The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-21

in Auburn, so we are told, in two instances at
least. If these charges of informality are
proven beyond doubt can see no escape for
the Governor and Council from the obligation
of their oaths to enforce all the laws strictly.
"What do you think of the tactics OF the
Republicans"
II think. to put it mildly, that they are
very questionable. Their presence at the
State House was either an open confession OF
their fears that some of their tricks would be
exposed or it was for the purpose of 1ntimida-
ton. 1t also meant to the people of the state
and the country that they had come to regard
the Governor and his council in the light OF
INSCRIPTIONS thieves" 49,,
"On what did they base their fears OF 1oui
play?" ..or;as
printed in several papers, which L nave hot
read about frauds and an intention to subvert
the popular will. Now, how could the Counci,I
decide what course to follow when they had
not held a meeting? How could l, for IN
stance, manipulate returns when, in facs' I
have never seen single page of the record!
tell you, sir, it is the merest bosh-a sense ioh
gotten up by INSCRIPTIONS politicians"
''Then you do not anticipate any change IN
the already declared RESULT"
THAT I cannot tell. 1 will never consider
mans politics when come to pass on the vote
recorded for him. All want is that the vote
be cast legally and be legally recorded. The
returns will be counted according to law, no
matter who are to suffer, be they Democrats,
Greenbackers or Republicans Our Republic
can friends, 1 think, have allowed people to
hold elections and sent in the returns just as
they pleased and they are now scared because
there is prospect that the respect for legal
forms which they allowed to almost die out is
to be revived"
THE POSITION OF THE COUNCIL.
An Augusta despatch to the Advertiser says
the Councillors are very reticent, but brief
conversations with number of them develop
their position about as follows:
They have not the least disposition to go be-
yond the limit of the law, but they are inclin-'
ed, on account, as they say, of the unjust impu-
tations which have been cast upon them, to
hold their political opponents to the strict let
ter of the law.
AS to the returns, they say they have pa
tently and carefully gone over the whole
ground and do not find that they have any
right to exhibit the returns. MIR. Locke and
others did not ask the privilege of examining
the papers; they demanded the papers as their
right. The Council do not concede the exis-
tence of such right. They find no law re
quiring them to publish the returns. Messrs.
Baker and Baker base their alleged right up
on an inference. Their clients must have the
right to see what the returns are, in order to
be able to amend them if they need amend
ment But the provision for amendment APP
plies only to county officers. The inference
cannot extend to members of the Legislature.
Their title must rest upon the returns as they
stand.
There are other reasons which the Council
regard as justifying their course, They say
that if the returns were subject to amendment,
after examination, the town records might be
altered to suit the eXigeney. The privilege
would open the door to fraud by collision with
the town officers.
The Councillors are of the opinion that an
appeal to the Supreme Court will result in a
decision sustaining their positions; but if it
should be otherwise, they say that the exhibit
ton of the returns will result like the demon
straton last Monday, in making the movers a
laughing stock. No evidence of plot will be
found, because there is no plot. Their inten-
ton is simply to perform the duty imposed
them under the law as they understand it or
as it shall be properly interpreted