything, and that would never
audit that bill. The landlord said
he wanted his money, and said
that could not help it. The Governor asked
what was going to do, and l replied that |
would not do anything; that | would never
audit the bill in the world it contained $500
for liquors 1t was suggested that it be re-
ferred TO the whole Council, but no, it be-
longed to the committee on military
affairs 1t was then suggested that ii
be referred to the next legislature, but de-
clined to have anything to do with it, 1t ran
along a time, and the Governor inquired
again about that bill. | replied that that bill
had given me sleepless nights, and that
would make a proposition. Said |. you e.
to the landlord and withdraw that bill and
have it made out horse hire, hotel bills ex-
penses, etc, etc, for the entertainment. and
then YOU take it and say. Il have examined
the items of which this bill is composed, and
find it correctly cast. and sufficiently vouched
for and | will approve it and sign il,
| Samuel Cony. Governor and | will audit
it," Said he, "Joe, YOU are the best fellow
ever saw" They fixed the bill! and | audited
it,and drew the amount for il, and it was paid
Some five years afterwsrd that landlord
failed, and his books went into the hands of our
- III. "a