The Portland daily press., 1893-01-28

the Fremont campaign, and always with
favor He had become recognized as a
party leader, even so early in his career;
and was one of those most prominent IN
the putting forward of Hannibal Hamlin
as candidate for governor in 1856 on an
anti-slavery issue. Before that the sue
cess OF the new party had been iprolbie-
matical; henceforth it was assured.
But Mr.. Blaine did not embark at once
on his political career. His newspaper
venture in Augusta did not pay him very
high wages, his income on no year reach
ing Thousand dollars. Therefore IN
1857 he accepted a position as editor OF
the Portland Advertiser, the leading
Republican paper in Maine. But his
stay in Portland was not long, and 1T was
not marked by anything to particularly
distinguish Mr.. Blaine He seems to
have done his work well, but was not
here long enough to make much lmpres-
sion. He did not sever his connection
with Augusta, and in 1858 he went back
there to become candidate Tor the leg
islature. He was elected, and there
properly begins his career as a public
man. From that day until this he has
been in public life, with few and short
respites.
Mr. Blaine was member of the State
beginning with that of 1859, annual cleo
tions being then the rule in Maine. The
last two terms, those of '61 and 62, he
was Speaker. In these four terms Mr..
Blaine laid the foundations of the
political eminence, which in 1862 gave
him the nomination of the Repub-
lican party of the Third District for Con-
gress. During Mr.. Blaine's last term as
Speaker, the session of 1862, the country
was in the midst of the civil war. 1t
was most important time, and the op-
portunities it afforded were resolutely
grasped by Mr.. Blaine. The Democracy
were ably led during Mr.. Blaine's legis-
lative terms by such men as Ephraim K.
Smart, who had been member of Con-
gress, and A. P. Gould, of Thomaston, a
very able man. Mr.. Blaine met both
these in debate, leaving the Speakers
chair for the purpose of replying to Mr..
Gould in one memorable debate. The
Republicans brought in Feb. 7th, '62, the
"Confiscation Resolve" as it was called
1t really was series of resolutions ex-
pressing confidence in the administra-
ton of Abraham Linclcn, and calling on
Congress to confiscate rebel property,
especially slaves. Mr.. Gould attacked
this resolve with all his ability and force.
Mr.. Blaine left the Speakers chair
and replied in speech which created a
sensation at that time, and is interesting
and instructive reading at the present
time. The verdict at that time seems to
have been that the, victory was entirely
and completely with the young speaker.
When his legislative career was finished
he was ready to step, at the age of SO,
into the seat in Congress that the admir-
ing Republicans of the Third District
had destined for him.
In Congress.
Mr.. Blaine entered Congress in the midst
of the civil war. Hon. Anson p Morrill,
who had been elected representative
from the Third Maine district had volun-
tarily retired after serving one term and
Mr. Blaine received the Republican nomi-
nation with substantial unanimity. His
election followed by the large majority
December 1863. His colleagues from
Maine were the Hon. L. d. M. Sweat
Hon. Sidney Perham, Hon. Frederick A.
Pike and the Hon. John III. Rice. In the
Senate Maine was represented by William
Pitt Fessenden and Lot M. Morrill,. Mr..
Blaine was appointed a member of
the committee on militia and on post
offices. He was not especially conspicu-
GUS at the first session. Wisely he sought
to study the rules and methods of the
House and thoroughly familiarize him
self with the order of business. His
vast fund of information and his readiness
made him very effective member of
the committees towhich he was appoint
ed. and those who came in contact with
him in the course of committee work
soon discovered his great capacity and
aptitude for legislative work. Neverthe-
less some notable measures were intro
duced by him during the session, con-
spicuous among them being the bill to
refund to the loyal states the money ex-
pended in raising armies; and the Con
gressional Globe of the time contains
several brief and spirited speeches made
by him-one of the most notable being
reply to the Hon. S. S. Cox of Ohio
who had charged that the existing tariff
was partial to New England. In
several colloquies with prominent mem
bers he displayed to excellent advantage
his remarkable power in debate and his
readiness in repartee. His first utter 4
ance on the floor If the House on the 21st
of December, 1858 during the debate on
the deficiency bill, was when he read an
extract from therepoTt of the Secretary of
Treasury, accompanying it with the re-
mark that the extract settled the matter
under discussion. His most elaborate
speech in this Congress was made on the
Sd of February, 1864 in support of the
resolution which he had introduced for
refunding to the loyal States money ex-
pended in raising armies.
AS member of the committee ON post
offices he was largely instrumental in
securing the introduction of postal cars.
He gave hearty support to ali the meas
ures for putting down the rebellion,
occasionally supporting amendments
which he believed would make them
more jud cious and practical. Thus
while he supported the bill for draft,
he favored its modification by inserting
provisions for Communication and substi-
tuition which was finally done.
Mr.. Blaine was re-nominated and re-
elected a member of the Both Congress
which assembled in December, 1865.
When this Congress met the war was
over, and the North was face to face
with the great problem of reconstruc-
ton. No Congress in the history of
the country ever had more difficult