Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09

which piled il up. His IDEAS Of civil
service are Utopian; but would De well If
It were possible 20 carry them out.
THE SITUATION AT AUGUSTA.
Affairs az Augusta took new and
decidedly unpleasant turn, last week.
Agreeably TO the order Of Council, large
number Of State and county officers elect,
assembled at the capital, TO review the
returns A. first. all worked well. can
didates for county offices, and their coun-
Sc. were allowed to inspect the returns,
bu, when members elect 10 the next Leg
Islaturc applied, they we've refused. The
Governor and Council based this refusal
OF the ground that the law Of 1877 al
lowing corrections IL such returns, was
unconstitutional They took the liberty
70 make this decision without asking the
opinion Of the supreme Court upon =.
All efforts 20 deal with the Governor and
Council have now been abandoned, and
an appeal has been made TO the Supreme
Court az Fryeburg, 70 compel the Secrc-
tarv of state % exhibit the returns.
There Will be a hearing on this question
on Tuesday, before Judge Virgin.
Before retiring the Republicans sent
the following proteS; 90 the Governor and
Council We publish II IN full. as It
gives a complete and concise history OF
the whole difficulty,
AUGUSTA Nh. Dec. ., l>-e.
r. %, Horar1tI. .ts Governor raf t1'u-l
NJ Pro- sat, 90 NuH.-
The undersigned senators and Repre-
sentative, elect chosen Co the Legislature
by the election OF September >th l>79. be-
leave Co submit, 90 your HONORABLE, Boari
thc following protest
During the month ot October and the
ar-t halC % November 10 was given out
that the Governor and Council would meet
on the I--h day 0f The latter month Cor Oh,
purpose OF opening che election returns.
and accordingly ON rhe day named Che
Council met and there was a considerable
asSemb.age In This city % persons lmmell-
ately interested .n the result The Couu-
Gil m once passed an order declaring that
the twenty day, within which applications
should be filed Tor correction ~ returns
should begin 90 run on and from that date.
The general Inference was that your huu-
able Board would Forthwith permit Che
parties interested 90 inspect the returns
according % uniform usage of your pred
ecc,>or~. Seven ex-GoveruOrS OF the State
then iu the city-AusOn = Morrill, uanui-
bal Hamlu, Lot NJ Morrill,, Israel Wash
burn IT.. sidney Perham, Nelson Diugley,
IL. and Selden COunOr-testited fully and
publicly that ia their administrations they
had never known a single instance in which
= candidate for Office or his authorized al
torney had been refused q full and free eN-
animation of the returns. To these have
since been added th. concurrent testimony
OF ex-G0vern0rs Joseph II. Williams, Alb
ner C0burn and JOShua L. Chamberlain,
thus giving the uubroken testimony ~ all
living eN-GOveruor> since l>ji.
But against this imposing array Of prec-
,deutS. against a clearly expressed legal
right. against the apparent amendment or
vour honorable Board fixing the twenty
dsvs for applications for correction, every
attempt 90 Sc the returns has met with
evasiye delay OF fiat refusal A. q means
Of securing our rights resort was then had
20 the Supreme Judicial Court by petition
on the l4th OF November 20 issue man
damu- 20 compel the Secretary OF State 20
exhibit the returns. In answer 10 this
petition Chief Justice Appleton ordered
notice Tor hearing on Tuesday, the 18th.
Your honorable Board. however, on Satur-
day. the 22d, after notice had been ordered
by the chief Justice, passed the following
order
Ordered. That she Secretary give public no
dee that the Governor and Council win o. in
session from Dec lst % 18th, for The purpose OF
examining the official returns OF vote. Tor can
tIrrr
u officers. Candidates claiming irregularities
or other causes presumed 20 vitiste their cleo
ton VIII have reasonable opportunity 20 De-
heard either personally or by duly authorized
counsel.
sthis order was understood % concede
even though grudgingly snd in restricted
time. the privilege Of inspecting and cor
recting the returns, all the parties IN inter
est agreed 70 suspend legal proceedings
and await the issue. their purpose being 20
reach the desired end without litigation,
and even without irritation, if possible.
Following the suggestions OF your order,
the undersigned came 20 this city yesterday
fully expecting that the promise which
the order contained would be carried out
n good faith. and that they and al other
Legislative candidates would De permitted
EoinSpcct tine returns and ascertain If there
are any errors that could be corrected I'M
der the law. Several members OF YOUR
honorable board had individually given a.
surance that there would be no difficulty in
seeing the returns, sud they especially as
,ured different gentlemen thar any Candi-
didats who would bring a certified copy Of
tbe election record OF his town should be
SLOWED 70 sds roe return and compare said
record with it for The PGEPose Of making
The corrections hitherto SIwayS allowed
In anticipation OF this condition, the IN
dersigned in connection with their aSsOCi-