History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 176

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 176

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Taking his text from the assertion of some one abroad who had been in Bangor this season, that he had counted the vacant stores and there were "at this moment" IOI destitute of occupants," a writer says that, "taking into view the whole subject connected with its history, no place in the Union is in better trim or freer from debt than Bangor, and talking of business, if we look at Bos- ton and New York, our own city is a queen to them. For the last month (this was in August) our wharves have been constantly thronged by vessels, lading and unlading, and it is even a matter of astonishment to us to witness so much activity among our citizens, whilst at the same time the cry of 'hard times and no money' is kept up."

Notwithstanding all this, Bangor did not continue to progress in the same ratio with Boston and New York. It had much to contend against; it grew slowly; its citi- zens accumulated wealth, and all, but the population that are ever on the wing, were contented with their lot.

State politics were active. Gorham Parks being the candidate of the Democrats, and Edward Kent the can- didate of the Whigs, and both belonging to Bangor, there was much sharp criticism by the organs of the two parties. Mr. Parks having been in Congress and in various public positions, had given his opponents op-

portunity to question him sharply upon matters in which he had made himself conspicuous, as:

"Who voted in Congress against the distribution of the surplus revenue?"

"Who voted against the appropriations for erecting fortifications on the Penobscot River?"

" Who prevented Governor Lincoln, of Massachusetts, on the floor of Congress from advocating the speedy settlement of the Northeastern boundary ?"

And they charged him with opposing Mr. Clay's Land Distribution Bill, and gave as a reason that he was in favor of fortifications and then turned round and voted against fortifications, including several in his own State.

Mr. Kent had made himself prominent on the Argyle question, otherwise the Democrats could not at that time find much in his public life for criticism. They accused him of making an agrarian speech in the Legislature of 1830, but did not make count upon the effect of the criticism. This was not personal, farther than the per- son was connected with public acts, for which his party as well as himself was responsible.

One charge the Whigs made against Mr. Parks was that he extenuated the crime of Colonel Carpenter. Several affidavits of several respectable citizen were published to that effect, and doubtless it operated against his election. It proved that however sincere a man may be in his belief is not always prudent to express, it espe- cially when it is in opposition to the moral sense of the community, and he is a candidate for office. The fol- lowing is the affidavit of, at that time, one of the oldest and most respectable and well-known of the citizens:

BANGOR, August, 1837.

I hereby certify that, after the return of Colonel Gorham Parks from Congress, and after Colonel Carpenter had left the office of Sheriff, I heard Colonel Parks say, that he should not have removed him from office for the crime that he was accused of, and that he did not think the crime a sufficient cause to remove a man from office.

WIGGINS HILL.

Sworn to before Enoch Brown, Justice of the Peace.

Other gentlemen made lengthy affidavits that Colonel Parks said that Colonel Carpenter was an honorable and high-minded man, and the laws he was accused of vio- lating ought to be repealed.

Doubtless. Colonel Parks was sincere when he said that his friend McIntyre's nomination would have been more gratifying to him than his own.

George Washington Dixon, the " American Melodist," of whom Henry Clay remarked that in his singing of the Marseillaise Hymn, he " could arouse feelings of the loftiest patriotism in the bosom of every lover of liberty," entertained a Bangor audience on the evening of Au- gust 15th at the Baptist meeting-house, on Harlow street, with his national, nautical, French, Italian, German, and English melodies, among which was "The Fireman's Call," which he had recently written, and which, it was claimed, " far exceeded the Marseillaise Hymn." He sang it with great power, and some who had never heard the Marseillais Hymn thought it might be superior; the Frenchmen, however, would not admit it. Mr. Dixon had a good voice and sang with effect.

* In another letter published in the Whig and Courier of July 25, Mr. Cushing presented the argument pro and con. A third letter was published in the Whig August Ist, and a fourth in the Whig of August 8th.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

He gave a concert afterwards at the theater and from its receipts gave $50 to the Fuel Society.

Captain Howes, of the steamer Bangor, had a griev- ance which he must needs bring before the public.

