The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-10
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 1890.
MAINE LEGISLATURE.

graceful character, the Government of Maine
is fully organized for the current political year
After the choice of President and Secretary
of the Senate, of which we have before given
an account, joint committee of the two hous-
es was appointed to examine the votes for Gov
ernor. Before proceeding TO the examination,
certain rules were unanimously agreed upon by
the committee, for allowing or rejecting re-
turns, and each member pledged himself to the
support of report TO be based on those rnIo1
The result of the examination was, that Jona-
! than G.. Hunter. was elected Governor, by a
plurality over Judge Smith, of between 800 and
4OO votes, and by majority over all the candi-
dates of about 100 votes; and report to this
effect was made by the committee. When the
report came into the Senate, the acceptance of
it was opposed by the Jackson members, and,
notwithstanding the pledge of the committee,
the chairman, who had himself signed the re-
port, and the other Jackson Senator on the
committee, voted against it. The President of
the Senate, also voting against it, made tie,
the votes being to 8, which was tantamount
to a rejection. The returns of votes for Sena-
tors were then taken up and referred to COM
mittee, there being vacancies in the delega-
ton from York, and one from Washington coun-
ty. The committee reported that Usher and
Pike, two of the candidates in York county
were elected, and that there was one vacancy
in each of the districts of York and Washing
ton. On the acceptance of this report. the
votes stood as usual, s to 8. A motion was then
made that Abijah Usher, Jr., was entitled to his
seat, which was negatved, s to s. A similar
motion in favor of Pixies right to a seat was
disposed of in the same manner, the Jackson
President ofthe Senate constantly voting so as
TO make tie. By these votes, the Senate hav-
ing virtually determined that there were va
cancies, it was moved that convention of the
two houses be formed to fill them, but this mo-
ton was also negatved, the votes still standing
as before, 8 to g. Our readers doubtless under
| stand the rule, that motion is negatived, un-
loss thoro 10 a majority ia tho Affirmative. Dur
ing the whole of these proceedings the only OBJ
ject of the Jackson Senators appeared to be, to
defeat any organization of the government, and
to throw every possible embarrassment in the
way. For this purpose, unimportant motions
were continually made, and the time was con-
sumed in long specifications.
month having thus elapsed to no purpose,
the business of legislation being brought to a
stand, the Governor elect prevented from en-
tering upon the duties of his office, and the
! President of last years Senate, claiming TO act,
and acting, as Governor, the House of Repre-
sentatives, after accepting the report on the
votes for Governor and waiting thus long for
the Senate, determined on bringing the matter
to crisis. They, therefore, on the first instant
passed an order in the preamble of which they
recited the circumstances by which the opera
tons of the government had been brought to
stand to the great injury of the State and stat
ed that by the records of the Governor and
Council, and also by those of the Senate it APP
peared that there were but Is Senators chosen.
! leaving A vacancies and that the Senate refus-
ed, on motion to that purpose being made TO
propose TO the House TO go into convention to
fill the vacancies.
I've seems to be presented, but thai the public
uusi"oS-'ha!l be left undone, the wheels of Gov
eI"h'eht stopPSA and the Constitution nros-
T"teu, OF; inns rouse thU-' proceed in the mode
prescribed by the Constitution, " have Tho w.
cancies in the Senate filed, the Coum,ai,ors
chosen. and the votes for Governor declared
and published, the public business of the State
despatched, and the Just expectations of tho
people fulfllcd,-It is, therefore,
Ordered, That a Message he senf IN tho
Senate requesting such Senators as have been
the hall of the House Of Representatives nm
Tuesday next, at eleven o'clock, A. M. and
elect by joint ballot the number ofSenators re.
CURED
When the Message was received in the Sen.
ate, motion was made, on Tuesday morning,
to adjourn for the purpose of going into conven.
ton with the House. The votes stood 6 to 8,
! the President voting in the negative. A pro.
test was then laid on the table by the republi.
can members of the Senate, against the RIGHT
of the President to vote, on the ground that he
was, cOnStitutionally the acting Governor. till
the Governor elect should be qualified Thew
then declared that, as tho Presidents vote was
I illegal, they considered the Senate adjourned
and should go into convention with the House.
After they withdrew the Jackson members, re.
naming, passed resolve, asking The opinion of
the Supreme Court the constitutonality of
the convention. When the republican SEN
ators came into the House, the Jackson mem.
bers Of the House, g. in number, entered pro-
test against the proceedings, and then with.
drew. The vacancies were then filled by the
convention, all the republican candidates being
chosen When the newly elected Senators APP
peOred in the Senate chamber, their right to
seats therein was disputed, and, on motion be-.