The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-07
PORTLAND, Me-, Jan. %, 1888,

PORTLAND, Me-, Jan. 2e, 1898.
Nh Dear Crdgin.
Your kind and cordial letter of the goth
inst. is before me. Allow me to assure yon
that nothing could give me greater pleasure,
than to meet the surviving members of the
34th Congress who voted for Nathaniel p.
Banks for Speaker, and by their persistent
efforts, won the first great battle for freedom
10 this country.
On account of my family relations and
somewhat advanced age, ii is rather difficult
for me to leave home, for a journey of five
or six hundred miles in the winter season.
and shall probably be unable to attend
your meeting.
In looking over the list of members for the
Saith Congress from Maine / find myself the
only survivor. My colleagues have all gone
to that bourne from which no traveller re.
turns" but through the mercy of a kind
Father in Heaven, Il still live."
Fourof my colleagues, to wit: John M.
Wood Samuel p. Benson, Eben KnOwton
and Israel Washburn, Jr., with myself vot-
ed for Banks.
With the exception OF less than a dozen
votes cast for Lewis ID. Campbell and two
others. l voted continuously for Nathaniel
p. Banks from the beginning to the end OF
the great struggle which ended on the 13Sd
vote for Speaker.
Mr.. Wood was reelected amember OF the
35th Congress and after serving out his
time, retired from public, life to prosecute q
large business as railroad contractor. He
died many years since.
Mr. Benson left at the close Of the Saith
Congress to enter. upon life of lit
erary pursuits in connection with
Bowdoin College, and has been dead several
years. Mr.. knowlton was a distinguished
preacher in the Free Baptist denomination,
and devoted the remainder of his life to his
profession. and died some ten years ago.
Mr.. Washburn was reelected to the 35th
and Both Congress, but resigned his seat in
the last named body, to accept the Office
fee of governor of Maine, and for two years
served as Names great War Governor"
He was subsequently IL years Collector of
Portland, and died about three or four years
since.
Hon. T. J. D. Fuller, my other colleague
In the 34th Congress, was leading member
OF the Democratic party, and died many
years since at Washington.
The nine weeks contest In the National
House Of Representatives in 1856, which end
Speaker was splendid fight. 1t was the
first time in the history of this country, when
a square issue was made up between free
dom and slavery. When in the face of
boosted Southern chivalry, Southern threats
and Southern brag, the great North planted
its guns upon the the outer WALL nailed its
colors to the mast, and with bold front,
declared no more SLAVERY extension into free
territory.
And what gave additional interest to the
siCaU CohuiCt was tHc iuttHoo coHctIu Oh
both North and South; as from week to
week they watched the votessin the House,
the advancing and retreating of forces, as
they appealed ever and anon amid the din
and smoke of battle.
The whole country was excited and both
North and South, with intense interest
watched for the result. The votes of every
member were watched by the people, and
probabilities freely canvassed. All doubtful
hesltatlng members were very likely to find
fire in their rear" among their consti-
tuents
Such was the nature of this nine weeks
conflict. And well do | remember the finale
on the I'd of February 1856 After the last
roll call, and Southern Americans" had
been changing their votes from Fuller to
Akin and the tellers had footed up 103 for
Banks and 100 for Akin with nine scatter
ing votes. which under the plurality rule
did not affect the result.
Jacob Broom and his five American" as
sociates who had voted for Fuller were seat
ed together in one corner of the hall-sur-
rounded bysthes friends of Akin. All kinds
Of influences were brought to bear upon
them to induce them to change to Akin, but
without effect. Amid the intense excite
ment, minutes, second hours, until at last
John w. Forney, the presiding officer de-
clined the vote, which made Nath. p. Banks
speaker of the 34th Congress. Thus ended
the first great fight between freedom and
slavery, whose booming guns never ceased
their echoes, until by the fiat of the i'm
we became in fact what we were in name,
The land of the fee, and home of the
brave"
Please remember me kindly to all survi-
wing comrades, and believe me fraternally
yours, JOHN j. PERRY.