The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-23
THE FEELING IN KENNEBEC.

Bridgton, Harrison and Naples, to protest against
the great outrage.
THE FEELING IN KENNEBEC.
Indignation Meeting at Gardiner-Letters
from Senator Blaine and Hon. w. L.
Putnam.
GARDINER, Dec. 22.-In accordance with the call
issued this morning, signed by about two hundred
citizens, headed by VIM. F. Richards, Representa-
tive elect indignation meeting against the steal
ing of the Legislature was held at johnson Hall to-
night. On account of the severe storm not as many
were present as would otherwise have been people
from numerous country towns in the vicinity being
unable to be present; but what the meeting lacked
in numbers it made up in enthusiasm. John I.
Richards was chairman, and Treby johnson and
Geo. w. Heselton secretaries; A. G. Stlphen, S. G.
Whitmore, w. F. Richards David Wentworth and
Sumner Smiley committee ON resolutions. Stirring
speeches were made and loudly applauded by the
audience. Lawyers ministers, physicians and bust
ness men were represented by the speakers Letters
were read from Senator Blaine and Fon. VIM. L.
Putnam. The following resolutions were adopted:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The people of Maine, at their annual
election in September last, duly indicated their Will
and legally chose their Representatives and Sena-
tors constitute the Legislature OF Maine for the
coming year; and whereas, Alonzo Garcelon regard
votes cast at said election being counSelled aided
and abetted by his Council and other evi-disposed
persons has assumed the prerogative to ignore the
laws of the State and unjustly withhold from the
people their right to freely examine the records of
the people, has withheld and refused to issue certi-
ficates of election to many persons duly chosen
Senators and Representatives; has issued such GER
tiicates to persons who were not elected to said
Offices and has thereby ordained and constituted
LEGISLATURE in defiance to and subvertion of the will
of the people of this State therefore, as the express
sion of the sentiments of the citizens OF Gardiner
Il x-,osY,, tmy hnrnn flad hQ
Resolved, That all power is inherent in the people;
all free governments founded in their authority and
the unalienable and ndefeasble right to institute
government, to alter, reform or totally change the
same when their safety aud happiness reqnres it:
RESOLVED, That the Governor of the State is the
servant of the people, not their master; that his
official oath requires him to take that the laws
be faithfully executed; that the Legislature alone
has the authority to suspend any law; that the Su
preme Court alone has authority to declare any law
repugnant to the constitution.
ReS0tUed, That the assumption by Governor Garce-
Ion of powers vested by the constitution in the Leg
islature and in the Supreme Court is usurpation,
and usurpation acquiesced in is revolution.
Resolred, That our fathers in framing our funda
mental laws assumed for all time that our chief Off
GERS would be honest, true to their manhood, true
to their oahs true to the laws, and hence made no
specific provision for such evils as have here arisen,
but ey retained in the people, its source, power to
redress unprovided for wrongs on the part of their
chief servants BY all their teachings they enjoin-
ed as duty to resist unto death and to Illustrate
any attempt to subvert laws deprive of our
null and void without binding force on the people;
that while manhood lasts they should never be sub
mitted to.
Resolved, That Alonzo Garcelon stands with his
Council and abettors arraigned before the people of
Maine in their inherent power, charged with the
high crimes of violation of his official OATH of usur
patton of the powers of coordinate branches of the
State government, indicated and chosen by the
people for the ensuing year.
ReSoiUed, That call every good citizen of
Maine regardless of party affilaion, to join with
us in denouncing and resisting this attack on the
III. Df fha fhnf oal
upon Senators and Representatives who were
duly elected to said offices the eighth day of
September, to present themselves at the appointed
place readiness to fulfill the duties of their offices,
on the seventh day of January, and we pledge them
full and protection and safeguard in the inhe-
rent power of the people, from any forcible attempt
to carry into effect threatened revolution; lastly,
we warn all persons who were not SO elected to
count well the cost before they attempt to consti
tute themselves Senators or Representatives by
virtue of any certificate of election emanatng from
the usurped authority of Alonzo Garcelon, and
thereby become co-consplrators with him and his
Council.
Three cheers were given for Blaine and Davis
and the meeting adjourned,
LETTER FROM SENATOR BLAINE.
The following letter from Senator Blaine read:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. %, 1879.
e. d. Haley, Eos, Gardner, Ne.
My Dear Sir: Thanks for your kind note. would
be very glad to attend the Gardiner meeting this
evening, it not that L think the chief value in
all such demonstrations lies in the fact of their be-
ing the voluntary, irrepressble expression of the
u
meeting of my fellow townsmen and 1 shall say
nothing elsewhere. If the people of every town do
not feel that their duty calls them to protest against
the great outrage committed by Gov Garcelon and
his Council then it is idle to urge them by invita-
ton stimulate them by appeal. Town govern
ment is the bulw ark of New Englands strength and
it is the sanctty of town government that has been
outl the rights of town government that have
been destroyed. rhirtyseven members of the Legis-
lature fairly and ndisputably elected, have been
counted out, and in not single instance did the
Governor and Council offer hearing to the peoples
elect whom they had determined to sacrifice The
dark deed was appropriately done in secrecy and
in stealth. Four or five who were threatened with
disfranchisement did, by urgent solicitation receive
the privilege of appearing before the Star Chamber
Council but they felt and knew that they were talk
ing to men who had prejudged their cause-men who
had no ear for reason and eye for light. Never
before in the history of Maine was party in inter-
est refused full hearing before the Governor and
Council and full opportunity to examine the cleo
An accurate search into the records says that in
iftynne years there have been just sixteen in
which the Governor and Council found the official
returns fatally defective in form to deprive the
candidate apparently elected of his certihcate-av
eraging one case in little less than every four
years. Gov. Garce1on and his Council find thirty
fatally defective returns in single year: and
by of those providential dispensatons or happy
accidents which only come to bless the just and en-
courage the righteous, every one of those thirty
fatally defective returns was declared by
Democratic Council to exist in districts that had
chosen Republican Senators or Representatives. One
of the gravest charges brought against George Ill
by Revolutionary ancestors was that he had re-
fused them the right to choose representatives
to their local legislature: But his majesty was ir-
formed in the immortal declaration that the "legis
atve powers of free people are incapable Of
annihilation." If Gov. Garcelon and his Council
had. in imitation of George ILL., refused us the right
to choose legislature the outrage would not have
been half grevous as that which they now
attempting to infiict on the people of Maine They
have gone far beyond George ILL.,, for they have re-
fused to grant certificates of election to those who
were chosen by the people and not stopping even at
that point they declare mat must submit to and
accept legislature whose members the people spe-
officially and personally rejected.
Mr. Jetferson's recital of all the grievances that
led to the overthrow of British power in the thir-
teen colonies presented none thai were 30 calling
and so ntolerable as that which Gov. Garcelon and
his Council are seeking to fasten on the people