He stated that on April 2d, at Bucksport, owing to the drifting ice he could not land his passengers from his vessel on the wharf, but was obliged to land them in a small boat ; and as great care was required in such cases, owing to the timidity of women and children, he gave his own special attention to it; that the officers might not be obstructed in attending to their duties, an iron rail had been put around the promenade deck, within which passengers could move at their will, and without which was a narrow space for the officers, and signs were painted on these notifying passengers that they were not to pass outside of the rail, for various reasons connected with the safety of the boat and passengers ; that while he was oc- cupied on the outside of the rail with the leaving pas- sengers, and as he was turning for some purpose, he came in contact with S. L. Haynes, who was directly behind him outside of the rail, and the space was so narrow that he came near being pitched overboard; that there were others outside of the rail, and that he requested all to pass inside the rail, and all complied but Haynes, who was directly in front of him, and the space was so narrow that he could not pass him, and he repeated his request that he pass inside the rail ; that he paid no attention to it, but looked him directly in the face ; that he took hold of Haynes's arm and "told him that he must go on the other side of the rail," and that Haynes instantly gave him a blow on the side of the neck with his fist that came near knocking him overboard.

The Captain detailed certain other circumstances growing out of the affair, showing that he did not forget it, and that he was determined not to have Haynes again a passenger under him; that he on the 5th of August afterward saw Haynes on his boat at Owlshead and ordered him off, giving as a reason his having struck and insulted him at Bucksport, and that Haynes denied it; that he told Haynes he would put him on shore at the next landing ; that before reaching Belfast he told him that he could go on shore at Belfast or proceed to Bangor as he pleased, but it was not settling the matter on his part; that he should have accepted an apology, but as he had not given one he should still hold him responsible.

But Haynes concluded to explain. He admitted that he was outside the rail, thoughtlessly, with others ; that he was six feet from Howes, and he, in attempting to pass ran against him, who remarked that he came near throwing him into the river ; that Howes previous to that requested the passengers to leave the side, and called in a fierce tone, "Clear out ! clear out ! you have no business here;" that Howes was near the wheel- house, where there was space for thirty men; that he im- mediately complied with Howes's order, walking in his usual pace, and remarking that he would thank him to speak in a more gentlemanly manner ; that he was then seized by the shoulder and violently pushed, and Captain Howes repeatedly vociferated, "I'll help you." "While he had hold of me," said Haynes, "I turned, and hav-

ing knocked off a volley of blows, seized him by the coat- collar and shook him until I thought he was not danger- ous to go at large ; in other words, he was as quiet as a a lamb. I did not strike him, although I do not claim credit for forbearance, for I should have done it, could I have done so without knocking him overboard."

Samuel Grant, by affidavit, subsequently confirmed Captain Howes's statement in regard to the affair at Bucksport, and to Haynes's striking the first blow.

The moral of this story is that passengers on board ship, if they would not be guilty of a breach of the peace, or be the cause of a breach of the peace by others, must keep within the limits assigned them, and not trespass on the domains of those who have the responsibility of the safety, not only of the ship, but of all on board it.

As the steamer Bangor is identified somewhat with the history of Bangor, and has been before mentioned in these pages, it is proper that a general statement in re- gard to her and to her final disposition, should be made here.

The steamer Bangor was built in New York in 1834, expressly for the route between Bangor and Boston. She was about four hundred tons burthen, had fore and aft sails, and was a well-appointed vessel. Captain George Barker devoted a great deal of time in making arrange- ments for her construction, and in getting her upon the water. She was from 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning to Sunday afternoon making the round trip by way of Port- land to Boston, and back by the same route, stopping at Portland during the night. She was a side-wheel boat, painted white, and wood was used in her furnaces. She was popular while in the New England waters. She made her last trip to Bangor in April, 1842, and on the 25th was at Portland. After she was put in condition for a voyage across the ocean, she left on the 15th of August for Constantinople, where she was employed in conveying passengers until the Sultan took a fancy to her and put her into his navy, so metamorphosed in name and appearance that her old acquaintances would have found it difficult to recognize her.

She was commanded for several years, before she left her original route, by Captain Howes, who was popular, except with Mr. Sullivan L. Haynes and a few others. After he left the Bangor he commanded several other boats, none of which came up to his ideas of what a steam packet should be, until he was instrumental in having constructed a very elegant, convenient, and fast boat, called the "State of Maine," which he ran between Bangor and Boston until her owners came to the conclu- sion that so fine a boat could do better elsewhere. He was born in Yarmouth, Cape Cod, and died March 22, 1849.

