The Portland daily press., 1891-07-06

fayors for those who served her, and charm.
ing with all the Establishments that wealthy
and exclusive aristocracy can lend TO the
party which it controls. From this party-
for the sake of principle, we beleye-Mr.
Hamlin turned to the young and struggling
Republican party. When on the 18th of June,
1856. he arose In the Senate to ren0unce the
party allegiance that he had sworn to as a
boylsh admirer of Andrew jackson, there
was, as may well be believed, an air of
hushed expectancy about that chamber. A
large audience had assembled, and Mr.. Ham,
inns speech was listened to with the most
absorbing interest. His speech was
straightforward and to the point.
He renowned his party allegiance be-
cause his party had drifted away from
the landmarks put up by the fathers. 1t
was no longer the party Of freedom, but
slavery. 1t had Incorporated into It's plat
form the doctrine that the flag of the FEEDER
al Union carried slavery wherever it fioated.
'If this baleful principle be true" said Mr..
Hamlin, "then that national ode which in
spires US always as on battlefield, should
be rewritten by Drake, and should read
thus:
''Forever floats that standard sheet,
Where Dreathes the foe but falls before u.s.
With slavery's soil beneath our feet,
And slayery's banner streaming DER us!''
Mr. Hamlin soon after resigned his seat In
the Senate and returned to Maine to become
the Republican candidate for governor He
had not wished for the nomination. but the
Republicans of the state had insisted that
he should take 1t. OF HOO delegates, 1t is
said that all but about 40 declared him their
first choice. He afterwards remarked, jok-
ingly, that those 40 were his only friends in
that convention. The task before him was
no light One In the year before, the Repub-
licans had cast plurality Of votes, but were
In minority of over 1900 Of the whole vote,
and Samuel Wells (Dem.) had been elected
governor by the legislature, where the
Wings and Democrats combined to beat the
Republicans. How Mr.. Hamlin changed
this minority of 1900 into majority of
over $4,000. is the story of the
grandest political campaign in Maine.
Slavery was the issue. and the whole state
was the battle ground. Mr.. Hamlin began
at Kittery and spoke in the larger places
through the state to the New Brunswick
line, and even went into the then pioneer
county of Aroostook to address the settlers
Of Pressure Isle. Large audiences and great
excitement attended his progress. Old line
Democrats were making up their minds
whether they should follow Hamlin in
throwing off the political allegiance that
they had adhered to since the days of jack
son, and old line Whigs-those whom Ham
lin described at Bridgton as standing So
straight that they leaned over backwards in
to the arms OF the Democrats-were ponder
ing whether it would be better to join their
ancient enemies or join the audacious young
party that was sweeping their historic organ
ization from the face of the earth at first
Mr.. Hamlln had doubts about the result,
His doubts were dispelled by an incident
that happened early in the canvass, at Kit
terry. we think. An old Democratic farmer
who bore in his features the unmistakable
marks of shrewdness and good judgment,
came up to Mr. Hamlin after the speech, and
wringing his hand, said. you are all right
go ahead" As he related this incident
many years after Mr.. Hamlin said, Then
knew we should win." But even he was
surprised at the magnitude of the victory.
In letter written about two years ago Mr..
Hamlin said:
think the political campaign in Maine in 1856
and its results the most remarkable of any that
has ever taken place in this country. In 1855 /
think, the Democrats land Whigs1 carried the
State by about 5000 majority [75O1l. In 1856
iority over the Democrats was about 26' 900: over
the democrats and straight Wings unit J, about
1900; mat ell ction set the bali in motion that
rolled on and resulted In the election of Lincoln as
President W.
e, The Democrats were utterly amazed at the cleo
tIon OF DO In Maine. Samuel Wells was their
candidate for governor and knot0 that he stated
10 rlend on Sunday, the day before the cleo
ton, that he felt sure he would be reelected by
al ieast b,O0O majority He was surely mistaken.
Saturday evening before the election, on being
asked pa lor my opirion, at very large meeting in
ry the state sure by 10000 majority with good
margin Tor a much larger majority.
Mr.. Hamlin did not remain governor more
than few weeks, being reelected to the
Senate. to the old seat which he had vacated
to run for the governorship. On his return
to the Senate he found new opportunities to
pay his respects to the pro-slavery faction
by opposing the Lecompton Constitution of
Kansas
We come now to period of Mr. Hamlir's
life with which this generation Is more ia
miliar, and 1t therefore may be passed over
more briefly, although it is the most conspic-
uous portion of his career. His selection as
Lincoln's associate on the ticket was regard
ed as very happy, as 1t was shown to be by
the event. Lincoln was not we'll known in
the East. while everyone had confidence in
Hamlin. 81 don't know who this Lincoln
may be-" said an old Maine farmer, when he
received the news of the ticket selected at
Chicago. "but if they have got Hannibal
Hamlin on the tail of the ticket it is sure to
win." In the days before the Inauguration
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Hamlln were In con-
slant communication, and 1t was to Mr..
Hamlin that Lincoln entrusted the mission
of delivering to William NJ. Seward the in
vitation to be Secretary of State in the new
cabinet The historic letter, which Lincoln
gave to Hamlin to deliver to Seward, was
procured Of Mr.. Hamlin by Major Il. S.
Burrage of this city, and is now, with let
ter from Mr.. Hamlin, in the possession Of
the Maine Commandery of the
Loyal Legion. As Vice President, Mr..
Hamlin had President Lincoln's full conf
dence and was consulted especially in regard
to the emancipation proclamation and the
order enlisting colored troops. 1t Is needless
to say that Mr.. Hamlin was an early and
earnest advocate of both these measures. In
1864 Mr.. Hamlin, in Difference to what seem.
ed to be policy, was set aside for Southern
man. Andrew johnson. Subsequent events
did not justify this displacement of Mr..
Hamlin; but he accepted the decision of the
convention loyalty and uncomplainingly.
Mr.. Hamlin was not of the style of patfiot
who always smashes things which he himself
is not allowed to manage. Andrew johnson
appointed Mr.. Hamlin collie ctor Of the port
OF Boston, but as soon as the tendencies of
Johnson's administration became manifest,
MIR. Ham"n promptly resigned. He said he
had the old fashioned" notion that it would
not be right for him to hold office under an
administration which he could not support.
His course won him great applause from his
party throughout New England.
Mr.. Hamlin returned to the Senate in 1869,
after the most memorable contest that ever
took place in the Maine legislature. Senator
Lot M. Morrill's term expired ia 1869 and he
was candidate for reelection. One of the
founders of the party. strong man of most
honorable career and reputation, the
task which Mr. Hamlin undertook