Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-17

The reunion Of the York Society n
| d aHloat Island. Portland Hafso', on We'd
ns.d.y, vas n occasion OF great pleasure
sad one long TO be remembered. The DIS
tinauished sueE Of the society was Hon.
James wsre Bradbury. LII. D., OF this city
.ho had the seal Of honor At the bs1qaes
table. Hon Joseph II. Locke presided, and
occupied The head Of the table. A bie=sir z
was invoked by Rev Dr. Joseph Ric1sr. sho
sss seated II the lest Of the president. A.
hi. right were Hon. j. w. Bradbury
and Hon. William II. Clifford. Call
iag the society 10 order after dinner,
Mr. Locke spoke briefly. He referred to
the pleasure il gave him to be present at the
reunion. and 10 sss JOY AZ meeting again the
sons and daughters of York. He expressed
himself gracefully. and his remarks
we're listened to with pleasure. 10 closing,
be introduced J. W. Bradbury OF Augusta.
sho is now 50 years old, and who repre-
septed Maine in the United States Senate
from l847 10 1853. Ex-Governor John
fairfield Of S.co vas Mr.. Bradbury col
league ia the Senate from Name. Gov
ernor Fairfield was succeeded BY Hon.
Wyman B. s. Moore, whose successor was
the late Hon. Hannibal Hsmlin, and with
sll Of these men from Maine, Mr. Brad
baty was associated in the United States
Senate ~hen that department of the gov
eminent contAined so many illastrious men
the course Of lis remarks, Mr.. Bradbury
said
The hrst session of the Thirtieth Con
aress commenced on the first Monday IN
December. Is47. The Senate at that time
contained many men who have attained
prominent place in national history. Web
s,sr and John Davis represented Msssachu-
sets Calhoun and A. Z. Butler, South
Carolina Douglass ard Breeze, Illinois;
Benton and Atchinson, Missouri; Fitch, who
soon had General Cass for = colleague.
Michigan; Dickinson. New York; Hous-
ton aud Rusk, Texas; to which list
should be added such names OF
men Of distinguished ability As
King Of Alabama, Bell Of TeDna ssee,
DAVIS of Mississippi, Allen of Ohio, and
o.hers equally worthy of mention. Two
years later the great kentuckian, Henry
Clay, returned to the Senate to serve his
c1untry in the dangerous crisis through
shich it WAS called to pass. Perhaps there
/. no period in the history Of the Senate
when il contained larger number OF able
statesmen. and Assuredly none when the
eioqqence and ability Of the great leaders
was surpassed. Webster, Calhoun, Clay,
Benton, Douglass, Csss. What Q galaxy
il the intellectual ornament.
"a few days after the commencement OF
the session, almost before entering upon the
pubic burmese, the Senate and the country
were shocked by the intelligence OF the sud
den and unexpected death of our own Sena-
tir Fairfield. The day before his death he
was in his seat in the Senate attending to
his ordinary duties. At noon Of that day
hs was active, cheerful, and in his usual
health. Before 8 o'clock in the evening he
expired, q victim TO reckless surgical oper-
stion, recklessly performed. | saw him in
b s agony and know of what speak. lie was
York county man, worthy ofa tribute ofre-
sps e.. and affection from every son OF York.
lie held a high place in the affections OF
the people Of Maine. Without any affec-
.tion of genius, he was distinguished for
GOOD, strong common sense, great frank
ness and sincerity. and unquestioned in
tegrity. These characteristics were united
with fiimness of purpose and fidelity to
his convictions of right that no diff culties
could shake and no dangers overcome. He
showed his pluck and frmness in the House
Of Representatives in the stormy scenes that
occurred after the death, ! might say muir
der, of Cilley; and again, As governor, in
repelliug the invasion under British author
iiy, Of the northeastern frontier of our own
srAte -