Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-10

such thing has been done. He understood
that meeting was called in this territory, as is
proved in this case, in 1867, and the people de-
liberately decided that they would not organize.
He contended and brought illustration to
show that when this township decided not 70
organize under the warrant of 1861, that the
whole thing was exhausted, and If they
wanted to organize after that, there was but
one course for them to pursue, and that was
to petition again and have new warrant Is
sued.
Their organization must rest upon the or
panization of 1868, or upon nothing. And
how aid they organize then? The law says
they shall petition to the county commission
ers to issue their warrant, and under that
warrant and notice they may assemble and
organize But there is no evidence to show
that they petitioned or that the commissioners
issued a warrant.
Mr.. 3. read a certificate from the clerk of
the court declaring that no such petition was
received or warrant issued, and stating that
in organizing, the township had used the war
rant issued in 1867 by changing the dates.
which was done by ensures and undermining
He submitted to the House the validity OF
such meeting under such circumstances
What next do we have! A paper purportng
to be signed by the assessors and clerk re-
turned INTO tUc pcClttdIS VI ptaeN oh'N IA
November. 1869, almost sixty days after cleo
ton, as evidence of the organization of the
plantation in 1868 and made out in the hand
writing of the contestant from beginning to
end Without the authority or knowledge Of
any one this paper is made up and sent
to the Secretary of States office rs an official
record Upon this false document the gen
tleman from Stetson rests his chief argument
He thought the paper not only void but an
attempt to impose upon the Secretary OF
State and this House. He argued that there
had not been particle of evidence, even be-
fore the committee, tending to show that this
plantation ever had an organization.
Another point he made, was that they had
not made up their record of the votes in open
town meeting, and forwarded them to the Sec
rotary of States Office as the Constitution re-
qures. There is nothing to show that there
was a meeting there. 1t had been stated that
there was such record made, but it had got
lost in the Post office. Nothing of this kind
had appeared before the committee, and lie
thought it little singular if the record had
reaHy been lost. The evidence is that they
sit down long after the election and made up
a record from memory, swore TO 1t, and sent
it in here Is it upon this that the rights of
citizens are to be determined, that the
rights of sitting member is to be decided and
turned out of his seat and sent home, and
another man installed in his place!
The gentleman from Stetson had appealed
to the House not to disfranchse these thirty
one men. He (Mr. Baker, maintained that
we do not disfranehise them. They have by
their own acts DISTINGUISHED themselves. He
agreed with the gentleman from Stetson i'll
what he said in regard to universal suffrage,
if exercised according to the Constitution and
the forms of law, but in lawless suffrage,
trampling under foot all law.
Mr.. b. said in conclusion. that he cared
very little for himself what the result of the
vote. is. for he had not entered into the
discussion for the sake of victory. but
simply to advocate what he believed to be
right and safe. He said he had rather be
right and be in the meanest minority than to
be wrong in the most rampant majority.