The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-29
Richmond's Protest.


Especial Dispatch to the Press.l
RICHMOND, Dec. 27.-In accordance with q
published call meeting was held here last
night to protest against the recent action Of
the Governor and Council. The meeting was
called to order by Hon. e. D. Lamson, Sena-
tor-elect from this county, and organized by
choosing George B. Stafford president of the
meeting, James NJ. Hall, J. Watson Libby,
Henry D. Fellows, VIM. M. Loud, VIM. Call,
Moses Call, BENZ. f. Curtis, Orrin McFadden,
vice presidents, and Joseph NJ. Odiorne, Sec
rotary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. PEN
dexter, after which the meeting was addressed
in a brief manner by the chairman, who was
followed by other leading citizens of Rich
mond, Dresden and Bowdoinham. The speak
ers strongly condemned the course pursued by
the Governor and Council, deploring any at
tempt to excite revolution or bloodshed, coun-
selling moderation and the use of all fair and
lawful means to secure our rights yet express
ing firm determination to maintain the will
of the people as expressed at the ballot box.
f. j. Buker, George A. Beals and D. S.
Richards were chosen committee on resolu.
lions and the following were read and unani-
mously adopted;
HesoIced That the action of the Governor and
Council of this state in counting out majority of
the Legislature and substituting minority therefor
is direct violation of law and precedent, bold and
INSCRIPTIONS usurpation of power and If allowed
to succeed it's natural result will be to completely
oyerturn the very foundation OF our free govern
ment "a free ballot and an honest COUNT leaving no
possible hope for the future but anarchy and ruin
Resoired, That in the delay of the Governor of
this state to call for the opinion OF the Supreme
Judicial Court as requested by the Hon. Lot NJ.
taken
to move arms and ammunition IN the present eKclt-
ed condition of society, we believe we see evidence
of determination on his part to incte the people,
smarting uuder deep sense OF wrong to conflict
of arms and we hold him responsible for such con-
duct and call upon the people everywhere to be
calm and discreet and preserve their rights.
ResoiUed That all persons who by word, act, i'll
situation or satisfied silence uphold their infamous
course aiders and abettors of their crimes and
should be SO held by every lover of the rights of the
whole people. Therefore it is the duty of all law
abiding citizens, without distinction of tarty to set
themselves unhinchngly against the 81 gantlc wrong
and resist it to the end. b; a.
Three hearty cheers were given for Daniel
F. Davis, after which the meeting adjourned.
Readheld's Protest Against the Steal
Especial Despatch to the Press.
READFIELD, Dec. 27.-The town OF Read
field held an Indignation meeting at their town
hall last evening. In spite of the singing cold
the house was we'll filled. Everybody was in
earnest The discussion was unqualified in
condemnation of the course pursued by the
State Executive and his Council, Sterling
speeches were made by r. W. Soule, G. Ell.
Stone, F. A. Robinson, G. A. Russell, Rev. c.
Munger and j. L. Morse, of Readield; and by
Carleton, White and Jackson of Winthrop. A
rousing letter from ex-Gov. A. P. Morrill, was
heard with enthusiasm.
The following protest and resolutions were
adopted:
PROTEST AND RESOLUTIONS.
It appearing that the Governor and Council have
conducted their late canvass of votes cast Tor Sen
ators and Representatives to reverse the will OF
the people, and in so doing have assumed powers for
the executive department novel, never granted and
never before exercised in this State; we protest
against these assumptions as precedents which, IL
successful matter from what motives now made,
will remain for all time standing threat against
a free ballot and a free government: Among these
dangerous presidents are the following:
The Governor and Council, although Bound by
their official duty execute all laws not declared
unconstitutional by the proper court have assumed
the power to nullify law of the State without
ferring it to the court, whereby If they suspended
the law they usurped the powers of the legislature
and if they declared it null and void, they usurped
the powers of the Supreme Judicial Court, prece-
dent doubly dangerous because it may apply to any
law and thereby open the way for endless confusion
and usurpaton.
While performing a purely ministerial act the
Council have assumed the power, so far as concerns
their own conduct to decide what is law and what
ia constitution and even at the risk of wronging
thousands of citizens have refused to call for the
opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court upon grave le-
gal and constitutional questions arising in their can
yass of votes as was designed by the constitution.
They have counted votes unjustly, even according
to their Interpretation Of the laws and constl-
tuition counting the votes OF one town ana unuer
the same circumstances throwing out the votes OF
another.
They have mis-read an ititial letter, contrary to
foat o,,d Tho intnp M
taking public testimony in the case.
They have decided a town government and meet
ing Illegal in the face OF long line OF contrary ae
cisions of the Supreme Judicial Court in similar
cases.
They have deliberately violated law of the State
by rejecting ballots which the law strlcty 1orplos
being rejected.
They have assumed the power to decide as to the
genuineness of signatures without public trial or
taking public evidence, monstrous usurpatlon OF
power by which the vote of any town might be re-
jected at the will of the Governor and Council;
therefore
Resotred. That the sacredness of the ballot is es
sential to free government and must be preserved
at all hazards
ResoEUed That numerous precedents estab-
ished in late of votes cast for Senators and
Representatives, which, if carried to their logical
conclusion, will make elections mockery and Will
swiftly destroy popular government.
Resolred That the present crisis demands the
united action of all friends of justice and equal
rights in order to maintain, by every just means the
rights voters against these and every other attack
direct or indirect
Resolred That a constitutional amendment ought
to be adopted at once which shall define the dI-
ties of the canvassing board to make it impossible
to pack legislature in the interests of any party by
technicalities, or by arbitrary or illegal means.
ReSolUed, That if the Governor will submit all le-
gal and constitutional questions arising in their late
canvass to the Supreme Judicial Court, and then
count and declare the vote according to their dec-
sion it will end all agitation this subject, what
ever that decision may be.
Belfast's Protest.
BELFAST, Dec. 27.-Agreeably to call
signed by large number of Republicans and
Greenbackers citizens meeting was held at
Hayford Hall this evening to discuss the
counting OUT action of the Governor and
Council 1t was called to order by DIR. j. G.
Brooks, representative-elect. Col. VIM. FL.
Fogler was chairman, and A. G. Sibley secre-
tary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Theo. Ger
IRISH. Speeches were made by the Chairman,
Rev. Geo. Pratt, Hon. VIM G. Marshall, Rev.
j. A. Ross, Hon. John G. Brooks, Rev. S.
Goodenough, Rev. e. IT. Cutler and Rev. Theo.
Gerrish. A letter was read from Mayor Swan
and communication from fifty citizens OF the
town of Unity ina ccordance with the spirit and
object of the meeting. Letters were also read
from S. L. Milliken and j. M. Boardman. W.
IL. OilupSol, w. ". MdIoudii anu Aso'' ~
Goodenough were appointed a committee on
resolutions. The general tone of the speeches,
letters and resolutions were strongly and un-
qualifedly condemnatory of the counting out
action of the Governor and Council, and while
deprecating and disavowning all intention OF
resort to arms or violence, yet advising that
every constitutional right should be main
tanned and when set aside or overridden must
be contested step by step and the final resort
must be at the bar of public opinion as express
sed at the polls in public elections. The meet
ing closed with three cheers for Daniel f.
D avif.
Indignation Meeting in Waterville.
ITO the Associated Press.l
VAUDEVILLE, Dec. H.-An indignation
meeting was held here tonight. Speeches were