Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-11

1t had been said that these ignorant people
are not required to comply with all the re-
quirements of the law in going through their
elective proceedings. 1t is a maxim of law as
old as the law itself that Ignorance of the law
excuses no man." 1t would avail nothing ii, a
court of Justice. There might be reasons for
this ignorance. For thirty years attempts have
been made to educate these people and make
them acquainted with our laws and institutions
but all these efforts have been strongly resisted
and If he mistook not, the controversy going
on here to-day arose out of the efforts made
by the last Legislature to teach these people
the English language. Appropriations of
money were made for the schools providing
| English school books should be used
When this plan of education was attempt
ed to be carried out by Mr.. Dickey it was re-
sisted, fearing perhaps that some intiu-
ence would be exercised over these people
that would not be just in accordance with their
religious belief. This step was resisted by
! certain men in that plantation and if he was
correctly informed, the contestant of Mr.
Dickey's seat was very active in that matter
He simply introduced this to show why they
are ignorant OF the laws
| The gentleman from Stetson had made some
remarks derogatory to the character of the
gentleman from Fort Kent but on taking the
floor the next day, said he did not intend to do
so and asked to be excused by the House, but
| it does not withdraw the impression made.
As far as the matter goes in the report of 1859,
there was an exciting election in 1858 and Mr..
Dickey participated actively as did other gem
tlemen who have received high honors at the
hands of the State, and why are they not ar
| ragned or tried as well rs Mr.. Dickey, it may
be for the same fault. Why is this drawn up
here after more than ten years have elapsed ?
1t seemed to him extraordinary means to in
huence the House.
| Mr.. WHIppEN discussed at some length the
question of the organization of Cyr, and
maintained that it not only defective, but
that it hardly bears the semblance of an or
ganization as required by this law. five allow
this vote it will be an abrogation of all forms
of law and the law then has no binding force
| Then we may disorganize this House
The majority may turn the minority from
their seats at any time. He did not pro-
pose to detain the House longer. The legal
points of the case had been so thoroughly dis
cussed by the gentleman from Augusta that
he deemed it useless on his part to go over the
ground Therefore he would leave it Just
where twas.
Mr.. STIcKNEY had no ill will or particular
friendship for either of the gentlemen in
this case, but should vote to seat the one who
TcCSINeu tte inOSt NOtcS from the district
Madawaska. He had examined the records in
the Secretary of States Office, not only those
pertaining to this case but others which might
tend TO throw some light upon the subject
He had read the reports of the Committee and
heard all the remarks made and he had come
to the conclusion that keegan received twelve
if not fifteen votes more than Mr.. Dickey.
1t had been taken for granted that the rec
ords of all the plantations in Madawaska dis
trict are correct and legal with the exception
of Cyr. He admitted no such thing. He had
papers containing presumtive evidence at least
TO show that they are no more correct than
Cyr, and he believed they were more deficient in
organizations.
Mr.. S. produced What purported to be records
of the organizations of the plantation of Eagl
Lake, st. Francis and ST. john made by their
clerks. He asked members to observe the hand
writing and phraseology of the papers and see if
the inevitable conclusion would not be that
they were made by one person. He also in
troduced the returns Of the election in St.
Francis and Fort Kent in the Sept election,
which the law requires to be made up and
sealed in open town meeting. These he said
it must be evident to the House are in the
same hand writing, and the plantations about
twenty miles apart. Gentlemen state that we
must take the record as it comes. But he
cOntcuueu IL is Il IalSenOOu tnat tneSe TWO re-
turns were made up and sealed in open town
meeting. They were made afterwards and for
the occasion.
A number of other papers were introduced
to show the loose manner in which voting is
conducted in that locality among which was
the return of the votes for Governor in St.
Francis. The whole number of ballots cast
was 36, of them Joshua L. Chamberlain had
Is, Franklin Smith Is, Samuel w. Collins
81, George Cary .. And the candidates for
county officers each had votes, and also VIM.
Dickey all purporting to be votes for Cover
nor. Some would go for counting out honest
votes for neglect of plantation officers. He
argued that they did the best they could and
he was not for disfranchizing the citizens of
Cyr, St.fFrancis or any other plantation, but
was for giving the gentleman who received the
most honest votes his seat.
1t is said here that there is not the least evil
dcnce of any such place as Cyr. We in
Aroostook county known where it is, and can
go there in the darkest night. We know that
they are entitled to the right of having their
representative in this House as much as any
other plantation. The plantation of Cyr is
not only recognized by the people of that Sec
tiOp hut nv all the dnnnrtmaptS If tho Stata