Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-10
AUGUSTUS CENTENNIAL.
CONTINUED from page 81

lime This was the bridge so familiar 10
most of us as a harbor of refuge from
the storms of winter and the heat of
summer. as graphically portrayed In the
onpning chapter of Richard Edney.
IT is more than forty years since Syl-
yester Judd. the beloved pastor of the
Unitarian church, rested from his labors,
hnt his works follow him in many senses.
II we would learn the manners and Gus
IONS of New England's ancient settlers:
If bird and flower and tree; of nature in
all its varied aspects in this vicinity,
there is no better source to draw from
tban Margaret 1.-The first Yankee book
with the soul of Down East int and
things farther East" with 1.-THE smack
Of pine woods. of bare field and bleak
hin such as only the breed of the May
hover could till, TO which ana TO whose
author Lowell paid SO marked a tribute.
Richard Edney was published in $50. In
tho nalmy days of the stage coach, and
contains an inimitable picture of the
stage driver of the time, who for forty
miles knew where everybody lived and
who everybody was that lived any
where and had every day a sort of
Presidents tour"
The alusion is TO the tour of President
polk in lS47, when he visited the city of
Augusta accompanied by james Bu-
chanan secretary of state; Nathan Cliff
ford. attorney general; Commodore Stew
art. and other eminent persons.
nut Augusta has always been favored
in the matter of distinguishes visitors,
such as President Pierce President Grant
President Harrison. Major-General Scott.
chancellor Kent. Rufus Choate, as well
as Louis Philippe and Jefferson Davis.
And this has been not simply because
IL was the State capital, but also because
of the distinction of its own citizens and
the attractiveness of the place itself
Hawthorne, Hannah f. Gould, Gail
Hamilton illustrate visitors at another
sort. and Ralph Waldo Emerson. who
came to see his relatives. the Lambards
There can be TO question that aptitude
in public affairs was marked character
istc of our earliest citizens, and as this
was so before so it continued to be after,
the district became state. For m
stance, of the twenty-one persons VINO
have represented Maine in the United
States Senate eight were sent from Ken
nebec county. and five of them resided IN
Augusta This includes Wyman b. 5.
Moore of Waterville, well known as Il
lawyer, and especially as a business man
who served a few months by appoint
rrnt. Peleg Sprague, who. after locating
nj Augusta, moved to HalloweH in 1slS,
and whose superior distinction as district
iudge of the United States tended to
obscure his nearly six years in the Sen
ate: and George Evans. whose remark
able intellectual ability, gave him the
highest standing at the bar. While his SIX
Years In the House of Representatives
and six years in the Senate placed him
in the front rank of public men. Indeed
MIR. Clay and Mr.. Webster both said
that he was more tnorouBiiy lcuudiilteo
with the subject of a protective taritf,
and the minute details that go to make
Ilp workable tariff law, than amy mem
Der of the Senate in their time.
John Chandler was Il soldier of the
Revolutionary War; member of the
Governors council; senator in the Gen
cral Court; represented this district III
Congress for four years; succeeded
Arthur IithgoW as sheriff: on the ad-
mission of the State was elected senator
and served six years; and was collector
of the port at Portland for eight years:
He settled in Monmouth IN lISo; removed
10 Augusta in 1887; died on Chandler
street in the house afterwards occupied
bv Judge Rice which was built by Gen
eraI Joseph Chandler the senator
nephcw who came to Augusta in lSll on
being appointed clerk of the courts
Ruel Williams took his seat in the
United States Senate in 1887 WAS re
elected for a full term from Marcn 8
1899 and resigned in 1913 in order 10 de-
vote his attention to the large business
interests which deyolved upon him, de-
Ginning also for the same reason a SAT ,,t
in the cabinet of President FOX: ne
best remembered Incident of his sena-
torial career-the career OF man OF
superior mental grasp, integrity OF nina.
and honesty of purposes ms vote
against the ratification OF the Ashburton
Treaty, a vote which he never had occa1
sion to regret. He frequently represented
the town in the Legislature ana the couh
ty in the State Senate. Having studlea
into partnership with him on ms
admission to the bar, and Judge Bridge
shortly after retiring, his practice as at
torney for the proprietors OF me ken7
nebec Purchase was immense. lie stood
at the head of the bar and was ii STRONG
speaker, not rhetorical. bur clear ana I'M
pressive. His business ability was some
thing unusual and, above all, ne nad thhl
saving common sense. whose results have
so often been held convincing eNiutice
of genius. AS q citizen, North says thtt
he wast Augusta greatest peneIdctoI.
The location of the seat OF government
and of the Arsenal; the completion OF tne
State House; the establishment OF the
Insane Hospital: the building OF the TAG
tories and the mills; the brlnSlns 81 WI tiie
railroad; in all these things Ruei IL
liams was Il chief factor, in most or them
the chiofest; and with many of them lhe
name OF his brother Daniel, VINO was
selectman, member of the Legislature;
State treasurer judge of PROBATE anu
mayor, is associated
Lot NJ. Morrill,, Governor. member OF
the House and Senate, Cnited Suites
senator and secretary of the treasury
came to Augusta from Readileld. ana pc-
came member of the firm OF Bradpeify'
Rice and Morrill, He was the lifst Gov
ernor by election that Augusta fufnlsle1'
an example since fortunately often toll
lowed. He was an admirable lawyer
gifted with remarkable ability in the PR
sentation of cases to jury anu nl9
public life was. one of deserved eminehce;
for he proved himself in every way equal
to the high stations to when ne was
called. Perhaps we might claim ms
former competitor in Readheld llihotny
Q. Howe. who. having been deteateu ioi
clerk of the courts took his way WESTWARD,
subsequently rejolned his old friend III
the United States Senate, ana became
postmaster general. "a,
James w. Bradbury. who so Sraceiu my
presides over these exercises ehtere.i thc
United States Senate ON the fQurth 81
March. 1877. and for six years urahh
delight in battle with his peers on ina,
great arena. then occupied by Webster
Clay, Calhoun Benton. Douglas. Sass
and other giants of those days. Graduat, ,
ing ut Bowdoin College in the celebrated
class of 1925 with Longfellow, hawthorne
George Il. Checver and John 5. {. Abpoti;
he was for a year preceptor of Halloween
Academy. and also conducted the HrSl
normal school ever held in this State
Admitted to the bar in 1850 ne loeateu
AZ Augusta and practised the prolesSi9,il
for more than fifty years, turning asiue
only to win distinction by that tern, II
the Senate, which is stu remembered "
Washington, and particularly ior ms SuS7
gestion OF that remedial institution tie
Court of Claims. Declining 70 ruSec
unburnished rather than to shine i'll use
he yet though entitled to repose on tHe
consciousness of a we'll spent life, at an
age nearly coincident with that OF the
town, actively discharges the duties OF 4
good citizen. of which he has set Tor so
many years so thorough an example
May he be spared to receive the CON
gratulations of his fellow-toWnsineh on