Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-11-05
From the Lewiston journal.
The Argus Speaks.

The Argus is surprised to hear that any fu-
sion managers have threatened to have the
Governor and Council go behind the returns
and records, for the purpose of counting out
the republican Legislature elect. 1t has new
er heard of ANYTHING of the kind, and cha-
lenges proof of it. 1t is hardly possible
that the Argus has not read the articles in the
Bangor Democrat, and other fusion papers, in
which the Governor and Council have been
advised to do this. 1t seems unreasonable to
suppose that the Argus has heard nothing of
the talk which has filled the air, that some
how or other a fusion Senate would be sum-
moned bv the Governor and Council. We
will not for a moment assume that the Argus
is so Ignorant of current utterances. Ii is,
we hope, sign that the fusion leaders have
given up their first programme, and propose
to plead that it was mere talk.
The Argus afIirms that all evidence in re-
gard to 'brbcry and fraud" will be address
ed to the Legislature and not to the Governor
and Council. We are glad to hear this. II
the Argus speaks by authority, then the fu.
sion leaders have reached a very sensible
conclusion-but conclusion exactly opposed
to the threats that have been made in all
parts of the State. All that the Governor
and Council propose adds the Argus. is to
follow the constitution and law, and the pre-
cedents of Cows. Connor and Dinglcy in can
vassing the returns; and then ''if il shall ap-
pear that a fusion Senate and House is elect
ed. they will assemble and discharge their
duties II the Governor and Council follow
the constitution, then the Argus and every
body else knows that there is no chance
for the 'if;" for the House rs elected. and as
appears by the records contains 30 republ-
can majority, and the Senate Z.
The Argus is surprised that we should have
,l.. GO.
case in which the Governor and Council
should unconstitutionally count out thirty re-
publican majority in the House and seven in
the Senate. and thereby change the political
character of the Legislature. We have not
allowed ourselves to suppose that the Govern
or and Council intend such an outrage as the
fusion leaders so freely threaten. but it is
well for the men who are urging them to do
this. to bear in mind that this wrong cannot
be done without leaving open one way by
which their action can be reviewed by the
Supreme Court. The knowledge of this fact
will be likely to make even the most reck-
less men hesitate.
We hope that the Argus, in its statements.
represents the sober second thought of the
fusion leaders. 1t is certainly time for the
better elements of the democracy to assert
themselves and set back the gentlemen who
Governor and Council would do. Perhaps
even the most reckless have discovered that
if they should step outside the path marked
out by the constitution, there would be a rem
edy through the Supreme Court. We have
never believed that the Governor and Coun-
ell would do what many of their political
friends have declared should be done. In
the meantime we commend to all concerned
the provisions ofthc constitution, which are
the guide of the Governor and Council in
counting votes
1.-The Governor and Council shall as soon
as may be examine the returned copies of the
list (of votes for scnators) returned to the
Secretary's office, and twenty days before the
first Wednesday of January issue summons
to such persons as shall appear (by such re-
turns) to be elected by plurality of the
votes of each district, to attend that day and
take their seats
similar provision applies to the count
ing of the votes returned for Representatives
to the Legislature. Again the constitution
says that
Each House shall be the Judge of the
elections and qualifications of its own mem
bers, etc