The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-30
INDIGNANT SACO.
A Disfranchised City's Protest Against
the Great Fraud

At the call of Cornelius Sweetsir and 80
other citizens, a meeting was held in City
Hall Saturday evening to give expression to
their indignation at the recent action of the
Governor and Council in ignoring the express
ed will of the people at the ballot box as ex-
pressed by them on the 9Th day of September
last. The meeting was called to order by S.
c. Hamilton, Esq, who nominated Hon.
Ivory Lord as chairman of the same, who was
unanimously elected. Mr.. Lord ON taking the
chair made q few pointed remarks upon the
seriousness Of the occasion and the circum-
stances which brought them together, and
called upon Rev. Mr.. Parsons OF the Free Bap-
fist church to offer prayer, which prayer was
very appropriate for the times upon which
we have fallen On motion of r. L. Bowers
ten vice presidents and two secretaries were
appointed by the chair and took seats upon the
platform viz:
VICE PRESIDENTS.
Moses Emery.
Abaham Cutter.
Cornelius Sweetsr.
Charles TwOmbly.
James Andrews.
James l.. Emery.
Lorng HI. Lane.
Charles Littlefeld-
Martin IL. Deering.
Charles III. Granger.
SECRETARIES.
Charles G. Hamilton.
e. G. Delano
On motion of Samuel f. Chase committee
on resolutions, consisting of Samuel f. Chase,
E. P. Morgan and o. B. Chadbourne, was
nominated and elected, after which stirring
and eloquent remarks were made by S. G.
Hamilton, r. T.. Bowers, F. w. Guptil, Hon.
Joseph Hobson, George H, Boothby, II. H.
Burbank, Cornelius Sweetsir, o. B. Chad
bourne, f. A. Boothby. During the progress
of the meeting the committee on resolutions
made their report and submitted their work to
the meeting, which consisted of the following
resolutions and they embody the general sem
tements of all who oppose the action Of the
Governor and Council:
By the citizens of Saco, assembled in their
city hall, this 9th day of December, 1879
Resolved:
1. That when the will of the people plainly ex-
pressed by their ballots is disregarded the theory of
popular form of government is antagonized and
republican institutions are imperiled.
2. That on the 9Th day of September last and by
the combined votes of our several wards received,
ity to law, elected Representative to the Leg
islature by majority of 219 votes, and that the
Governor and his Executive Council had full knowl
edge of the fact through the returns of said election
duly forwarded to the Secretary of State.
g. That Notwithstanding this unmistakable dec
laration of wishes certificate of his election is
withheld from our representative-elect and are
thereby deprived of the enjoyment of our full po-
litical rights.
A. That earnestly protest against this depriva-
ton. and further complain that not in this respect
only are we aggrieved; for by the exercise on the
part of the present Executive of the judicial
functions by force of which they deprive of rep
resentation in the popular branch of the Legsla-
ture, they render abortive more than 14O0 bal
lots thrown by us for the Governor, Senators and
other officers and enable themselves to give color of
justification Tor granting certificates OF election to
two Senators from York county whom the people of
said county did not elect.
5. That we respectfully appeal to Governor Gar
celon to aid in righting the wrongs which, though
protesting against, we now peacefully endure and
request him to submit statement of our case to
the Supreme Court and inquire of that tribunal
whether we entitled to a representative in the
lower house. and to submit such other questions to
this body may affect not only this city and
ty but all cities, counties, towns and plantations
whose citizens feel that their rights have in any
| way been abridged by the recent action of himset
| and his constitutional advisers.
| 6. That we call upon the certified members of
the House and Senate not to proceed to the perma-
manent organization of their respective bodies until
they have admitted all rightly elected members to
l their seats.