The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-29
MONDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 20.
IsSF TELEGRAPH.
ON The DEFENSIVE.
GARCELON ATTEMPTS TO
EXPLAIN HIS ACTION AT
LEWISTON.
He Thinks He is Danger Of
Assassination,
j. PIBRREPONT NEAL NOMIN-
ATEs HIM FOR PRESIDENT.
S. S. Brown and the Blatant Fogg
at Fairfield.
S. S. Brown and the Blatant F'ogg
at Fairfield.
Special to the Press.]

Special to the Press.
LEWISTON, Dec. 27.-This evening the fus-
ionists welcomed Governor Garcelon and en-
dorsed his course. The City Hall was well
filed. about half of those present being Repnb-
licans drawn there by curiosity. 1t was under
stood that the meeting was to be mixed one
Governor Garcelon was TO appear i'll the role
of the great prosecuted as well as the Lords
elected J. Pierrepont Neal, Esq of Portland,
was down on the bills as the representative OF
the hard money Democracy, and Scion Chase
was to drive out "them steers''-which he did,
and also introduced another of his stock. 'that
black ,colt.". But Garcelon was also to appear
IN another part, that of q secoi jackson, and
in that character was expected to make hit.
Nor was this ALL as it had also been given out
that in person, or by letter. that the Hon. E.
T. Pillsbury was to appear n his great char
acter Of an original Unionist and would prove
that rebellion ought, must and should be put
down. The rumor also prevailed that Cover
nor Garcelon had appointed Pillsbury Major
General of the army of Maine and Comman-
der-in-Chief of his personal guard, and it
was felt that if Major General Eben L. Pills
bury were to appear in full uniform it would
create at once feeling of absolute terror in
the Republican camp. To add to the General
interest it was rnmored that the editor of the
New Era was engaged on military work de-
signed for the instruction Of the officers of
General Pillsbury's army.
d. f. Noyes, Esq, rang up the curtain and
called the meeting to order, and said that he
felt proud to do it. He said that he
nouncement was received with manifest favor
He called Judge Morrill, to the chair. The
chairman then introduced Governor Garcelon,
who spoke as follows:
] most heartily thank you for this expression of
your confidence. A long life of nearly 10 years has
been spent in this community, and if there has been
any act of mine any way reasonable in violation
of law and order am unconscious of it,, do not
come to apologize for what has been done in the
way of counting the returns made by municipal Off
The records speak for themselves. Almost
Immediately after the election it was limited that
there would be unfair means in counting the votes
and that an attempt would be made to steal the
state From the time of the election the returns
were placed in the hands of the committee on cleo
tiens in October last until November 18th no per-
son save the committee had access to them.
Prior to November 18th had hardly seen news
paper for a fortnight, as | was busy removing my
residence and office. That day went to Augusta
and went directly to my chamber in the Capitol. In
few minutes was called upon by committee of
Republicans who demanded to see the election
turns. The conference that followed has been re-
ported and reported correctly. The very fact of
these Republicans presenting themselves served to
make me more cautious in counting the returns in
lawful and constitutional If there has been
any act of my life of which proud it is the per-
Torrance of my duty in tabulating and counting the
returns. We have simply followed the Constitution
and laws as interpreted by the Supreme Court time
and time again. The Constitution prescribes GER
tain things for cities and towns to do at elections If
the requirements of the Constitution not
piled with there is no legal election:
These provisions made for the purpose of an
honest election. 1t turns out sometimes that there
are informalities in the returns. The Legislature
undertook to provide law for correcting this That
INST ha ma hv tba thara is
record what can the returns be corrected by? If
the record is like the returns, where the correc
tlon come in? Now when this avalanche of Repub-
lcan statesmen came in on me at Augusta it popped
into my head thai their very object was to see the
returns and then go home and that their records
made all right.
In the case of Portland the returns were Illegal,
and the records were sent for. Lo! the records
found to be just like the returns. The Republ
cans say that the intention of the voter must be
regarded and not the constitution and law The Sc
lectmen of the town of Danforth had the presump-
ton to go to the clerk and demand that he change
and correct the records. l have letter from Mr..
Berry, the town clerk, saying that he was threat
ened with fine and imprisonment unless he COM
piled. That is what comes of this amending rec
ords. Amend YOUR records three months after
election and where is the result of any election?
The fluctuations were made upon the basis of the
constitution as expressed by the court far
possible, and if there is any one act of my life in
which l am conscious of performing my duty with
out fear favor, it is in the performance of this
duty imposed upon me.
The circumstances that have surrounded me have
been unfavorable. have in reality had to face
frowning world on account of the foul lies of the
Associated Press, and the vituperation and SANDER
heaped upon me from every quarter of the country.
Gov. Garcelon alluded to the unfavorable com
ments upon the action of VIM. Pitt Fessenden from
q Lewiston pulpit at the time of the impeachment
trial of President johnson, and said that the very
clergyman who hurled anathemas obliged to
publicly confess two years after that Mr.. Fessendeu
was one of the most honest men ever known.
Every method that coult be devised has been
brought to bear on me. to induce me to change my
line of conduct not only by the uSual forms of
faces and vilfcation but also by threats of assas
sination. received letter last night warning me
to be careful on my trip to Augusta, to watch the
very food that put into my mouth. This is only
one of many similar letters from various parts of
the state. L have faced more terrible guns than
these paper bullets. have slept where bullets
whistled through the trees, and 1 am not to be
frightened by these despicable threats. If am to
be assassinated for obeying the laws of the state
my life could be offered no better altar. 1t
would cause more respect for the constitution than
ever before.
The Governors remarks were loudly
theered,
Mr.. Neal of Portland made brief speech,
in which he named Gov Garcelon for the
Democratic Presidential nomination amid loud
applause.
Scion Chase was the next speaker. His
letter to the Bangor Commercial which APP
pears in another column.
Resolutions praising Governor Garcelon as
citizen and official, and denouncing the at
tacks upon his character, were read and adopt
ed.
After the meeting procession was formed
and marched to the Governors residence with
a brass band. The Governor was serenaded
and made brief speech.