Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-06-20
A KEY THAT WILL UNLOCK A

A KEY THAT WILL UNLOCK
MYsrERY.-Thc following letter will
serve to show why it was necessary to
call on Alden jackson, Esq, late Secre-
tary of State. for statement as to the
means taken to supply the towns with
resolves in relation to the Constitutional
amendments. This lotter was among
the papers turned over by the Chairman
of the old board of Selectmcn of a town
in this County. to the Chairman of the
new board The last years Chairman
was straight whig. and this letter was
part of his instructions from the lead
ers of the board of trade of the late
whig party. This town, in consequence
of this letter, as we may reasonably sup
pose, did not vote on the constitutional
amendment
The writer Of this precious democratic
letter is no less parsonage than an cx-
member of Congress, and a member OF
the Senate of Maine at the time. We
copy from the Report made to the SEN
ate, by the Committee, to whom was re-
ferred the message of Governor Merrill,
and the report of his Council on the
CONSTITUTIONS. amendment, so much as
will illustrate where lay the snag. which
the Committee was in hopes would justi-
fly them in making an adverse report on
the adoption of the amendment.
In further examination. the Committee
find that 81 towns and plantations
!. which threw for Governor 1858 votes,
made no returns on the constitutional
amendments. and II towns made no re-
turns, either for Governor, or on the
constitutional amendments. Several
towns returned the blank with the mark
on it, that it was not received in time to
insert the proper articles in their warran:
for town meeting.
In view Of this large deficiency in re-
, turns from towns and plantations, the
Committee deemed it proper to make
f some inquiry as to the means which had
been used, to comply with the require
ments Of the constitution to ''send the
! resolutions to the selectmcn of the sev.
eral town and assessors Of the several
plantations We requested therefore,
, the attendance of Alden Jackson, Esq.
late Secretary Of State, and inquired o.
him the means used.t provide the cities
towns, and plantations, with the resolves
and blanks directed by the resolves. He
stated that the resolves, and blanks fol
returns were enclosed in packages, with
the blanks for election returns, a pack
age directed to each city, town and plan
tation i'll the State that the packages
for each county we're put together. and
+ on the first of August last, sent to the
sheriHs Of the several counties, to be
, distributed to the cities, towns and plan
9 tations in accordance with chapter seven,
section eleven, of the Revised Statutes
and that he had received letters from the
sherihs acknowledging the receipt Of
the several packages. Although this
was not strict compliance with the
/, constitutional provision that the resolves
be sent to the sele,tmen of the several
towns and the assessors of the several
plantations inasmuch as the statute au-
thorizes the sheriff to deliver the packa-
ges to the clerks of the towns and plan
> tations; we yet deemed it sufficient
proof in the absence of any evidence to
, the contrary, Or any circumstances from
the towns not voting, that the resolu,
tons were sent in accordance with the
Constitution, and that the absence of the
returns was owing to some cause, which
would not authorize US to declare tina,
f the amendments had not been properly
submitted to the people.
-, Aug. 9th, 1855.
1 My DEAR SIR: In pursuance of the
unanimous vote of our State Convention,
passed at its meeting at Portland, July
23d, do not forget to recommend to
, your county and town committees, to
urge our friends in their respective dis
; tricts, to vote against the proposed
amendments, to the Constitution OF
: Maine.
Yours Truly ~