Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-08-05

TO THE HON. JOHN FAIRFIELD.

S1R.-FIaving been at the head Of the State Ad-
ministration for the last two years, and being again
candidate for election to that honorable and
sponsble station the attention of the people is turn
ed to your characteristics public man, as exem-
pIifed in your administration and public acts.
Have you given evidence of such capacity for
public business, prudence, moderation, digni6ed
fmness, and that far-seeing, provident sagacity in
regard to the great interests of MAINE, which the
people have right to require and expect in the
highest public functionary of this great and ncreas-
ing State'
lie. the history of your administration, your own
public acts, your official documents and correspon-
dence answer.
You have The support of an efficient, powerful,
and thoroughly organized party to aid you. and de-
termined efforts of band of ofice-expectants.
whose only hopes ofagain feeding from the public
Glib rest upon your reelection, will unquestlon-
ably be brought to your suppon.-But aside from
party organization and the efforts of partisan expec-
tants, upon what principles policy, demonstrated
by your gubernatora administration; or upon what
public acts of yours which have now become mat
ofhstory, do you rely for restoration of that
confidence ofthe people, which, though once pos
sessed in an eminent degree, your own friends ad-
nit you have justly forfeited and lost
viii you refer the people to the exercise of the
authority reposed in you under the Resolve OF jan
uary 24h 1889. for the protection to the timber on
orr public lands from depreciation I? Time and re-
n A. lad, fha laa
two years bitter experience, will now enable you
you and us TO examine this subject with that sober
camness and truth which its Importance demands.
And we can now see the results which were achieved
to the State by the wisdom and prudence, or by the
folly and reckless improvidence ofyour measures.
The protection ofthe timber on the public lands
from depreciation, was the great and leading meas
ure of your administration; and the importance OF
the measure arose from the intrinsic value of pub
lie property stake and in jeopardy, and also from
its connection with the dispute respecting the North
Eastern Boundary--and in both aspects, 1t may now
be fairly considered and reviewed So far as the
protection of the timber from depreciation was
concerned, 1t purely matter Of pecu-
MARY inerest-of dollars and cents, and the means
should have been commensurate to the end. That
''he honor and dignity Of the State we've involv-
ed in the capture and arrest Of the reckless dep
redaios upon the public property who were tres
passing upon the Aroos,ook and Fish rivers, and the
seizure of their oxen and horses, idea advanced
by you in your confidential message of January %,
1889, and what portion of expenditure for the posse
a,, ,,o,lJ ,I,ca 10 The accnnnt tho nnblic yeE
remain in ignorance. In that same confidential mes
sage You stated after enumerating the reported num-
Der Of iresspassers, that 'the quantity OF Timber
which these irespassers will cut Inc present
winter, is estimated in value by the Land Agent at
one hundred thousand dollars - recommend, say
you "that the Land Agent be instructed forthwith
to proceed to the place of operation on the Aroos-
took, and also upon Fish river. if practicable. with
sufficient number of men suitably equipped 10
seize the teams and provisions, break up the camps.
and dispense those who are engaged in this work OF
devastation and pillage The number suggested by
the Land Agent for this purpose is fifty. The est
mute as TOO small
In pursuance of your recommendation, the Leg
slaure on the following day, (January "a, 1897
in secret session, passed the celebrated Resolve
relating 10 trespassers upon the Public Lands
That Resolve gave the Land Agent discretionary
power as to the employment of force 10 effect the
object in view, and appropriated for the purpose OF
carrying the Resolve into effect, the sum of Ten
Thousand Dollars, for which you, Governor,
with advice of Council. were authorized 10 draw
your warrants, the exigenceA of the service re-
quired. The Legislature, then possessing COM
mendabe prudence. limited the appropriation 10
$40, 900, as ample to effect the purposes in view,
to wit, the protection Of the timber from depreciation
and removal of resspassers, With ordinary skill in
management of that business. y. ~
And what was the course adopted BY yon lin pur
suance of that Resolves The Land Agent thought
fifty men all that the exgencies ofhe case required.
You thought differently, and he was despatched