Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/22

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��THE GRANITE MON IHLY.

��of president of the senate, he was succeeded by Hon. William Moody, who, a few weeks later, resigned to accept the position of sheriff of York county, when the Hon. William D. Williamson was chosen president. His " History of Maine " is a monu- ment to his memory more enduring than granite or iron.

May S, 1 82 1, Gov. King, in ac- cordance with an act of the legisla- ture, appointed twelve additional trustees of Bowdoin college. As this action caused some sharp discus- sion at the time, I will give their names: John Holmes, John Chandler, William Pitt Preble, Nathan Weston, jr., Albion K. Parris, James Bridge, Benjamin J. Porter, Mark Langdon Hill, Joshua Wingate, jr., Erastus Foote, Ashur Ware, and Judah Uana. .All must admit that if the governor was, as alleged, hostile to that institu- tion, his selection conferred honor upon it. Gen. Chandler served as trustee for seventeen years, resign- ing in 1838. May 29, 1821, Gov. King resigned his office to become a commissioner to setde the Florida claims. He had in the March previ- ous been renominated for governor. He declined the nomination the day before he resigned.

The two prominent candidates men- tioned in the papers for the governor- ship were (ien. Chandler and the Hon. .Albion K. Parris. A careful perusal of the journals of the day will convince anyone that Gen. Chan- dler could have been nominated. He declined to have his name used, in the following letter to the editor of the Ars;us:

Monmouth. June 15. 1821.

Mh. Todd: I observe in the Amn-i- can Advocate, of the!)th. .-ind in the Eastern Argus of the 12tli instant, thaf my name is mentioned with that of Judge Piiri'is as liaving been thought of as a eandidate for governor at the next election. I am awai-e that a pubMe iii;m is not to decide in wli:it c.-ipucity lie c;ui best serve the pidjiie. but, tiiat the jx'o- ple are the judges, and have a right to demand his services as they think prop- er. Anxious to promote the piililic

��good, and desirous that as much unanim- ity as possible should prevail at the next election. 1 wish, through the me- dium of your ))aper, to request my friends not to consider me a candidate, believing that the public weal will be promoted by such a course.

John Chandler.

During his nine years' service in the senate he was on a state commission to locate a site for a state prison, and stoutly opposed the location adopted. He was also on a commission to lo- cate the seat of government of our state. In 1828-9 ^^^ ^^'^^ ^ director of the branch bank of the United States. He served on the committee on military affairs in the senate, and procured the establishing of a military road from Bangor to Mars Hill. He also urged the establishing of a road of the same kind from North Anson, via Dead River valley, to the Lower Canada line. At the expiration of his service in the senate, March 4, 1 82 7, he was appointed by President Jackson collector of the port of Port- land. He had been offered and had declined the collectorship of Boston previous to this.

He shortly after removed to Port- land and lived in the Thompson house, No. 85 Spring street. He held the position of col'ector eight years. During this time the late Francis O. J. Smith was in congress from the Cumberland district. He procured the removal of the post-master of Portland, and tried to oust Gen. Chan- dler. He waited upon " Old Hicko- ry " and stated that the patty needed a younger man, and urged the veteran's removal. The sturdy hero of New Orleans listened to Mr. Smith's request, and, looking at him, slowly said, "An honest man is the noblest work of God! General Chan- dler is an honest man. Good morn- ing, M' . Smith." Smith left, but it is doubted if he ever understood Jack- son's meaning, but he understood his manner. With the close of President Jackson's second term. Gen. Chan- dler's commission as collector expired. President Van Buren offered him a re-

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