Year: 1867

Z


A word of recognition is certainly due TO
the services of Chief Magistrate, whose ad.
ministration has been so uniformly successful
as Governor Cony's. Like many other Re-
publicans, Governor Cony had been Demo-
crat Until Democracy came to mean opposi-
tion not merely to the measures of particu-
lar administration but to any measures which
could save the Union. Then planting himself
upon Jackson's famous platform, he Joined
the only party which believes that "the Union
must and shall be preserved" Called to the
Executive Chair during the third year of the
war, while our troops were still going forward,
his official career has been prolonged until he
has seen the last regiment disbanded and
peaceful era of industrial progress succeeding
the stormy times in which his lot was cast.


The relations of the State to the Federal
Government can never be otherwise than i'm
portant. but during Governor Cony's admins
tration their importance was supreme. 1t has
been gratifying to observe and is pleasing to
remember, how uniformly the Governor was
found occupying the most advanced ground on
all national questions. Most worthily in this
respect, as in others, he has stood forth as the
representative of his State, and never more
worthily than when in his address to the con-
vention assembled last June to nominate his
successor, he declared openly and boldly for
impartial suffrage. Then as always he spoke
for Maine, and the State responded unmistak-
ably. l,5l5A -as ssa4





In his care for the health and comfort of the
soldiers in the field, the Governor only dis
charged his duty, but when was great trust
more faithfully discharged? His regard tor
the soldiers was equalled by bis open and i'm
pIacable hostility to all the foul birds and ra-
venous beasts who strove to prey upon them.
Against bounty brokers and substitute brokers
he waged continuous warfare. He remain
ed in office to begin the administration of the
pension law passed by the last legislature.
The complaint which was at first occasioned
by the regulations adopted in the execution of
the law, has subsided, and so faI as it was JUS
tifable is now seen to have been chargeable
to the law and not to the officers entrusted with
Its execution. The difficulties which occurred
in carrying the act into effect have been avoid
ed by the address OF the Executive. 14


OF Governor Cony's personal popularity
with the people, OF his pleasant relations with
the various officers OF the State, it is hardly
necessary to speak. With no cold reserve,
without the slightest touch of affectation, he
has always been observant OF the proprieties
ofhis station, and has known how to preserve
his dignity without losing his good nature
Nothing could be more kind or firm than his
letter requesting Mr.. Garnsey to resign his
place upon the Executive staff. Nothing could
be more pleasant than to watch the effect OF
the Governors genial presence and unaffect-
ed speech upon the assemblies of his fellow
citizens. We have had deserving and popu-
lar Governors before, but none who have Sc
cured a larger share Of public esteem and
personal regard than Governor Cony takes
with him in his retirement. With such a
measure of official success added to the appro-
baton of his own conscience, he NAV well be
y