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

seat in the House of Representatives. All
undoubtedly right, and this is stated only TO
illustrate the point made in the debate referred
to, as will be seen.
Mr.. Vance, as has been said, was unlike
Mr.. Holmes. and yet he was one of the
remarkable men OF his time. He made no
pretensions to any scholarly attsinments, but
he possessed q marvellous memory. in which
he had stored everything which be ever sag,
heard or read, snd at sll times ready for use.
He was therefore in a certain wsv a learned
man He was fairly good speaker. and had
also strong sterling common sense, the only
kind of sense, by the way. that is worth much
Uncommon sense is usually poor commodity
In biting sarcasm Mr.. Vance was the equal
of Mr.. Holmes. If Mr.. Holmes was the
finished ard polished marble, Mr.. Vance
was the solid and uncut granite.
Mr.. Vance was at one time q resident OF
New Brunswick. He became land owner
there and TO preserve and maintain his title
to the same he was obliged 10 take some kind
of an oath He did not abandon his citizen
ship or renounce his allegiance TO the United
States government
| 1t was verv evident to all that these men
did not care TO come into collision in debate
The instances were frequent when it could
be plainly seen that they carefully avoided
each other. There could be no mistake about
it. But events were fastening the time W hen
/ a rencounter was TO be witnessed upon the
subject of our northeast boundary
| II will be remembered by many, and BY all
familiar with the history of our State, that
the boundary line between Name and New
Brunswick was an exciting topic of discussion
in our Legislature. For long years and up
TO the time when the line was definitely settled
hv ha nf l.
Webster and Ashburton. that there vas an
annual and exciting debate in the Legislature.
each party endeavoring to score point over
the other with the people of the State. In
1887, a joint select committee consisting of
five senators and ten representatives was
appointed to consider and report upon the
subject. Mr.. Holmes and Mr.. Vance were
on that committee. Mr.. Holmes prepared
an able and exhaustive report, and all
the members of the committee signed
it, except Mr.. Vance, who would not
do so. 1t was upon that report
and the resolutions connected with it
that the debate took place, which led to the
rencounter between Mr.. Holmes and Mr.
Vance.
Mr.. Holmes delivered thoroughly pre-
pared, eloquent and able speech in support of
the report and resolutions He occupied some
wv houis III uoIuS ~, duu tnc Ctpse al
tention of the House After concluding a
discussion of his main subject, Mr. Holmes
began to ailude indirectly TO Mr.. Vance by
speaking of the duty of American citize Ms
TO their own government and the utter want of
patriotism in any one who did not at all times
adhere TO his citizenship, and of the great
blessings II conferred upon them. And he
finished with this emphatic language: ''Mr
Speaker, | have never yet in all my life taken
an oath of allegiance TO a foreign govern
ment, and, so help me God, never will"
Perhaps Mr.. Holmes imagined that he
might thus crush Mr.. Vauce and prevent re-
ply. If so he was wholly mistaken. He had
only thrown down the glove, aud it
promptly taken up.
OF course the floor was assigned by the
speaker 10 Mr.. Vance. He had been close
and attentive listener to every wood that Mr.
Holmes had said, but he had taken not the
slightest note of it; and then was witnessed
an exhibition of his marvellous memory. He
replied 70 Mr.. Holmes, discussing every point,
and quoting sentence after sentence of the very
words used by Mr.. Holmes. He, too, con
sumed about two hours, and as he came near
his close all were anxious to learn and hear
what was to be said in reply to the personal
and emphatic manner in which Mr.. Holmes
had concluded; and it came with dramatic
effect
Mr. Vance, in concluding spoke of the
evil and wrong of overweening ambition, and
the bad results which followed it, and thu
evils it produces, and he warned all against
its bad effects. He illustrated his position by
a reference to Aaron Burr; then, turning to
Mr.. Holmes he said, with all the emphasis
and power he could command. substantially
M. Speaker, in all my life, neither from
inetfi ,iency nor an overweening ambition and
anxiety for official position in another place,
have lost or bartered my countrys soil to
foreign government, and 40 help me God,
never will. Grand Manan,'
On the whole it was regarded as a we'll
drawn forensic battle.