Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-11
naiIp Aennsbee sournal.
Augusta, Tues lay Morning, Nov. IL, 7e
preceientS.

Precedents.
The Portland Argus knows very well
that there is no precedent in this State to
authorize the stealing of the Legislature
by the democrats In South Carolina there
NAV be such precedent, but not in Maine
And the stealing of the Legislature is ex-
actly what the consprators aim at, this to
be done by turning out republicans by
wholesale, who have been elected, and
filing their seats with democrats who
have not been elected. This is the scheme,
N further which the Boston Globe lies are
published. and for such an outrage, as we
have said before. there is no precedent IN
this State. The cases of Burleigl and
Madioan. Bliss and Poland, were isolated
cases. They did not affect the organiza-
ton of the Legislature; but the very es-
sence of the case of the democratic con-
spirators is to wrongfully and fraudulent
ly wrest the organization of the legisla-
ture from the republicans.
The Argus seems to be of the opinion
that the Governor and Council issued Il
certificate of election to Burleigh. This
is not the truth. No certificate was is
sued to Burleigh by them, nor to Madigan
Burleigh was first admitted to seat by
the Senate, on the report of the committee
on senatorial votes, after which the con-
test for the seat came on, which resulted
in Burleigh's favor. If there is any pre-
cedent for the Governor and Council in
this case, it is certainly not in favor of as
suming power not belonging to them in
issuing certificates.
In the case of Bliss and Poland, the re-
turns made to the Secretary of State gave
Poland small majority, but it was proved
at the counting of the votes by
the Governor and Council, that the
returns from the town of Wash
ington did not agree with the de-
claration of the vote of the town as made
in open town meeting by the town clerk.
on the day of election. This error, if cor
rected, would give the certificate to Bliss.
In favor of such correction and the giving
of the certificate to Bliss, there appeared
before the Governor and Council one of
the most eminent leaders and lawyers of
the democratic party in the State, he con-
tending that the proved declaration of the
town clerk was the true guide for them in
issuing their certificate. Bliss received
the certificate Poland never appeared in
the legislature to contest the right of Bliss
to the seat.
There are other cases that might be
cited, but none in which the Governor and
Council attempted such usurpation as is
agitated by the contingent iunto. The
Argus will find that in 1875, of the Cum
berland senator's one republican and one
democrat received certificates. while two
republicans received none and were only
admitted TO their seats on the declaration
Of the committee of the Senate on senatori-
al votes that they were elected. In 1876
one senator from Somerset, and the sena-
tor from Lincoln, both republicans, failed
to receive certificates and were admitted
BY the Senate.
In all these cases it will be found that
the Governor and Council never over
stepped the limits of constitutional author
ity in issuing ertificates--except possibly
in the Bliss and Poland case-but left the
House and Senate entirely free to decide
for themselves who were elected members
There is a vast difference between their
course in these cases, and that which is
marked out for the present Governor and
Council, viz: to raise great outcry about
fraud and bribery and have the Governor
and Council under cover of this count in 9
democratic majority in House and Senate
and usurp the State government against
the voice of the people as declared at the
election in September.