The Portland Transcript embalmed the memory of the "Bangor" in the following stanzas :

Staunch old steamer! thou art going From New England shores away; From her rivers, swiftly flowing On their wild and rugged way.

From Penobscot's waters wide,

Where thy fire-winged course was held,

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Rapid o'er the sinuous tide, Thou art going,-fare thee well!

Thou art leaving Christian lands! Where Marmora's brilliant sand Sparkles 'neath the Orient sun; Where the Arda's waters run, Hasting gladly to the sea; There, henceforth thy destiny. Camden hill and Monhegin, Owl's Head Point and Old Seguin, Thou art leaving far behind, On the wings of steam and wind. Pemaquid and Belfast Bay, Up where the borough islands lay; Duck Trap Cove and Megunticook, All have given their last sad look.

Where the Black Sea's surges roar On the rough Romanian shore, 'Mid the galliots' gilded prows, Thou wilt force thy sturdy bows Up Bosphorus's narrow strait, To Byzantium's water-gate, From Belgrad to Ereklire, From Tartarian Ocracrow To the Grecian Haero.

Where the knowing Yankees sat, There the bearded Turk will squat; Where erst speculators met On thy deck to "guess' and "bet," There Mohammed's followers grave, Turbaned lord and cringing slave,

In solemn pomp and trousers wide, Will thy native land deride;

While thy engine strongly works For those lazy, bearded Turks, They will call thy builders "dogs;" "Sons of Shittim," "Christian dogs!"

Tough old steamer, fare thee well ! We may never see thee more, Or hear again thy merry bell Mid the fogs that veil our shore.

Great Chebeague, Hog Isle, and Peak's Long will miss its pleasant tone, While 'tis glad'ning Turks and Greeks On the Bay of Samassonon.

And when before thee quickly rise Byzantium's domes and minarets tall, Round St. Sophia's giant size, Where the Mufti's daily call Brings "the faithful" home to prayer, From thy steam-pipe, loud and clear, Wilt thou, "Bangor," then and there, Puff one sigh for "Portland Pier" ?

Colonel Parks was not exactly satisfied with the effect of the affidavits in regard to his position, that the law against the crime with which Colonel Carpenter was charged should be repealed, or with being stigmatized as "a levelling, destroying, revolutionary Fanny Wright Locofoco," as he was called by the Whig ; he therefore, in a long communication to Mr. T. C. Haynes, of the Republican, indignantly demurred to the latter appella- tion, and said, "I hold her character and principles (if I understand them right, for I have never read a page of her writings, and know them only through the medium of the public press), in utter abhorrence, that I do not yet believe there is a single individual in this city who be- lieves this charge against me. I am for preserving our religious, moral, and political institutions, as they are se- cured to us by the constitution and laws of our country."

The other charge he did not deny, except, perhaps, by implication. He said that, knowing the provocation of Colonel Carpenter arose from personal and political causes, he "very probably remarked that he would not have been prosecuted but for political reasons, and possi- bly that if the law was never put in execution but for the gratification of private motive, and not for the further- ance of justice or the punishment of crime, it had better be off the statute book." But to infer from anything he said at that or any other time, that he approved of or justified licentiousness, was unjust to him, "and utterly without foundation in truth, and what neither of the affi- davit-makers believes."

A. G. Wakefield, Esq., was one of the gentleman who made affidavit that Colonel Parks in the convention, be- fore him and Jeremiah Fenno, Esq., the other affiant, distinctly stated that the law against the crime with which Colonel Carpenter was charged, without any reserve or qualification whatever, should be repealed ; and Mr. Wakefield was sustained in this by Moses Patten, Jr., and William H. McCrillis, Esqs.

