Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-10
MAINE LEGTSLATURE.
Abstract Of the Remarks of Mr.. Baker OF
Augusta,

on Elections, in the case of kecgan rs. D"key.
Mr.. BAKER said this was local matter
in which he had not designed to mix; still il
was one that he must vote upon, and when
the discussion began yesterday he had not
formed any conclusion from any fac,s that
he saw lie did not understand that there
is any parry mixed up in this question, for
he understood both gentlemen to be dem
ocrats. This question would not enter in
to the case even if one was a democrat
and the other republican. His object
was simply to get at the right.
As he listened to the arguments yester-
day his mind was in a state of doubt; for
alter hearing the gentlemen from Houlton,
he thought he (Mr. Powers was surely
right, but his distinguished friend from
Stetson took the floor, and with that inge
nuity which no man knows better how to
make use than he, and with that en-
thusiastic eloquence calculated to beguile
almost any mans Judgment into error,
presented his case, and the gentleman
from lloulton for the time being was
lost sight of; and he had followed the
gentleman from Stetson until he had near
ly led him into an error. He had followed
him in his flights of fancy until he could
see the stars shine and the rainbow he had
painted He followed him when he OPEN
ed the bottomless pit as it were, and took
the patriarchal gentleman from Fort Kent
by his long beard and dashed him into it.
He had nothing to do with dead frauds or
with those who may have practiced them.
He only sought for the truth, and as a mat
ter of right and wrong, and principle on
which this case must turn. He invited at
tention to the facts in the case presented. in
relation to the organization of the planta-
tons of Eagle lake, ST. Francis and St.John.
The gentleman from Stetson had presented
the record of evidence of their organiza-
ton, and had left upon his (Mr. Baker's)
mind, (never before having seen the pa
pers,) an erroneous impression. He did
not accuse him of seeking to do this He
understood him to say that he simply made
use of them as an offset to certain other
papers used by the gentleman from Houl-
ton, in his argument He understood the
gentleman to say yesterday, when holding
the papers up, that they were written
names and all by Mr. Dickey.
Mr.. BARKER explained that the body of
the three were written by Mr.. DICKEY,
and he thought bore marks, he did not
know by whom made
Mr. BAKER said it must have escaped
his notice, or no such statement was made
that there were any marks about them.
When they were thus presented, he (Mr.
Baker, thought there was no legal organ
ization; but when he came to take the
original papers, filed in the Secretary of
States Office as the evidence of the organ
ization of these plantations, he found the
pen was used in making out the papers
the same us any lawyer would in making
out deed, viii or anything else (; but that
the signatures of the officers of the plan
tations although some were made by mark
and some by writing, are all genuine.
He did not understand noao that any one
was willing to stand up and pronounce
these papers forgeries. They had been in
the Secretary of States office since April,
1868, accessible TO all from that time to
this, and have been before the committee,
and not one shadow of evidence was pro-
duced to impeach their genuineness
The establishment of this genuineness en-
titles these three plantations to vote, and
what more can be asked? He now came
to the point that these three plantations
having been legally organized and having
complied with all the requirements of the
law, shall they not be allowed? He turned
the gentleman's (Mr. Barker's) guns
against himself, -'the right to vote is not
to be trampled under FOOT
These three plantations added to the
four towns and other plantations (Which
are not questioned in this case) would
elect Mr.. Dickey. But there is another
plantation (Cyr) in controversy. Can that
be added? because, if it can, he conceded
that it makes a change and elects Mr.
Keegan.
The statutes tell us of the incorporation
of a town and we know by that its vote is
to be received. But what of the plantation?
Gentlemen would seem to think it no mat
ter whether place is organized or not
no matter where a man lives. If he can
only east vote at the September election
universal suffrage will sweep him in. He
did not understand the rights of the people
to be tested by any such rule He found by
the constitution that man is allowed to vote
after having his residence established in
the state for the term of three months
next preceding any election. If the con-
stitution stopped here he acknowledged
the gentleman's argument; but it does
not. 1t further says he is to vote in the
town or plantation where his residence is
so established. When we come to inquire
into the right of citizens to vote in Cyr
township, we want to know whether it is a
town or plantation.
If it is neither, they have no right. We can
not go to the public statutes as we do in the
case of towns. We have but one place, and
that is the Secretary of States Office. The
law requires that this record of organization
shall be returned sixty days before election to
his Office. We go there, but find it not. This
was sufficient for his mind and the end of the
whole matter as he conceived
The gentleman from Stetson had read from the
report of the commissioners appointed in 1859
TO look into the frauds in that locality. From
this report the Legislature saw the necessity
of some law in relation to them, and hence
the law Of 1859. 1t was framed to guard
against frauds and the uncertainty of organi-
cation, and against lawless voting. And the
gentleman from Stctson would turn back upon
the record of 1859, by allowing the vote OF
this plantation, which has in no way gone
according to law, for the law requires that a
copy ofall the proceedings Of organization shall
be returned 10 the Secretary Of States office
sixty days previous to the election, and no