The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-30
AT THE CAPITAL.
Mayor Nash Protests Against
the Assembling of Troops.
He Assures the Governor that He
can Preserve Order.

AUGUST A, Dec 29.-Gov. Garcelon went to
Belfast today to attend meeting called to
sustain the course of the Governor and Coun-
Gil A similar meeting was held this evening
in Rockland.
The Governor sent for the Mayor this after
noon to consult in regard to proper police
force for preserving order on the assembling OF
the Legislature The Mayor had just finished
writing q communication to his Excellency on
the subject and conveyed it in person.
Mavor Nash was courteously received and
assured the Governor that all needed prepare
lions had been made for keeping the peace
Two hundred extra policemen had already
been appointed and this number would be in
creased if the exigencies of the case required
it, He said they were able to keep order and
begged the Governor not to bring troops to the
capital OF make preparations for arming them
He thought the citizens of Augusta would bear
him out in these assurances. The Governor
talked quite freely and informed the Mayor
that he had great dislike of tae idea OF bring
bring troops here and should not do it if peace
could be maintained in any other way. 1t
would be his duty to preserve order and pre-
vent interference with members of the Legis-
lature The interview closed here, and the
Mayor passed to the Governor. the following
communication:
CITY OF AUGUSTA
Mayors Office,
Dec 90 1871
To HIS Ereeglency AIonso Garceion Governor Of
Maine: -
concerning the Legislature that is soon to assemble
induces me to address your Exc9llency upon mat
ter of grave public moment.
any1a Of An0u q ra
sttuted authorities of the State in the exercise OF
every lawful act and duty, and would feel great
pain and modification at any lawless act or lack OF
decorum on the part OF an eXclted populace IN
connection with the organization OF the Legislature
and am warranted in hereby rendering TO the
State the services of hundreds of sworn policemen
should force unhappily be needed for the keeping OF
the peace in the capitol district or elsewhere in the
| city.
Our city has increased its police force to two
hundred good of the different political parties,
and these and any necessary number additional
at the States disposal to carry out any request
which the State authorities will communicate to me
| touching the maintenance of order and the COM
| plete preservation of the public peace. cannot
refrain IRON expressing my hope that your Excel
lency will feel justified in relying upon the services
of our citizens thus freely rendered and by SO dong
will see necessity for calling out troops to per
| form the same duty Your Exceuency VII! pardon
me for suggesting that the occupation of The State
| House with armed men, or the placing of war ma
terial therein will tend to disturb the public mind
The approaching Legislature is the ffteth that has
assembled in that building in many consecutive
! the civil with thousands of troops encamped
by has it required the services of single po
Gcemau to preserve order in its halls. Its doors have
always been open to the ingress and egress of all
well behayed citizens, and trust that your Excel
lency will see that the character of the building in
that regard shall be sacredly maintained The great
aversion of the people to any other course is sug
gestively witnessed by the recent resistance in Ban
gor to the movement of material supposed to be
destined to the State House That incident, in con-
necton with many suggestions in the public prints
has induced to address this letter to your Excel
| Vo1-rE yp vii
the same and with both parties, armed conflict
might ensue, which all would deeply deplore. |
feel confident that if no troops are called out by
the State authorities no bodies Of armed men viii
ature and the civil police of our city will be amply
competent to deal with all cases of individual riot
| or disorder that may arise.
With great respect,
| Your obedient servant,
| (Signed0 CHAs. e. NASH, Mayor.
| The Governor remarked that he would take
| the matter into consideration.