The Portland daily press., 1869-08-03

= = = = 49, ~ mX tAE6Es
MR-aEpiroR,-The temperance men in our
section are anxious to do right this fall, but
some OF US are in trouble about how VIC oug ght
to vote.
Gov. Chamberlain fought so brayely all
through the war where he was badly wounded
and received the surrender of Lee, and he has
done 50 much for the State by encouraging
settlement Of the lands, surveying the water
power, and advising young men to stay in
Maine, that we like the man. Bat we do not
want to vote for him if he is against temper
ance, or is for repeating the prohiBitory law
and opening the grog shops again.
Some Of oar neighbors went to the State
Temperance Convention at Portland, when
Mr.. Hichborn was nominated, and they say
that Gov Chamberlain is against temperance
and prohibition, and has been pardoning out
some Lewiston rumsellers, according to the
Lewiston Journal Now il this is SO, we want
to know it, 50 as TO vote for Mr.. Hichborn. who
is said to be sound on temperance and in favor
of the prehibitory law.
But there Is one thing that want to know
about Mr.. Hichborn. One of.my neighbors.
a good temperance man, lent me Gospel
Banner last week and. in it were some resolu-
tions OF the State Universalist Convention at
which Gen. Herseyi presided. and Mr.. Perliam
was a Vice. President { sls IS
One of the resolutions favored the enforce
nent OF the prohibitory law, and another con-
demned Gov. Chamberlain for hanging Har-
ris and opposed executing lhe law against muir
der any more in this State.
Now I am told that Mr.. Bichborn is q Uni
versalist, and is opposed to capital punishment
although did not see his name in the Gospel
Banner. Butas Mr.. Perham was prominent
candidate in the Republican convention, and
Gen. Hersey was talked OF good deal for
Governor IN our section last spring, have
been thinking that T. should like to know
whether Mr. Hichborn sympathized with
the resolution which his two brother candi-
dates voted for. ..s.z f.s..
When was!.in the Legislature somebody
gave me copy of the Revised Statutes mark
ed House" and l have kept it in my house
ever since. and in the first part of it is the
Constitution, which says in one place, .The
Governor shah swear that he will take care
that the laws be faithfully executed % fhe
Press extra contains a copy Of the laws passed
last winter, and among them have found
this: Chapter ~, relating to the execution of
sentence in capital cases, Approved March ~.
ls69 Sec. 2 I'D THE Governor and: Council
shall carefully review the whole case, and un
less they think proper TO pardon the convict,
or commute his sentence, the, Governor shall,
upon the expiration Of one year after the day
of sentence, issue his warrant sc. es4.'3
Now, understand Cleveland, the Down
East murderer, who killed an old man who
had done him a. good many afayors, and hid
him il some tan in his cellar, for his money,
will probably be sentenced this faH to be hung
u he Is, his year will expire in the fall of 1870.
NOW, what l1want TO know of Mr.. Hichborn
Is, II he is.eiected Governor, and the Leeisla-
ture do not repeal that law, what is he going
to do about it?l l suppose by the Constitution,
Article A, Section IL, he cannot pardon or re-
prieve, or commute asentence, without'th ad-
vice and consent of amajority Of the Council.
Suppose the Council should refuse to advise
or consent to pardon, OF reprieve Cleveland
tagainst whom there seems to be some preiu-
dice in his section) or even to commute his
sentence to imprisonment, want respect-
fuily to ask MIR. Hichborn what he would do.
Would he issue his warrant to hang him.
as Governor Chamberlain did Harris last
winter? Or would he refuse to do it? And If
he should refuse, would he not go back on his
oath faithfully to execute the law? E.s al I.
Mr.. Hichboln writes an excellent letter and
1 hope he will let us know whether he agrees
with the Universalist resolution or rot, for ii
may make some difference in the vote in our
neighborhOod. ( sdt sEis 81 Il SEBAGo. (,