Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-30


AUGUSTA, Ne, Dec. q, 1879.
To His Erceiency, AIonzo Gdrcelon, Gor-
eraOr Of Maine:
cannot be mistaken i'm thinking that I'm
common with all good citizens your Excel
lency must deplorc the existing condition
of public sentiment in this state today.
Two great political parties, embracing In
their ranks the entire population OF the
state, are brought into angry relations.
producing bitter personal anmoSitieS and
possibly leading TO scenes of violence.
What is the origin of thi. extraordinary
condition Of affairs seen for the first time
in Maine? IL is because unhapply for the
first time in Maine great political party
and all the members thereof feel dissatiS-
fled with the mode in which the returns OF
the recent election have been counted aul
declared Possibly they may be in error.
but siXty-cight thousand citizens OF Maine
who voted against your Excelency at the
September election do not feel that the
actual result Of that election has been pro-
claimed.
Even granting that all these men are iu
error, your EXCellenCy cannot but see that
IL Is very serious matter % leave q sense
ofwrong ranking in the minds Of so many
good citizens who have at heart rs sin
ccrcly n your EXcellency can have the
peace good order and happiness Of society.
Your EXcelency cannot fail 90 perceive
moreover, that the counting out Of thirty
seven Republican members OF the LegiSla-
turc. elected on the face OF the returns. 8,
an event sure TO provoke irritation. excite
ment and anger. The Republican party
claim to have elected 10y the Official return,
one hundred and nine ont OF the one hum
drcd and eighty-twO members that compose
the Senate and House. The counting out
Of one-thrd of the entire number that the
Republicans believe they have elected +,
certainly an extraordinary event as your
EXccllency will admit am not now as
sorting that your ENcellency may not have
had good reasons for following this course.
but / respectfully submit that you can DO a
most valuable and honorable service for
the State and for yourself by adopting
measures that will satisfy every citizen OF
the State Of the rcaSOuablcness and justice
Of your EXcellency'S course. Your Excel
ency Is the only individual ia the world
that can command the prompt opinion or
the Supreme Judicial Court. The cousti-
tuition gives you power 10 require that
opinion on important questions Of law.
and upon "sOlemn occasions, SO that II
that great provision Of the constitution
were ever uecdfll, II would seem ut thi,
moment 10 be of incstimablc value. ~.
also 10 remind your Excellcucy that I'm
questions Of ike import which have arisen
in times past 10 perpleX your predecessors
in the executive chair, the habit has been
uniform aud general 10 appeal 10 the court
for the true Interpretation OF law. and 10
no time, believe, has IL ever been charged
that on question OF this character the
court has rendered decision tinged with
partisan feeling The recent decision Of
Mr.. Justice Virgin is 4 fresh Illustration Of
how little the political bearings OF a quc,-
ton influence the judges OF our Supreme
Judicial Tribunal. IL is in the power OF
your Excellcncy 10 instantly restore peace,
order quiet and good feeling 20 the State
and It's inhabitants 10y asking the opinion
OF the judges on each law point involved
i'm the variation OF the count from the fuc,
Of the official returns There are precc-
dents for recalling the summons 10 Sem
tor or Representative elect when crronc-
NNNlF A~NAtilt anu ia tltf ittNf "a ALlf@ IIt 20
DISTINGUISHED cities no summons HIS vet
been sent 10 any one. Even If there were
q question Is 10 the strict legal right % re-
call certificate or election IL Is not 90 bee
doubted that the decision OF the court
would NJ once cause the members not en-
titled 90 the seat 10 retire and the rightful
member 10 be at once admitted. The iudg
mcnt of the court would thus settle rs
lust umpirage As it was designed % settle
the embarrassing and dangerous questions
under consideration.
address your EXcellcncy not simply as
an individual anxious for the peace and
good order OF the State but as the chairman
Of a committee of the Republican party.
all of whom arc DESTROYS above all things.
% avoid every possible disturbance Of tnc
public tranquility and to reconcile the pop
ular discomfort.
Very respectfully yours,
LoT VI MORRILL,.
Chairman, -.