The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-11-27

1t vail be reosllectei By so,ae OF our readers
that a question was started m communication
published in one Of our late papers Who
il the preseat Governor ~ the State ~ To this
enquiry no answer. 10 orr knowledge, has vet
been givcn--whence We should infer that il Is
too unimportant 10 arrest attention Or Is deem
I'd. in the potiic mind. sufficiently we'll Settled
alrcady-As the iaiihf,l editor of public paper
we conceive IL 1T aud proper ID communicate MI
facts and Circumstance, and furnish all ilfor-
nation directly or remotely connected with the
public nierest--Gnder this impression we gave
place 20 the communication referred 70, and there
we intended % have left the subject-But our
attiantion has been recalled to it by the follow
iass ommuuication.
Nv Shirley.
The question 3who is the present Governor
Of the State seems 10 be now quite Unsettled
The laie regent il appears has virtually signif-
"a bis resignation bv assuming 10 be a Repre-
sentative 10 Congress. A letter last week was
sent from Tie Post-Ofice in this town, franked
William y. Williamson, NJ. {. By this fact it
must be evident either that he exercises the
ranking privilege wrongfuliy--or ceases to be
Inc = officiating Governor The above cir
cumstance is communicated To YOU 10 enable
you better 70 settle the general question.
BANGOR, NOVEMBER ~, 1921.
lfac information here given is correct. il
settles one point, If il had been before doubtful
namely, that the gentleman named is .Ntra-
Der 0f CogsgTess-Rot simply member elect, but
4 member a. fact and by virtue Of that Office en-
ioying and exercising the valuable privilege OF
f1rtasing letters. The value of the privilege we
pretend not to estirnate--what the amount of
postage saved may be 70 hira or others we leave
10 the Post-Oflice 20 calculate BE il more or
less, ii is compensation To member Of congress-
and as such.is received bv the officiating Gov.
ernor."-Afier presenting TINS new fact and the
following clause of the C,..-rffution = no perscr
holding znv o;Iice Up place under the United
States, this state, OF any other power shall erer-
rise the office Of Coyernor''--we leave the gen
tlemaR and ell concerned to make up Judgment
upon tie question stated by our correspondent
as he and they see tit.
Ii is The duty of every good citizen 10 guard
The Constitution OF the State, against violation
Ii viii not do TO excuse il, ID any instance re-
cause The inj1ry i slight and the consequences
unimportant-or upon pretence that the pub
lie convenience requires it-Once establish the
precedent that il can be violated in this wav, be
assured il vii soon be violated in every way, as
interest or convenience, may dictate. We pre-
tend not 10 exhibit ell the inconvenience which
may follow in the case now in question--some
eyis we think we see wLichare likely 10 occur
"A gentleman elected Member of Congressman
possessing the right at the same time, of making
fhe important appointments Of Sherits and
Clerks, Judges, Justices, and other officers, may
avail himself Of this privilege, just at the eve OF
quitting his Office, TO use his power, in such a
manner, as lac may think best calculated to
make friends, and 10 secure bis re-eleCtion-or
he may be willing to 60 SO far, as even TO incur
and assume the odium Of making an unpopular
removal or Northumberland be think il
might save his successors popularity, and insure
70 himself the new Governors good will and IA
vpr; not that we would insnuate sySh case
has happened-and we do not pretenS&o impute
motives or conduct of TINS description to the gen
-tlemen IN question-but merely 10 guard a
gainst the recurrence Of such evils hereafter
Whether the views and opinions here presented
be correct--it is for others to determine-be-
heving they are, it seems Ia be our duty TO state
thern-and TO protest against any mans ererciS-
sag the office Of Governor lcdo as q Member q
Congress, as repugnant 10 the letter and spirit
% tie Constitution.