Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-07
For the Journal.
GOTERNOR CHAMBERLAIN AT
WISHINGTON

GOTERNOR CHAMBERLALN AT
WASHINGTON.
Twas very sorry to notice an article in the
last Maine Farmer rejecting severely upon
Governor Chamberlain, in which it is said,
After a months absence ii is gratifying to
knom that the Governor Is once more at ltbe'-
TITO gire some attention TO the business Of the
State" may hope that the Farmer did not
know that the Governor was at Washington
on business of the State of the most impor-
tant character, for am sure no man would
sheer at faithful. public officer in this most
unjust manner, if he did know the truth. 1t
is scarcely less justifablc to do SO at random,
without stopping TO enquire whether the in
situation is true or false. l happen to know
that the. Governor went to Washington, when
he did in obedience to summons from some
members of Congress, to attend to most i'm
portant business of the State imposed on him
as a trust by the legislature. The citizens of
Maine have large pecunary claims against
the United States, which have been audited
and allowed by this State, and to be paid to
parties in interest when received from the
United States. The first is the claim for in
terest on the advancements made by Massa-
chusetts in the war of 1925, which by joint
resolutions of Massachusetts and Maine have
been appropriated to the E. & N. A. r. r.,
amounting to from $500, 900 to Sl,000,000.
The next is a claim of citizens who owned
land on the northeastern boundary, which
was taken from them by the conventional line
of the Treaty of Washington, and ceded by
the United States, by consent of Maine, to
Great Britain. This claim amounts to about
S35 900; and by the Resolve of the Legisla
,ure of 1869, the Governor was directed to
stake all necessary measures 10 obtain such
amount or amounts from the United States"
The other claim was for lands of private
citizens of the State, taken in 1862 and 1868,
for batteries for what was called coast de-
lenses, amounting to over $4,000. These
lands were taken at Eastport, and by Re-
solve of 1869, the Governor was directed ''to
take measures to secure from the United States
government payment for lands and materials
taken and used under the acts, &C., prorlding
for the defence of the North Eastern frontier
of said State, by the erection Of coast batteries
and other delenSes."
These claims amounting to million dollars,
all adjusted and allowed by Maine, and per-
fcctly just in themselves, and justly due from
the United States, and have been for long
time, it was the imperative duty of the Gov
ernor, in obedience to the mandate of the
legislature, to present and press on the United
States. But why take this time to do it, when
the legislature is in session? Simply for this
reason These claims, if admitted to be just
by the United States, could be put directly in
to the appropriation bills of Congress and al
lowed Immediately, or they must go over to
another year. They must be explained and
authenticated before the departments at
Washington by some one, and the legislature
had imposed this duty on the Governor. 1t
must be done at this time, while the appro-
priations are passing through Congress, and
before the golden opportunity had passed.
The Governor urgently summoned to
Washington for this purpose, and his coop
Grafton was deemed absolutely essential at
that particular time; and he would have been
recreant to his obligations if he had not obey
ed the summons. He purposed to leave on
Monday for Washington, by cars, but was in
vted to go on the Monarch, which was to sail
before that time, and was expected to arrive
at Annapolis SO that he could reach Wash
~, Io4o A. l. l.
gone by cars. He adopted this course be-
cause riding in the cars seriously affects the
wounds which he received in defense of his
country, while others were quietly at home
peris. The bad weather delayed the Mon
arch; but am satisfied that the Governor
left the moment she anchored, and did not re-
turn to her again, but devoted all his time to
the business of the State, and left on its COM
pletion, and rode day and night for home
Now, under these circumstances, as he re-
ceives no additional compensation for this
time, and has made no charge to the State
for his expenses even, is it not very unfair
and ungenerous to charge him, by implica-
ton, with abandoning his official duty to bury
Peabody ''definitivcly?" My connection with
some of these claims as counsel, enabled me
to know the Governors business, and all the
facts have stated, and in behalf of the par
ties interested | urged him to go. should
have sent this communication to the Farmer
if it was not so long before it is published
again, and hope that paper will make the
'amende honorable j. BAKER.
March Sd, 1870 W
A communication elsewhere in this paper
objects to the action of the Senate in indef-