Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-04-09

Perhaps. however, tho gentleman from
Warren will answer, that u IL in unison
with the Democracy of previous date. ably
engineered by ono T.. l.. Ossool " Frye.
burg, better known rs the Gun HOUSE
Operator" when the said Osgo)d DID the
State signal service by selling the gun hou.
ses in York. Limerick, Saco. Bethel. Paris.
and Turner. for the sam Of 1906. and bring.
ing m a bill Of SiSG.sS. or Sl2l ~, moro
than the whole amount received for the gun
houses, Ne expenses attending the sale of
same, and removal Of few old guns, which
balance was paid said Osgood from tho
State Treasury. In this case however, |
think said Walker has the advantage OF
Osgood. as he can plead in cGtenuatiOn
4" that be followed la the footsteps Of his
illustrIous predecessor" And | must. In
cindOr and fairness say. 10 not think ho
is a whit behind that predecessor. In his
way and manner Of doing up the business.
Mr.. Speaker; have presented thi,
House with two specimens Of Oxford De-
mocracy. and 20 further illustrate and afford
still stronger proof Of the necessity at an
Auditor Of Accounts for this State, ! will
now refer to a third specimen Of this class.
10y no means the least, which will make mp
n trio Of worthis, a sort Of trinity In
unity"
THIS latter worthy i known by the Gu
phonious name of Ab,rncthy Grover. lla
Is well known as an untiriug aspirnt Tor
Office, and the good people Of Ola OKiori.
have IN several instances granted him leave
- withdraw from public life, In conse-
pusnce whcreof. the state has BON deprived
ol his valuable services. until the reign II
Samuel |. ne which tins the right hand ~
fellowship was extended. and Mr. Grover
was daily installed into the Governor C0un.
ell bat infer from the records that Mr..
Growers services were TOO valuable o. Do
wholly cngrosscd IN matters 81 ~ little I'm
portance. ~ looking after the interests Of
the State ne home. This was entirely too
small Geld In which % contnc the llbJrs
Of ~ splendid genius, anil - he was 1t
at work in looking after DO. osn interests
in another locality. Hence an order was
passed in council, under date Of April ~.
1856. that Mr. Grover be- authorized to ~
10 Washington, and aid our Commissioners
In procuring q settlement OF our claims
against the United Stats. Mr.. Grover
went IN Washington, and. under date OF
July, 1856, End bin which rra!' IS toll
lows:
State of Maine. 10 \. Grover, Dr..
To expenses incurred in travel and at
tendance at Washington, fur the
adjustment Of our claims with the
General Government, SJ2' 90
To 80 day. services at sj,OOPer day, 2ij.OO
Whole amount. $4,000
This. like Mr.. Walkers accounts, was
allowed and paid. This was a very pretty
little operation, when We take into the ac-
count tho actual and necessary expenses u
such u visit.
There l. small piece Of private history
connected with this matter which an dis
posed 10 put on record, as have received 1t
IRON the beet of authority. Mr. Gruycr
wanted 90 supplant another distinguished
Oxford County Democrat, and receive Tor
himself the office OF Mail Agent ior the Fast.
ern District, then held by that distinguished
gentleman As it would not ho ia good
taste. or m accordance with modern dem)c-
racy tor - distinguished a man u - u
Washington on such an errand u-tensihly,
he was invested with the h0nOrs Ut Office. 20
guard against casualties. lie WIS % g in
aid Of our Commissioner already on tire
ground Whether Mr. Fairfield found HIM
self inadequate to his duties, ani requested
aid. do not know. b. this n e may. the
record shows that be- went 10 Washington
and no returned again. after toriy.HiTs days
OF arduous service m sending ubllc docu-
ments all over Maine in aid OF the slave
democracy, aud trying 10 engineer himself
into public Office. But be wa- unsuccessful
in getting the Office Of Mail Agent himself
but he was successful in doing mischief to
the Aforesaid Virgil.
On the appointment OF successor 70
Virgil, Mr. Grover returned home. and lAli
his grieis and his account before samuel !.
and his august council And samuel and
hi, councsellor, took pity on him, on ao-
count of his great sacrifices, misfortune
and III. arduous labors in distributing docu.
ments IN defence Of sham democracy, and
granted him the poor pittanec Of 400.
Now this was generous. IL Wa more. "
was magnanimOus, ~ that body wis won't
% be, especially when other peoples prop
crty was concerned.
Had Mr.. Grover gone IN Washington on
his own account, and lived there as bchtt'i
a genuine democrat. il would have cost him
about SIS. Probably something les. But
this would not DO tor representative OF
the slave democracy OF Maine. lie must b
its true representative there. and the state
must foot the bill, and give him . net profit
on historiy-HIHc days Of mere party scry O., OF
not les than $500. Almost any man could
AFFORD ~ 70 10 Washington 90 hunt for an
Office To the tune OF - per DAY and cNpen-
ses. especially while be was holding the
office Ut Councillor.
Such Is y specimen Of the doiDgs OF the
democracy of thi, state, dur
lns IT, last period OF power, which IL Is %
b. hoped for the credit aud the interests OF
the STATE. will DO it, last forever, and that
no party will hereafter obtain possession oi
the government, OF like character.
could cite numerous other cases OF q
character like those have commented on;
but think have exhibited enough ~ sat-
lsly all minds, that there IS u necessity Tor
some other restraining power than We now
have. % prevent the recurrence OF such bare
faced business Law is wanted In the prem
iscs and the law is for the lawless aud dis
Dbcdient
Our duty then is plain and urgent.
cannot believe, and no member OF this House
IAN believe. that had there been an Auditor,
,yen small portion OF these unlawful
claims would have been allowed. feel jus
tilted in asserting, from careful perusal OF
The records. that there has been enough I'M
awiully distracted from the State Treasury
Turing the last ten years 20 pay the salary
,f an Auditor tor twenty years % come.
therefore hope this bill will pass.