The New York herald., 1879-12-25

have done nothing that am ashamed OF. nothing
that regret in the slightest. nothing that would
not do again tomorrow under the same cir
cumstances. with my knowledge OF the effect
produced on the community. Everything I have
done has been according to the best construction
could find of laws and Of the constitution. andI
willing to leave it to the calm judgment OF every
loyal and disinterested man in Maine"
The Governor said this with an emphasis and a
vehemence of utterance which could not fail to
vince even the most sceptcal that. however he
might have been misied. ill-inforned or badly ad-
vised, he was not willfully knowingly dishonest
HOW THE RETURNS WERE RECEIVED AND GUARDED.
'You see." he continued. "when those returns
came in we were between Scylla and Charybdis.
On the hand was the republican party. watching
every move and crying "Fraud!" as early as week
after the election, and on the other our oaths of
office. the law and the constitution About the mid
die Of September several republican papers charged
that conspiracy had been concerted for the count
ing out OF the republican candidates and the count
ing in Of their opponents Now. q matter Of
fact. the counting of the votes mentioned
to me by any member Of the Council or by me
to any member until the regular meeting held
October 20. when . Committee on Elections
was appointed. To that committee all the returns
in the possession OF the Secretary of State were
handed. every package except being sealed. just
as they came from tho several town and city clerks
of the State. The one that not sealed was that
of Searsport. in Waldo county. which had come to
the Secretary unsealed. While the returns were in
the custody Of the committee have the best Of evil
dence that they were never seen by any living per-
SON excepting the members of the committee The
chairman held one-hslf Of the key of the State
House and the Secretary of State the other. and
hodv kua fha vvaa there
impossible that any person could tamper with the
returns. Is charged and prepared to say that
no alteration, ernsure emendAtion was made In
any one return by the Council anybody else dur.
ing that time.
coRRECTIoN AND EMENDATToN.
''Since November II. when the Council met to do
termine the result you know the history Of events.
The best legal talent in tho State. both democratic
and republican. has been consulted every doubt
full case. and We have written opinions on hle to
prove this"
II see It stated that you declared the Law Of 1877
unconstitutional for tho purpose Of changing the
results. II that trueY'
No. sir; It is not" tho Governor replied. 1--WE
willing TO have our actions tested by that Law as
we'll by previous statutes and precedents and the
constitution The law 1877 provides that the record
Of tho election shall be made in open town meeting
a. soon after the close OF the polls convenient.
and that from this record shall be made up the
turn for the Secretary of State. any errors
in transcrbing the law further provides that they
may be corrected asto correspond with the record
but there II law and power by which the record
can be amended. When. therefore. delegations came
here asking to correct the returns by amended
records, we declined to allow It. Wherever clerical
error shown In transcribing from the record we
were willing to comply strictly with the law and
allowed the change to be made"
rHx METHOD OF PROCEDURE.
s'what was your method Of procedure?"
1--WE adopted uniform course of action to cover
all cases. Our chart the constitution. We asked
not what mans politics when considering the
vote cast by town did not stop to calculate the
result; we took the return and examined It accord
ing to the laws which sworn to execute and
let the result take care of ITSELF"
sIs It true. as stated. that only republicans
suffered by the strict Interpretation of the lawf
'sNot at ALL. have learned that in large number
of cases democratic greenback towns lost their
majorties to the gain of the republicans. In Penob
scot county alone eight towns were thrown out
with democratic majorities. I have pro-
cured o list Of losses In several Of
tho Senatorial districts. which shows that the ap
plication Of the strict rule injured both parties
alike. In the First district George H. Wakefield lost
25S votes. J. w. Garvin 1913 and David A. Hill 9. In
SeCOuO III
in the Third F. W. Redlon (republican lost Is and
Charle, Rankin (opposition) 1856. In the Andros-
coggin district Jeremiah Dengly Jr. (republican).
lost 2s7 votes and Charles Lane and George Tbbits
(oppositon 207 and 206 votes respectively. In the
Eighth Amos F. Parlin (opposition) lost IA votes.
In the Ninth Andrew J. Chase (democrat lost 106.
and DO on. Two opposition Senators in Andros-
coggin. IL may be here remarked. who have been
counted out. have served notice that they will con-
test the awarded to the republicans In these
districh."
NO TROUBLE APPRRHENpRD BIZ THE GOVERNOR.
"Do you expect any trouble over the organization
Of the Legislature?"
GAS to that cannot say. believe the sober sense
of the people will triumph and that no disturbance
will arise
"Hsve you made any preparations sor tho sup
preston Of disordersY'
II will take in time all precautions that the cir
cumstances may warrant. I have been sworn to
protect the lives and property Of the people and to
maintain order. and. OF course. shall Co It to the
best OF my ability"
'.Do you intend to call out the miutaf"
IL do not know that they will be needed. but IL
they should. Of course I will not hesitate How
ever. trust there will be necessity for such .
STEP"
Have you any doubts about tho loyalty of the
militiaY'
None Whatever. regard them - loyal citizens.
who will respect the constituted authorities and
obey all orders properly issued"
"what do you think Of the proposition to set mp
rival Legislature?'
al do not see how that be done. The Law Is
very explicit on that point. provides that the Sec
rotary OF State shall before tho appointed day
Of assembly, furnish the clerks OF tho two branches
of tho previous Legislature with certified lists Of the
members who have received certificates and from this
the roll shall be called and the clerk of each branch
who calls the roll shall preside until the proper pre-
siding officer shall have been chosen: IL is dis
tinctly provided that person take part in the
deliberations except he hold . certncste and his
appear the list Without. therefore. direct
and papabe violation Of tho law they cannot organ
ize . Legislature which shall have quorum
Continuing the conversation. tho Governor
ha felt nadant that .vxher thc