The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-29
THE MAIXE,MUDDLE.
What Gov. GarceIon Has to Say For
Himself.

What GOV. Garcelon Has to Say For
Himself
LEwlsrowN, Me-, December 27.-The
Fusionists had large meeting in the City
Hall tonight to ratify the action Of the
Governor and Council. Three thousand
people were presentand very enthusiastic.
The meeting was called to order by D. T.
Noyes, and Nathan Merrill was made
Chairman. A committee, with Calvin
Record as Chairman, was appointed to
wait on the Governor at his residence and
request him to address the meeting. The
speakers were 7. B. Swan, of Mechanics
Falls, and T. B. Terrey, of Bath. While
Terrey was speaking Governor Garcelon
came in the hall, and was received with
cheers, the audience rising.
Governor Garcelon said: 81 must heart
lily thank you for this expression of your
confidence. A long life Of seventy years
has been spent in this community, and II
there has been any act of mine in any
way reasonable, or in violation OF law
and order, l am unconscious OF II. do
not come to apologize for. what has been
done in the way Of counting returns made
by municipal officers; the records speak
for themselves. Almost Immediately
after the election it was hinted there
would be unfair means used in counting
the votes, and that an attempt would be
made TO steal the State. The election re.
turns were placed in the hands OF the
Committee on Elections in October last,
Until November 18th, no person save the
Committee had access to them. Prior to
November 18th | had hardly seen q news.
paper for fortnight, as l was busy re-
moving my residence and office. That
day went to Augusta, and went directly
to my chamber In the Capitol, In Ave
minutes ! was called upon BY a committee
OF Republicans, who demanded 10 see the
election returns, The conference that fol.
lowed has been reported, and has been re.
ported correctly. The very fact Of these
Republicanspresening themselves seemed
to make mo more cautious in counting the
returns in q lawful and constitutional man.
ner. 1fthere has been auy act Of my lille
OF which am proud it is Of the perform.
ance Of my duty in tabulating and count.
Ing those returns. We have simply fol.
lowed the constitution and laws as inter.
preted by the Supreme Court ttmo and
time again.
The constitution prescribes certain
things Tor cities and towns to do at an
election. II the requirements of the con.
stttution are not complied with there is nc
legal election. These provisions were
made Tor the purpose OF securing an hon.
est election. 1t turns out sometimes thai
there are informalities in returns. The
Legislature undertook to provide by law
ior correcting this. That correction must
be made by the record. It there Is no re,
cord, what can returns be corrected by;
II the record is like the returns, where
can correction come In?
Now, when this avalanche Of Republi
can statesmen came in on me at Augusti
i popped into my head that their very OBJ
jeet was 70 see the returns, and then vt
home and see that their records wer,
made all right.
In the case Of Portland the returns wer,
illegal, and the record was sent for Lo
the erecord was found to be inst like the re
turns. Republicans say the Intention Q
the voter must be regarded and not th,
constitution and law. The seIectIen a q
the town Of Duntorth had the presump
ton to 90 TO the clerk and demand Eh
change, and correct the record. l have
letter irem Mr.. Berry, town clerk, sayin
he was threatened with fine and i'm
prisonment unless he complied. That
what comes Of this amending record
Amend your records three months aft,
the election, and where Is the result
any election?
! The tabulations were made upon Il