Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-24

gan and continued the work of laying his
political lines with view to capturing
his old seat in the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill, was equally desirious Of
becoming his own successor. And when
the legislature, which. was strongly
republican, organized in January, 1869,
and the battle Of the caucus to nominate
candidate for senator was about to
begin, great excitement prevailed among
the friends of the rival contestants.
Ihisiinterest was by no means confined to
State lines.
| Any solon who was so unfortunate as
to be ranked "doubtiul', found himself
between an upper and a neither milestone
and well nigh ground to pieces. But by
the day set for the caucus, the alignments
were pretty clearly defined, and it was
found that the Hamlinites and Morrillites
were just about equal. And now the ex-
element had reached white heat. 1t was
Greek meet Geek, and the tug of-war had
come.
| Mr.. Blaine was so interested in the
forthcoming Titanic struggle that he
left his seat in Washington and hied to
Augusta to do some quiet log-rolling in
the canvass. Personally friend to Mr..
Hamlin, he, nevertheless, favored the
nomination Of Mr.. morrill,.
The legislative caucus for nomination Of
United States Senator assembled on the
evening of Jan. Z, 1869. The hall of the
house OF representatives was packed to its
utmost capacity, and the most intense
excitement prevailed.
| The Hon. Charles r. Whidden, OF Calais,
| presided, and the caucus at once pro-
| ceeded to ballot, each member being
| called up in turn to the clerks desk and
| depositing his vote. The most nervous
anxiety as to the result was manifested.
The committee reported that the whole
number of votes cast was 149; of which
| Hannibal Hamlin had rs, Lot NJ. Morrill,
| "a, blank one. The chairman simply
announced the facts, making no deolara-
tton of the result, thus virtually deciding
that no specific result had been reached.
| The Hon. Josiah III. Drummond, of
Portland-noted in political life and ma
sonic WORLDWIDE supported Mr.. Hamlin,
argued that, according to the statutes of
the State, blanks were not to be counted,
and, therefore, Mr.. Hamlin had received
majority OF the votes cast, and he
"moved that the Hon. Hannibal Hamlin
be declared the nominee of the caucus"
At this juDcture one Thomas b. Reed,
of Portland, thirty years of age, a mem
Der OF the legislature, and scarcely known
outside of his own bailiwick, entered the
| arena in behalf of Mr.. Morrill, and made
one of the first public forensic efforts of
his life. Listen to his parliamentary
logic.
"Mr. Chairman" drawled the future
speaker, 81 am opposed to Mr.. Drum
mond's motion. / favor new ballot.
This caucus is not governed by statute,
but it simply came together to obtain an
expression of the members as to who
shall be supported for United States
senator. To satisfy the republicans of
Maine, the expression must be clear and
decided, and l contend such is not the
case, the blank ballot evidently having
been thrown by mistake, and from its
size and color, it WAS clearly intended to
be thrown for Mr.. morrill,, which would
make the vote tie."
A member of the committee here stated
that when the blank ballot was thrown
he noticed it, and checked the name of
the person who cast it-Representative
Perry, of Mars Hill; that he called the
attention of the other mem bers of the
committee to the fact, and after the votes
were all thrown he asked MIR, Perry if he
intended to cast blank, TO which ne re-
piled in the negative, but that he sup
posed he had voted for MIR. Morrill,.
most exciting discussion here en-
sued, the friends of Mr.. Morrill, urging
that a new ballot be taken, to the end
that a fair expression of the caucus
might be reached; while the friends of
Mr.. Hamlin as persistently advocated
that he should be declared the nominee.
The caucus was addressed by friends of
both candidates, counseling moderation
and fairness and an adjust ment of the
difficulties which would be mutually
satisfactory. But all to no purpose; the
Hamlin men were uncompromising in
their opposition to trying the question
before the caucus q second time.
Finally after many propositions had
been made by the friends of Morrill, and
rejected by the friends of Hamlin, Gen.
Stone OF Kennebunk, Morrill, man,
moved to adjourn to Friday evening, or
the next evening.
A Hamiin senator from York county
moved to amend by striking out SRI
day evening" and inserting "without
dayn This motion finally prevailed and
amid the most intense excitement the
caucus adjourned, and, according to the
chairman's ruling, "without making a
nomination"
Immediately upon the adjournment OF
the caucus, the Hamlin men claimed that
they had been successful, that Mr.. Ham
lin had been nominated, and this state
ment was telegraphed to the associated
press. Mr.. Morrill, and his supporters