But Colonel Parks had a more difficult matter to settle with members of his own party, than that. He had stated to the Democratic Senator in Congress from Maine, Hon. John Ruggles, that he did not know who was to be nominated for Governor of the State, " but one thing he wished to have understood, which was that if Colonel Hodsdon should be nominated, he would oppose his election in every shape and form and at all times and places in which his opposition could be made to bear upon him." On Mr. Ruggles alluding to the doctrine of "regular nominations," he remarked that " he would op- pose him at every stage, both before and after the nomi- nation, regular or irregular, be the consequences what they might." . He had also said the same thing to Gus- tavus G. Cusman, Esq., as was affirmed by Henry War- ren, the broker.

Adherence to regular nominations was a cardinal doc- trine of the Democratic party; and one hundred good men and true, of that party, headed by William Emer- son, published a card to the effect that if this fact and another fact, that Samuel Smith, a late Federalist, was one of his most active supporters, had been known pre- vious to the convention at Augusta, they did not believe that Colonel Parks would have been nominated; nor could they, until the matter was fully and satisfactorily "cleared up," give him their support as the candidate of the Democratic party for Governor of Maine.

The effect of the canvass against Colonel Parks was to reduce his vote in Bangor, and to defeat him as Governor of Maine.

Colonel Parks was a gentleman of fine personal ap- pearance, of courteous bearing, and a popular speaker. He was a lawyer, but more a politician than a lawyer. He never particularly identified himself with the interests of the city. He possessed considerable literary taste, but was a greater reader than worker. He preferred of- ficial life to office life. He left Bangor finally to take the consulship at Rio, under President Polk, as successor to Governor Kent, and never returned to Bangor to reside.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Thomas Jefferson Forbes, a native of Bangor, son of William Forbes, died at Columbus, Mississippi, August 21. He was a graduate of Brown University, read law with Hon. William D. Williamson in Bangor, and was admitted to the Bar in 1829. He practiced in Levant and in Bangor a few years; but preferring literary employ- ment, he went South, teaching at different places in acad- emies. He finally settled in Columbus in 1835, and be- came editor and proprietor of the Southern Argus, and distinguished himself by his "ability, learning, and accom- plishments." In its obituary notice of him, that paper said :

Mr. Forbes, by the amenity of his manners and the excellence of his disposition, called around him, wherever he went, a large circle of bosom friends; while the high respect entertained for him by the citi- zens of Columbus was fully evinced on the day of his burial, the funeral procession being as large, if not the largest of any one ever witnessed in this town.

William Forbes, Esq., father of the above Thomas J., came to Bangor in 1800, from Greenfield, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in trade several years, and was compelled to suspend in consequence of the embargo. He bought the Jedidiah Preble truck-house-the first frame house in Bangor-near the "Red Bridge," where he resided with his family many years. In 1803 he was Postmaster of Bangor, under Gideon Granger, and then Postmaster-General. He took a deep interest in educa- tion, and gave his children-five sons and two daughters -all the aid in this direction that he could. Two of his sons he helped to professions, Thomas J. and Daniel, who was a physician, and died in charge of a hospital in the War of the Rebellion. Another son-Charles- served in this war three years. His two daughters were educated ladies; one of them became the wife of Rev. Richard Woodhull, and the other the wife of Hon. A. G. Wakefield.

Mr. Forbes was born in Westboro, Massachusetts, in 1763, and died in Bangor in 1846, at the age of eighty- three. His father was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts twelve successive years, and his father fourteen successive years. He was the great-grandson of Daniel Forbes, a Scotch warrior, who came to this country in 1657, bringing with him the old claymore that he had wielded against the English-a weapon that descended to this great-grandson, who did service in the Revolution- ary War, which he engaged in at seventeen. Whether he, too, chopped off English heads with this tremendous two-handed weapon does not appear. He, doubtless, would have liked to use it upon Benedict Arnold, whom he, with others, was sent in pursuit of, and whom he saw getting out of an English barge, but was so far off that he could not reach him.

Mr. Forbes, with Amos Patten and Newell Bean, helped to lay the foundation of the Unitarian Society in Bangor, the meetings of which he attended.

Edward Kent was elected Governor and Elisha H. Allen Representative to the Legislature a second time from Bangor, both Whigs. Ebenezer Higgins and Daniel Emery were elected Senators, both Democrats. The Whigs did not have the election all their own way.

Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, was elected Representa-

tive from Hampden, and, with similar enthusiasm to that he has ever manifested for the success of the Republican cause, he labored when in the Legislature to prevent Mr. Kent being inaugurated Governor.

