The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-24
COMMUNICATIONS.

tor of the Press !.

To the Editor Of the Press:
Much has been said of late about Var
mouths Representative contested election
case, and of the vote of last Monday in this
town. The Legislature, we are told has been
righteously rebuked by said vote, for its un-
righteous decision in that case, and the Argus
does not let the opportunity slip to proclaim
Yarmouth erect-G disputed question settled
by the roters." Justice, 1t appears, has been
vindicated and Charcoal rebuked. That little
sheet, the Advertiser, also joins in this shout
of Triumphant Endorsement. &c, inspired
thereto by a letter said TO be written by
highly responsible citizen OF Yarmouth to
friend in the Legislature"
Now this is all well enough, suppose, and
no harm Is done II truth Is not subverted, as
in this case we, here in Yarmouth, believe il
Is. To vindicate the truth and TO reconsider
the disputed question" desire to occupy a
little space in your columns.
As regards the nonsense in "letter to a
friend" about "many members of the Leeisla-
ture" being deceived by the pretended friends
Of Capt. Merrill, and about ian attempt made
by one Of the Committee ON Elections fMr
Haydenj to blacken the character of Mr.
Gooch," moth ng need be said, except that the
unanimous action of the Representatives in
relation to the whole question, should be rath-
er convincing to candid minds. that no great
injustice was done TO Mr.. Gooch; for it seems
ceived members all thought and acted alike
In the matter, and If Mr.. Gooch's "highly res
ponsible" friend, the "citizen of Yarmouth
has any reason to complain of the usage Of
Mr.. Gooch at the hands of zone Of the Com
mittee," he has only TO thank Mr.. Goochs
pretended friends and the gentleman from
Berwick" for it, since their very unusual and
ungentlemanly course taken to ease his fall
was the sole occasion of it. As to the charac-
ter Of Mr.. Gooch, as citizen or neighbor, /
would say nothing against it.; as a neighbor
there 10 none better.
II Is on the triumphant endorsement by
his town. that now speak; and In regard to
that, let figures decide. At the election last Sep
tember, the whole number OF votes thrown in
this towa for Representative was 341, of
which Mr.. Gooch had 1914, and Capt. Merrill
147, giving Mr.. Gooch majority of Al. This
spring at the election of town officers, 347
votes were thrown for first selectman 70 more
than were thrown last fall for Representative
Of which Mr.. Gooch had 1888, majority Of 20,
eighteen less than he received for Representa-
tive In September. If this Is 'striumphant
endorsement SO be it; Charcoals find no fault.
and il Copperheads find init consolation, they
are welcome to all it affords.
But this is not all. From this Representa-
tive district, Yarmouth and North Yarmouth
5l2 votes for Representative to the Legisla-
ture were returned last September. Mr..
Gooch received 256; Capt. Merrill 255 scat
tering 4; Mr.. Gooch's plurality l. This
Spring the votes for first selectnan in these
towns, added together, amounted to $40, of
which the Copperheads had 256, and the Char
Goals 263; majority for the Charcoals, Z. This
may be thought by Copperheads to be "tri-
umphant endorsement and "rebuke," &c,
DC, but Charcoals don't see 1t in that light
They do see Yarmouth's contested election
decided by the votes of the town and of the
district in favor of Capt. Merrill. 1t does
seem that the Copperheads have been making
too big "boo" for such little horse.
A few words in relation to "Charcoal" bids
Of S25 for votes. Without question, sup
pose, Copperheads are about tie same the
country over; but we think we have in this
town rather the hardest specimens for fib-
bing anddeception; and they are very apt to
charge on others the dirty tricks they do
themselves. Of course when they offer S25
for votes they charge the Charcoals with do
ing the same; probably under delusion. like
that OF the drunken man, who thinks all 9TH
ers are In the same condition. Those who
charge the Charcoals with buying votes were
offered $50 If they would produce the person
who would say that an attempt was made to
buy his vote. The man has not been pro-
duced and never will be. On the other hand.
will Copperheads deny that they have given
money and store pay for votes? That they
have allowed non-residents and minors to vote.
II Copperheads? and prevented citizens of fif-
ty years standing II Republicans? OF course
they Will. Their hands are always clean, and
in their hearts is no sympathy for
CHARCOAL
Yarmouth, March q, 1863.