Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-05
lp0BTPW0ATo
THE LATE SCENES IN MAINE

THE LATE SCENES IN MAINE.
Inc late political transactions IN the Legislature o
Maine, have been of character so highhanded and
traordinary ana yet characteristic of the party
ing i'm them, that bre! connected sketch of them i
due TO republican readers both matters OF hisor,
and admoniton. III they discover in the conduct of tn,
federasts OF Maine, the INSCRIPTIONS il
the attainment of power and the same violence in il
exercise that have in past times been exhibited under
an occasional and temporary ly the party
In this state, will serve TO confirm republics in their
attachment TO the democracy, and afford additional proofs
that the old eaven is alive and active.
Tho legislature of Maine assembled on the first Mon
day in January. In the House before that body wa.
organized by the choice Of speaker, before members
had subscribed the constitutional paths, federal mem
Der contrary TO all usage, ed the appointment OF
committee, with instructions to all the powers
oil committee contested elections, far the ex-
animation OF testimony against members might 20, but
not so lar as TO go into testimony tGr0r of members
whose election questioned; and was resolved that
no one should be considered member of the house un
less such committee council should report in his favor
Ihs the Portland Argus calls the purge, apt COMPARE
son with The usurpaton of Cron'.el, who by the aid
OF COL Pride's purge" thrust such members of
the English parliament as ''would not be favorable"
his daring assumption oil despotc power. The design
of this will be understood by the circumstance
that the house supposed 10 be nearly divided
TO require the rejection of one two of the republicans,
10 enable the other party to elect their speaker The
consequence was that two persons excluded one
of each party, Mr.. Roberts and Mr.. Fowler; bu,
the committee discovering, after several ballots for
speaker, (hcre was no choice for three days that the
latter was necessary TO elect the federal speaker Nr.
Goodenow) the prinid fdcie evidence against him fur
nlshed by his certificate was voted down without coun-
ter testimony, and he permitted TO hold his seat;
whereas Roberts was required TO prove the validity of
his certificate, Ga proceeding required of no other mem
ber) and he was excluded, notwithstanding his ccrtii-
cate oil election, and notw outstanding his seat
contested! The federal speaker accordingly elect
cd by majority OF one vote Afterwards, when he
substanated his claim in addition his certificate Col
Pride's forced majority, Gays the Argus) sill excluded
him, ''athough he had made ou, like other members
this Prima tdeie evidence of his right TO it, and was
willing to meet any subsequent investigation before the
committee of elections, which should be instituted
And although an oracr passed the house directing the
committee on contested elections TO report forth with
Mr. r. case, report has yet beca made and he is
still excluded from the privileges of member, up 10
this twenty. day If the session -
The exclusion of Roberts material 10 the issue of
this daring game. The returns of votes for governor
were TO be counted, and the successful candidate TO be
declared by the legislature 1t known that there
was either no choice or that the exceeding
iy close between liuntoon, the federal candidate, and
Smith, the republican candidate. Accordingly, among
the first acts Of the speaker, 10 appo mt com
mee OF four iederasts and one republican, the part
OF the house. 10 examine and report the returns of
votes for governor. That committee as was expected
reported the cleo ion of Hmoon, by a majority of SO
votes But in reaching this result they excluded the
votes OF the town oil Hermon, which gave Smith "A ma
jorty, because they attesed by the town clerk
on the inside, though they were fully attested on the
outside; whilst they admitted the votes of Bluchill in
favor OF Hunoon, which not atesled the outside
(the law requiring but attcsation, and not desg
mating whetheri shalt be inside outside they reject
cd II votes from the aggregate (hereby reducing the
number necessary to make majority OF the wholC) be
cause they did not dc gnatc the persons for whom they
given; they rejected also the votes of Balcyville
Plantation %, which, together, gave Smith 20
lory lin sequence Of the mcrestcerca mistake in the
form of the certificates whilst alayits were before the
house clearly explaining and correcting those mistakes
and they admitted the returns from Mercer which it
was not pretended were constitutional, but which gave
majority of Al votes fer IIuntoon IL was necessary
will be perceived, TO exclude Mr. Roberts before the
organization of the house. to secure the election Of
1 vns rNtIu1ltr
to keep him out in order TO procure the accs ptance
the report declaring the election of the federal govern
or The report was accepted accordingly by the house
In me senate, parties were equally divided, and
8; and that body was not ganseh until the eighth day
OF the session The report of the committee de aiinp
the election of Huntoon Governor was discussed for
several days. and rejected the vote being invariably
and s; The reasons for such re- ction being the OBJ
yous paiiaty and erroneous conclusion OF the report
The republican senator's evnced rpsoln,e determine
ton not TO yiel their assent TO the election Of an ind
vi6ual who bad not been elected by the people But
it became matter Of Importance TO the other party
In ORDER to carry ont the measures which thew had
s'ared in the house, by TO obtain con.
trout OF the Senate What those means were, will be
seen in the sequel There were known to he four va
cances in tina, bodyi but IL had declared the mum
her nor reported who were the constitutional candi
dates on he 20h ult. On that day, the house ADOPT.
ed most extraordinary measure in The shape of pre-
ambe, detailing the sins OF omission ON the part Of the
senate, and arragning that body for delinouercy and
concluding with resolution declaring certain yacan.
ces our) in the senate, and requesting the senate 10
ballot.
resoulion after debate, rejected by the senate;
tie republican members con- ending that ii was uncon.
shiutiona and Unprecedented, il the senate had moi
been able to decide it, Of elections for
the house TO make such decision; that each house j.
made the sole Judge Of the election Of 10 members
ami mat any attempt on the part Of the house TO eclar
the vacancies or to gu them not warranted by IL,
constitution, nor by usage.
In the house, or the Let Feb. republican membe
(Mr. Smith) introduced the following preamble and or
der:
Whereas an order has passed this house dire citing
message TO be sent 10 te senate, requesting ,urb e.
majors az have been duly elected to meet the member
t This house in the hall OF The house OF represepfadvc
this day, at half past O'Clock in the afternoon an,
elect by joint ballot the number Of required
and whereas novel and important question: has arisen
wbeiber such convention can he formed and procee
TO the business expressed in said message until tie def
cieoces which exist at that hoard have been by thei
determined, aud the constitutional candidates thereto
desgnaied-I therefore,,
Ord@ed, That the justices Of The supreme ndicji
court be requested pursuant 70 the provisions Of IN
constitution 20 give their opinion upon the followin
qpesiena, VIZ