Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-27
Abstract OF the Remarks Of Nr. KnoW4son
OF Ek0Whegan.

sideration was one that every person, nAtu-
rally, might suppose he would have some de.
gree of interest in. He acknowledged that
he had, and wished the attention Of the House
while he examined to some extent, the argu-
ments which had been presented by the gen.
:lemcn from Pittsfeld (Mr, Manson. and
laid before members the real facts. all Of
which being within his own knowledge. He
had always lived in Somerset county, and
claimed to know some thing about its inhsbi-
.ants. He had labored there, and could ap.
peal to the yeomanry-men who know how
10 labor. with as much sincerity as the gen.
tleman from PittsHeld.
The gentleman's (Mr. Manson) suggestion
that sit is quarrel" was significant. II 10
a quarrel, and he thought gentlemen would
have no difficulty in determining who was At
the head Of it, and the spirit in which It bad
been conducted. The people in Somerset are
not in the wretched condition in which the
gentleman (Manson) would have the House
believe. They are to-day peaceable and
quiet, and nne-tenths of them have no desire
to vote upon this question, when the naked
issue is presented. How the county was
when organized, is of no earthly consequence
TO US now. The question at this time, after
the lapse Of sixty years, is, "What is the con.
dition Of the county now, and what will best
serve the public INTEREST,"" The gentleman
from Pittsfield conveyed the idea that when
the county was formed, 1t was understood that
Norridgewock was to remain permanently the
shire town. Did gentlemen believe this to be
so; that Norridgpwock was to be the shire
town of that county, without regard to the
formation of new counties, the changing Of
county lines, and business centres2 He
thought this proposition was rather opposed
70 progress. and would seem to shut out the
lon of ;1ar rna1 nuA
what is demanded there at the present time.
In II the matter was before committee,
but probably not dozen persons in Skoxhe-
gan came here. They understood Whist was
to be the disposition II. In "a tho matter
was again here. The petitioners and remon-
strants (and the petitioners were the more
numerous) were heard fully and fairly, and
the friends of Norridgewock acknowledeed
that they had been fairly treated. They were
afterwards heard before the House. Before
the committee, not single man who ap-
peared there, requested, or suggested the
idea that the matter should be referred to the
people. They did not complain after the
matter was settled, and the friends Of Skow-
hegan went home, supposing that the con-
test was closed. The first intimation that
he (Mr. Knowlton) had that the matter was
still being persisted in, was by telegraph.
that twenty or thirty men had come down
from Norridgewock and vicinity, and were
beseiging every member in the House, and
he regretted to say (for he was friendly to all
the citizens Of fNorridgewock) that false rep
reservations were made to members of the
legislature, to induce them to change their
vote. These statements did effect q great
change in the House, and it was by that
course of proceedings and that alone that the
House was induced to take the course they
did.
When the committee gave leave to bring 10
a bill, for the change from Norridgewock to
SkSwhegan, it was then understood that the
county Of Somerset was to erect their own
buildings. at their own expense. The House
and Senate enacted the bill with this under
standing. Since then, the expenses of erect
ing the buildings have been met, by the bond
given by Gov Coburn. There are 27l6 per-
sons who petition for legislation to submit
this matter to the people. and 2SS3 remonstrate
against the same, which shows that MAORI.
ty Of the voters, so far as they have been
heard before the committee and House, do
not desire this matter returned to them to
settle. Thirty five persons on one Of the re-
monstrances state that they signed the same
for further legislation under misrep-
resentation, and they were such represen-
tations as that Gov. Coburn gave his bond
cal purposes-that he never intended to fulfil
the conditions of it, and that it was done to
cheat the people. Between two and three
hundred persons were induced to sign the Pc
tition through such representations as that.
They were given TO understand that the bond
was good for nothing, and that il the shire
did not go back to Norridgewock the county
would have to erect the buildings. Gov.
Coburn's note will raise a million dol.
rs in the market to-day; he 10 worth
Ave times that. He has given, his
bond to erect a court house at his own ex-
pense, and it 10 to be erected under the direc-
tion, and to the satisfaction of the county
The friends of Norridgewock, as has been
stated by the gentleman from st. Albans
(Jones,) had worked by stealth and had work.
ed more days and nights than the friends Of
Skowhegan had worked days. Not more than
a week since, (and when the roads we're as
bad as at any time this winter did the per-
sons opposed to further legislation circulate
remonstrances and during that time 2,Ss3
names were obtsined. Was not this substan-
TALLY a hearing and an expression that would
satisfy the House that there was not this con.
dition of alarm and confusion in the county
that the gentleman lManson) had spoken of.
The people then are at peace among them
selves, and want TO remain so. anu Inc Leg.
islature would perpetuate this peace wonder
fully, as well as promote the ends OF justice,
if the people can be left to settle the dispute
among themselves. If the matter was allow
ed to rest now, before the sitting Of another
Legislature the people would have as good
cour thouse as any in the State, which wouia
cost the county nothing.
He denied that there was any thing under.
handed on the part of those who petitioned
to have the shire at Skowhegan, and when the
gentleman (Manson) talked about that, he
had better thi. about what was done on Sat-
urdsy night and Sunday, before the election
in September. The gentleman (Manson)
talked about grievances and oppression. He
(Mr Knowlton) protested against It. What
led the gentleman from Pitts6eld to talk
about corruption in this matter? He Mr..
Knowlton) never dreamed Of such thing.
He knew OF no corruption that had been prac-
tised on the part of the fri nds OF Skowhe-
gan. What lead the gentleman to talk thusl
''From the abundance Of the heart, the mouth
speaketh."
In regard to depriving the people Of Som
erset of their rights, he denied that such Vas
his wish. He did not believe in the doctrine.
He contended that the location of the county
seat at Sko~hegan imposed no task and did
injustice to no one. Norridgewock 10 the
Il