The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-17
VETERAN REPu sLIcAN CLUB.
An Interesting Nee ting In City Build
ing, Last Evening"

The Veteran Republican CLUB met IN tne
ward room of the City Building last night,
and enjoyed a very interesting meeting.
President Perry called the meeting to order,
after which the records OF the last meeting
were read and approved.
On motion of Secretary Leach, the follow
ing committee was appointed by the Chair to
procure rooms for the future meetings OF the
Club: Messrs. G. o. Leach, j. M. Stevens
and Gerrish.
On motion of Mr.. T. G. Harris, it was yot-
ed to extend, through the president OF the
Club, an invitation to Hon. Hannibal Ham
lin to address those who voted for him in
1860, at day to be named hereafter.
Mr.. John NJ. Stevens thought that 1t would
be good thing for the Club to invite Mr..
Hamlin to address them, and also suggested
that all who were members OF Congress
from this State at that time be invited.
Gu motion of Mr.. John G. Tewksbury, Mr..
G. S. Staples was appointed to engage the
City Hall for the occasion of the address of
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin.
1t was suggested, also, that Gen. John
Stevens, Gen. Banks and John 7. Gilman be
invited to address the Club at some future
day.
City Marshal Hawkes. was called upon to
speak, and said: II am not speech-maker,
but in coming here tonight have been fired
up somewhat II IN. Hannibal Hamlin was
the first person / east vote for, and have
never been sorry that l voted for him. We
have a great deal Of work before us, and
there are quite number Of prominent men
in this and other States that we shall be glad
TO have address us. l recollect that at the
time when Hamlin was elected Governorof
the State there rwere a good many Uncle
Sam men around, and it.was, Hello, Uncle
Saml' Now there are good many Blaine
men around. 1 will close, with thanking
YOU, Mr.. President, for the honor Of being
called upon to address the club"
Mr.. Gerrish said that he was not speaker,
but was very much interested in Republican
ism. 81 voted for Anson p. Morrill, in 1854,
and from that time to the present day have
never lost vote"
President Perry told many interesting sto-
ries of the campaign OF 1850. Inc Demo,
the convention held in the City Hall OF this
city a short time afterward, were also re-
ferred to in a very interesting manner. The
election of William Pitt Fessenden TO the
United states Oeudt6 was ucoCliucu, a1ecA
which Mr. G. o. Leach spoke of the first Re-
publican convention ever held in Maryland.
He said: "The convention, to which l
was a delegate was held in Baltimore for
the purpose of electing delegates to the Chi
cago convention. 1t was called at noon and
Montgomery Blair was chairman. The con-
yention was broken up and the delegates
were driven all over town. Later in the
afternoon number Of us met In an lnsur-
ance Office and completed the business OF the
convention.
Mr.. Edward Chase said that one time, in
half Joking manner, he asked Mr.. Fessenden,
lust before his election, why he didn't buy
some votes to help to elect him, to which
Mr.. IFessenden replied: IF / nerer go to
Congress I'll never buy vote"
Mr.. T. G.. Harris expressed himself as very
interested in the remarks made and referred
to Mr. Fessenden and to Mr.. Summers eu-
logy on Fessenden in very pleasant and
interesting manner.
The meeting closed after remarks by Presi-
dent Perry who said Il suppose was
present at the first Republican meeting ever
held in Washington. 1t was after the cleo
tion of Lincoln and Hamln. Somebody
strung the streets with ropes so that Repub-
licans would fall down in going home from
the convention. 1t was an exciting and in
teresting time"
No other business coming before the meet
ing it was voted to adjourn until Monday
evening next at 7.3O o'clock.