It being the most gratifying victory the Whigs ever had in Maine, they brought a twenty-four-pound gun from Castine, that by it they might express their joy to Democratic neighbors in tones they could not misappre- hend. But they professed to some humanity, and to modify somewhat the thunder of the discharge they put the brass pieces of the artillery in operation, accompanied by the ringing of bells, with an occasional interlude by way of refreshment from the brass band. This multi- form music delighted and astounded the hearers from dawn to dark; and no doubt Mr. Emerson, Colonel Hodsdon, and all the politicians who believed in the principle of regular nominations, were impressed and gratified by this form of response to the effect of their action.

The rejoicing was not confined to Bangor. The Whigs all over the country were extravagant in their expressions of joy over the result in Maine-a Democratic State !

Mr. Garrison had been in Bangor and talked to the people upon the subject of the immediate abolition of slavery. There came to be many who believed in the principle, but they did not approve Mr. Garrison's pecu- liar methods. Denunciation was not agreeable to their ears; they believed in the theory of "easy blows," etc., and they believed in action. Therefore they organized the first "Anti-Slavery Society" of Bangor early in Sep- tember of this year, "Auxiliary to the Maine State Anti- Slavery Society," and adopted the following resolutions :

Resolved, That this society, in common with abolitionists in general, repudiates the idea of wishing to amalgamate the white and colored races, and believes that whatever evils have resulted from such amalga- mation are justly chargeable to slavery itself.

Resolved, That we will never countenance the oppressed in resorting to physical force to vindicate their rights; but could we reach the ear of the slave, would entreat him patiently to endure till his deliverance come.

Resolved, That while we admit and maintain the right of free and full discussion on all subjects, yet, in our judgment, individuals rejecting the authority of civil and parental government, ought not to be em- ployed as agents or lecturers in promoting the cause of emancipations.

Resolved, That we are opposed to harsh, violent, browbeating, un- christian language or manners on the part of abolitionists, and equally so to all vituperations, gag-laws, and mob measures on the part of their opponents.

Resolved, That it is no part of our design to aid in the formation of a political party-our object being exclusively of a moral, philanthropic, and religious nature, such as men of all political sects may unite in, and that we shall consider the object of our association as having been attained, when there shall come to be a deep, universal conviction throughout the land that immediate emancipation is equally the duty of the master and the right of the slave.

Resolved, That the weapons of our warfare are neither bitterness nor wrath, malice nor revenge, but truth and love, which, though moral, are yet mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the stronghold of oppression.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the ladies of this city to form a female anti-slavery society.

The following officers of the society were chosen : John Godfrey, President; Bradford Harlow, Rev. Stephen Lovell, Joel Hills, Joseph Bryant, Timothy Crosby, Charles Plummer, Vice-Presidents; Rev. Swan L. Pom- roy, Corresponding Secretary; Thomas H. Sanford, Re-

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HISTORY OF PÉNOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE ..

cording Secretary; George A. Thatcher, Treasurer; John S. Sayward, Prof. George Shepard, Charles A. Stackpole, Anthony Woodard, Albert G. Wakefield, Henry B. Farn- ham, Charles Greenough, Executive Committee.

This society had interesting meetings and discussed the subject of slavery in pursuance of their object to convert the people to the doctrines of immediate eman- cipation.

About four years later a large majority of the officers above named came to the conclusion that belief was not action, and that until some aggressive measures were re- sorted to they had no surety of any emancipation at all. They therefore aided in the formation of the political anti-slavery party called the "Liberty party ;" and labored in that until it was merged in the "Free-soil party," and in that until it was merged in the Republican party; and in that until universal emancipation was pro- claimed by Abraham Lincoln.

At the meeting of the Penobscot Agricultural Society in Exeter, Mr. Kent addressed the society in the extent and variety of the resources of the State, and ranked the agricultural resources among the first.

Governor Dunlap appointed Asa Redington, Jr., Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, to supply the vacancy oc- casioned by the resignation of Judge Smith, and John McDonald Judge of the Municipal Court of Bangor, for the vacancy made by Judge Farrar's resignation.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 176

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100