Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-09
Mr.. GOss of Bath TO the Governor
and COuncil--A Manly Letter
From One of Names Best Citi-

and COuncil--A Manly Letter
From One of Names Best Citi-
Zens.
We find the following letter in the Boston
Advertiser of Saturday
To the Hon. Governor Garcelon and Council
Of Maine
On nv return from New York last night a
Boston journal was handed to me, IN which
read your reply to the protest relating to the
examination of the election returns (Which
had the honor to sign with others. Your
honsrs, through your chairman, +. G.. Parker,
were pleased to say that the protest contains
several very important misstatements that
neither Mr.. Cutler nor the writer ever made
to the governor, the council or any member
thereof any request to inspect any of the cleo
ton returns, &c. :; and you farther state ''that
we have seen fit to sign the extremely false
and partisan statements previously prepared
by others,-you believe for partisan prr-
poses" sc. | feel called upon-by a sense
of justice to myself and TO those who elected
me to represent them in the next legislature
to explain through the public journals my po-
sition, and assign my reason for signing the
protest which has SO incensed your honorable
body as to accuse us of falsehood and partisan
designs.
Immediately after the election last Septem-
Der a partisan journal of our city accused the
republican party in Bath of fraud. The ac-
cusation was met with fiat denial. and proofs
of fraud demanded. Nothing was done to
substantiate the charge, and no citizen of
Bath, whatever his political faith believed 1T.
Later on there were rumors of plotto count
out enough republican representatives and
senators, and so elect democratic and green
back governor After awhile these rumors
assumed tangible form, and it was asserted
in some of the public journals that proofs
were not wanting that YOU entertained the de-
sign to thwart the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls. The people became ex-
cited Some of my political friends came to
me for an opinion as to whether you would
BY any technically informally, irregularity or
error in the returns, go behind precedent and
in violation of law and not allow corrections
to be made, and so wipe out the republican
majority. felt it to be the duty of every
lover of peace and good order to assured the
people that you would not be party to so
dishonorable an act and incur the Indignation
of the public sentiment which such an act
would bring upon you. 1t seemed humiliat-
ing that there was even the thought Of such a
plot in our law abiding and intelligent State
of Maine. When you were elected governor
YOU were not elected the governor Of clique
or party. but of the whole people, and every
citizen, of whatever shade of political faith
had a right to expect justice at your hands,
and believed it would be granted.
When it was given out that the returns
would be opened on the 18th ultimo, went
to Augusta with several of our prominent cit
liens to examine the returns of Bath, and see
whether there was any informally or error,
and if so, have them corrected. as provided
l.. ~a1 t,t I.a Tat a nd
found the Council chamber closed, and were
informed that Governor Garcelon was absent.
NY business was such that could not remain,
but asked friend to do so, and wire me when
they were opened, as had no doubt they
would be- the next day. If any republican
senator or representative has had the privi-
lege of examining the returns up to date of
our signing the protest, | will acknowledge
that am in error. Subsequently to the 18th
ultimo, by order of Council, the LIST instant
was the day assigned for examining the re-
turns. 1t was difficult for me to leave. l
advised with Alderman Elliott, and he prom
Used me that he would 60 up to Augusta and
take all necessary papers relating to my cleo
ton, and wire me when the returns could be
seen. 1t seemed to me that should be rec
reant to duty, and would incur the just dis
pleasure of my constituency. irrespective of
party, if failed to have any errors or inform
alities rectified, and Bath should lose her rep
resentation in the next legislature, as there
are important measures to be decided upon
which deeply concern the interests of our
city. received no despatch from Mr.. Elliott
to come to Augusta, and so Tuesday evening
went up to Augusta and met several gentle
men of the republican party. l believed
what my colleagues told me, that they were
denied the privilege of examining the re-
turns, and shared in their Indignation at the
evasion of your honorable body, in not per-
hitting the returns to be examined
You are in error in your charge that the
protest was prepared beforehand. 1t was
prepared that evening in our presence, and
was only completed in time for us to reach
the train that left for Boston at IL o'clock. 1t
was not possible for me to remain, as had
an appointment in Boston the next day,
Wednesday, but before leaving appointed
an attorney to appear and act for me as though
myself were present In conclusion, may l
ask your honorable body to retract the charg
es of "misstatement' and ''falsehood' and
BIPARTISAN designs" which you made under q
misapprehension of the facts, am willing to
believe.
Respectfully yours,
Guy G. Goss.
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