Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-23
Ion is ready to swear that the count was re-
gal, constitutional, honest, and impartial
Again. Here is paragraph from the an

swer In the case of the town of Buckield:
The Hale committee claim that in the re-
turns for county officers from the towns OF
Buck6eld and Brownfield the names Of the
towns have been written in by some one since
they we're received at Augusta. So thai now
thew show from what towns they came from,
and that before this change was made there
was nothing to show where the paper came
from. What possible motive any member OF
the Council could have had TO make these
corrections, it is difficult TO understand. In
the first place each one of the returns came
| enclosed in official envelopes which contained
on their face acertificate signed by the muni-
cipal officers, telling what the return vas and
what town it came from. Then there was a
fling written on the back of the return by
one of the municipal officers showing what
town it came from. In the next place the
Governor and Council considered all the re-
turns for county officers whose elections were
regulated bv statute 70 be correctable under
the law of 1877. In no single instance did
thev refuse to allow these corrections to be
made when there was return properly
signed, and under this law they corrected the
returns tor several republican candidates for
county officers when, if such corrections had
not been made they would have been defeat
ed. We have no recollection about the re-
turns from these two towns. If we could see
them we might be able to form some opinion
as to whether any words have been inserted.
We shall presume, in the absence Of evil
dence to the contrary, that the town Omcers
did their duty and properly filled up these
blanks.
This is charming simplicity. each of the
returns came in official envelopes which con-
tanned on their face a certificate signed by the
municipal officers, telling what return it was
and hat town it came FROM Then there was
a filing written on the back of the return by
one of the municipal officers showing what
town it came from The above sentences
are injected for the purpose of intimating that
the name of the town on the back of the re-
turn, or on the envelope, would have been
sufficient The council had either forgotten
or thought the public had that Immediately
after the count they issued a statement in
which occurred this paragraph in explanation
of the throwing ont of the town of Newburg ::
'Newburg-The name of the town not on
the return, can only be recognized by the
name on the envelope"
But the Council wants to know what the
motive of the forgery was. 1t is not far to
seek. With Buckfield and Brownfield thrown
out all the county officers would have been
Republican. When the forgery was commit
ted the Council had undoubtedly not decided
to allow correction of county returns. The
decision to do so was made later in the count
and was a concession they felt compelled to
make for the sake of keeping up an appear
ance of decency, and even after they did grant
this privilege they threw so many obstacles
in the way as to make it almost valueless.
On the 23d of December, Garcelon issued
an address to the democracy of the county in
which he used this language:
The Governor and Council have recognized
the fact that the people of Maine have adopt
ed a constitution and declared it to be the Su-
preme law of the State. They have followed
its requirements with fidelity and impartiali-
ty, and when an intelligent public have
brushed away the mists and false colerings
which enraged and discomfited politicians
have thrown around our action, and the Vi
tuperation and SANDER that has been heaped
upon us, give place to reason and fair inves-
tgation, any condemnation of our course
either by the democracy of the nation, or any
fair-minded and honorable politician of any
party, will be acknowledged with due sub
mission.
1t will be seen that he personally vouched
in this address for the legality and impartial
ity of the count. When he was before the
Hale committe some weeks later he was
asked this question:
Combining yourself to the legality of the re-
turns, were YOU able to carry out the COnsti-
tuition and laws in any given case unless you
knew about that case? For instance. was it
safe for you to depend upon the Council with
out looking into it yourself!
And made this answer =
presumed the Council were honorable
men, and honest, and reported the tabulation
of the returns correctly. In great majority
of the cases where there was no question, as
understood. did not personally look into
the matter; but where there was a case of
doubt looked into the matter and decided as
l thought best, so far as my own judgment
went in regard to this, that or the other par
ticular case.
Thus Governor Garcelon confesses that
when he assured the democracy of the nation
that the count was constitutional and hone st
lie had little personal knowledge of the mat
ter, but relied on the representations of his
councillors. After examining the tabulations
and returns in the presence of the Hale COM
mittee he confessed that he had been imposed
upon, that many of the cases he knew moth
ing about, aud that if he had the result would
have been different. A few weeks later
without any further opportunity to examine
the returns, with some of the most glaring
frauds totally unexplained. relying simply on
the unsupported word of men who he con-
fessed had but a short time before shame
fully deceived him, he comes before the pub
lie again and declares that there was nothing
irregular or dishonest in the count, but that
on the contrary it was constitutional. equit-
able, honest and fair. On such a perfor.
nance as this a statement Of the facts is suf.
fcient comment.
The Surrender Of Richmond.
As we drew near the city, deputation
headed by Mr.. Mayo. mayor of Richmond
came to meet us and formally to surrender
the city. They expressed great surprise at
the fine. well-groomed and we'll fed horsas of