Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-03
No Access to the Returns.

Il was thought by some who are not ac-
quainted with the duplcity ofthe men at the
State House who have constituted them
selvesa Returning Board, that permission
granted on Monday to examine the returns
relating to county officers, and the fair
talk ofindividual members of the Council,
indicated that the returns relating to sena-
tors and representatives would likewise
be opened for examination. The proceed
ings of the Council yesterday brushed
away whatever expectation was raised the
day before that the returns would be ex-
hibited. 1t was formally decreed in this
self.constituted Returning Board. that they
have no right to alter or amend the re-
turns or substitute other returns for them,
and therefore it is useless to allow any
one to see the returns. In the fullness of
their wisdom they also went so far as to
make the declaration that the statute of
1877 in regard to election returns is uncon-
stitutional.
Now the matter of seeing the returns is
one thing, that of altering them is another.
The first thing which senator's and repre-
sentatives elect desire is to see the re-
turns. This is probably all they want-t
is certainly all they have asked for thus
far. Do the Governor and Council fear
that republican senators or Representatives
elect will alter, amend or substitute, by
simply looking at the returns? The young
prince who was about to have his eyes
burnt out with hot irons, in pleading for
mercy declared that his eyes were out
even with the fierce looks of the bloody
men who were to do the barbarous deed.
The Governor and Council seem to be of
the opinion that the fierce and prying eyes
of tho republicans will annihilate or inval-
idate. change or amend the returns. even
II they get nothing more than hasty peep
at them. This is an assumption which we
believe to be entirely groundless. The
optics Of the republicans who desire to see
the returns are as mild as those of any
gentlemen would be who have been treat
ed IS badly as they have in this conspiracy
TO take away their rights.
We have no doubt they would consent
to wear the stoutest glasses, or the heavi-
est wells, or anything that would insure
safety to the returns from the effects Of
their fierce looks. But is not the real diff.
ficulty in the case-not with the eyes OIL
the republicans-but with the returns
themselves. that have already been 'doc.
tored' by democratic manipulation, which
an examination of them would expose
Let the Governor and Council say wha,
they please, this unusual, Unprecedented
unwarranted, despotic and outrageou:
keeping of the returns from republican
eyes, leads straight to the conclusion and
belief that they are afraid to exhibit the re-
turns lest the deviltry Of the conspirator:
be exposed.
No republican desires to alter the re-
turns. He only wants to see if there are
errors and irregularities in them, that he
may offer whatever corrections of alleged
fact the laws allow him. But our Return.
ing Board also constituted itselfa Supreme
Court yesterday, and proceeded to declare
the statute Of 1877 unconstitutional. Who
before ever heard Of the Governor anc
Council usurping the functions of the
Judges and passing upon the constitution
Atty Of the laws? The executive depart.
ment heretofore has contented itself with
snlorcing the laws, and when in doubt has
asked the opinion Of the Supreme Court
but not 70 the present Governor and Coun-
"a. II they don't intend to observe law