The Portland daily press., 1875-12-14
About "USage." !"

1T was only few weeks since that the
Machias Republican suggested that the selee-
tion of Secretary of State be left to the Leg
islature, to which the duty has been assigned
by the state constitution. 1t was a good sug-
gestion and we are surprised that our es-
teemed contemporary has continued to disre
gard his own advice and not only dictate to
the Legislature but practically to insist that
it shall yield part of its constitutional func-
tions. We did not intend again to notice
this matter, AMI our excuse for doing it is
that the Republican and Bath Times have
put the matter in so remarkable light that
it seems really imperative to notice some of
their strange assumptions. In the RepubH-
can we find the following:
The question who should succeed Mr.. Stacy
was submitted rightfully to a Republican Gov
ernor and Council and fairly considered and
the question now is whether the person select
ed shall receive the usage of the party The
party cannot afford to do an injustice to CRAFTY
anybody. The fact that Mr.. Chadbourne and
his friends anticipated that he would succeed
Mr. Stacy is no good reason why the Repuoli-
can members Of the Legislature should deny to
Gov. Perham honorable treatment He is Sec
retary of State without his fault, and by every
fair consideration is entitled to receive the
usage of his predecessors. Can any one be SO
blind as not to see that a refusal to elect him
will be unfair party usage? If Mr.. Chad
bourne had been appointed. would he not have
claimed party usage? When Gov. Pelham
has received that usage, or declines to receive
it, it will be time to consider the claims of Mr..
Chadbourne and other gentlemen for the sue.
cession.
Simply denying the inference of the Repub-
Hcdn and the almost positive declaration of
the Bath Times that all of the members of
the Council were consulted with refer
ence to Mr.. Stacey's successor pre-.
vious to the nomination, let us proceed to
notice some of the strange assumptions of the
writer Of the above extract respecting usage.
"The question is whether Gov. Perham shall
receive the usage of the party" says the Re.
publican. Well, what is the usage of the
party? Simply that when gentleman has
once received the nomination Of the Leyisla-
ture for state office, he is renominatIed by
acclamation by the next two or three Legis.
latures. When has Gov. Perham been nom.
mated by the Legislature for Secretary Of
State? When he is, we shall insist on his
having that honorable treatment" to which
party usage entities him. By the coustitu-
ton the election of Secretary of State devolves
solely upon the Legislature. Garry out this
remarkable usage of the Times and RepubH-
can and the Legislature can be practically
deprived of any participation in naming a
state officer. Let it be understood that this
is "usage" and by skillful manipulation the
Legislature can be as completely debarred
from really choosing state officer as if the
power to appoint was vested solely in the
Governor. Indeed, under this susage,'' the
Legislature does not have the ordinary power
of rejecting nomination which the Council
or the United States Senate have Whoever
the Governor appoints to fill vacancy, the
Legislature must take or else be guilty of de-
nying him 'honorable treatment" We
repeat it that an observance of such "usage''
would practically annul that provision of the
constitution vesting the election of the heads
Of departments in the Legislature and vest il
in the Executive; and the Executive making
such an appointment practically makes it fol
three or four years according as party usage
has fixed the time by the number of election:
heretofore accorded. Will some one tell u:
what this participation of the Legislature ir
this usage transaction amounts to? ISM
there something of the burlesque about thi:
matter of ''usage'' as interpreted by the
writer of the articles referred to !? But carry
the matter little further. Mr.. Chadbourne's
candidature has been understood for three
years, and for more than a year prominently
mentioned-we may say conceded. So wei
understood was il that last summer Demo
cratic papers spoke of Republican plans tt
crowd him out because he wasn't strong will
the so-called leaders. Immediately after thu
election a large number of members elec
wrote 20 Mr.. Chadbourne, committing them
selves TO his support. Imagine those member
now writing to Mr.. Chadbourne withdrawing
their support on the ground thai the Execu
tive, having been called upon to make an ap
pontment to fill out year, has practically
named the Secretary of State for the mex
three years! 1t is hardly necessary to ado
that members are not writing that kind O.
letters 10 any extent.
1t is not necessary for us to say that we en-
tertain the highest regard for Coy. Perham
and we should have refrained from any
further comment on this subject but for the
disposition manifested by certain of hi:
friends to raise false issues and otherwise
treat Mr.. Chadbourne in manner that may
we'll be characterized as unfair.