Eastern Times

Mr. Speaker Banks' Insult to Maine.

The importance of Maine as the first ship building and third commercial state in the Union, has almost from time immemorial—from whatever section of the Union the speaker may have been taken—secured for her a member of the committee on commerce. During the last congress Mr. Hamlin was chairman of the committee on the part of the Senate, and Mr. Fuller on the part of the House, and ably and faithfully did these gentlemen serve their state and the nation in that position.— Thus were the commercial interests of Maine cared for under a democratic congress. Under the present abolition regime, however, with a New England speaker—Heaven save the mark!—the great commercial interests of Maine are overslaughed. Mr. Fuller has been ostracised, and some know nothing out in Illinois appointed to preside over the committee on commerce. For the first time almost in the memory of man, Maine commercially has been ignored. She cannot be heard in what is to her by far the most important committee. For this there is not a shadow of a justification or excuse. It is not enough to say that Mr. Fuller's seat is to be contested, for he is appointed upon an inferior committee and a North American from Maine on this committee would be better than nobody. Why have the claims of the representative from this the first commercial district in the state, been overlooked? He, at an early day, through the deep mysteries of the future, saw the 'hand of freedom' resting upon Mr. Banks, and although he resides in the rural districts, has found leisure in days past to recuperate himself from the fatigues of his clerical labors by travelling in the steamboat from Belfast to Boston, and is presumed to have some knowledge of commercial affairs. His know nothing and republican friends will surely complain that they are thus deprived of the benefit of his commercial knowledge.

Such is the punishment meted out to Maine for her stern refusal to bow the knee to the Baal of abolitionism—for holding on to the Union and letting sectionalism and Neal Dow 'slide.'—

Belfast Jour.