Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-22
The Counting-out fnfamy.

Plaisted have great many ugly and
stubborn facts to meet in their attempted
vindicasion of Garcelon and his Council
for their course in the contingent bust
ness.
From the very day of election, as soon
as it was ascertained that the republicans
had carried the State on the popular vote,
the report was started that The Governor
and Council would count in fusion ma
jority to the legislature and control the
new State government. The public
thought but little of this at the time but
events proved that it was not an idle ru-
NOR.
When the time arrived to begin the ex-
animation OF the returns and the counting
of the votes the committee on elections OF
the Council, which usually consists of three,
was reinforced by two additional MEN,
bers, Foster and Brown. making it five.
These two individuals were prominent ac-
tors in the counting out, and were undoubt-
eddy placed upon the committee to give
efficient help in carrying out the purposed
fraud.
Then followed the excitement about the
count. Suspicion began to be aroused
and earnest inquiries to be made. 1t was
openly declared that the Governor and
Council were engaged in an outrageous
fraud. Attempts to ascertain the condi-
ton Of the returns by parties interested
or their attorneys were cut off by refusal
to show the returns. Charges were made
that the democrats were ''doctoring" re-
turns. Appeals made for information and
Justice at the Council Chamber were ut
terly disregarded. All that could be OBJ
tanned from the State House was: 1--WE
are going to make a legal count but all the
time there were Indications that the purpose
was to so manipulate the returns as to
count into the Legislature fusion major
ity instead of the regularly elected repub
lican majority.
Among the appeals made to to the Gov
cTnOT anu SOufltli, NuiCl tIti psbit
ular attention, was communication from
c. b. Rounds of Washington county
This was so remarkable, and the allega-
tons it contained have been so squarely
proved by subsequent developments that
it is worthy of being republished at the
present time. 1t is as follows:
AUGUSTA, Me-, December 8, 1879.
To the Honorable Governor and Council of
the State of Maine:
Your Honorable Board has repeatedly. and
now formally declined to permit any Repub-
lican Senators or Representatives elect to see
returns affecting HIM. Your ground for this
refusal is understood to be your conclusion
formally expressed by His Excellency. the
Governor. that you have no Constitutional
power to make corrections in the returns in
any instance.
now offer, on behalf of the republican
senator's elect from Washington county. if
your honorable board will open the subject
for investigation, to prove that. M the case of
returns from democratic torns for senator's
and representatives there HAVE BEEN
CHANGES made; that these changes were
made to supply the defects discovered by the
IL . l.
opening Of the returns and that they must
involve in some form the collision or comm
rance of persons connected rith THE STATE
GOVERNMENT. And in the facts which
think are susceptible Of proof will be found
the basis Of that boast so widely made BY Ger
tain persons, that the returns from demo
cratic torns are all correct. and that en-
rors and omissions are found only IN the re
turns from republican torns. l shall
subject your honorable board. if you will
order the investigation, to very little trouble
and to an expense so trifiing that. if Won
have no appropriation applicable to this end
of justice, riU supply the necessary funds
The witnesses l shall desire to have sum
moned are principally PERSONS CON
NECTED WITH THE STATE GOVERN
MENT. OFFICERS IN DEMOCRATIC
TOWNS. and few others who have compe-
tent knowledge on which to testify. Assum-
ing that your honorable board W i'll gladly unite
with me and with all others who can aid in
discovering and exposing a nefarious plot to
thwart the expressed will of the people at
the late election. await your command.
Your obedient servant,
c. B. ROUNDS,
County Attorney of Washington County.
This appeal to the Governor was backed
up by petitions from all parts of the State
for its consideration by the Governor and
Council. but they threw it aside on the
miserable pretext that it was insulting.
and kept right on in their rascality. When
Mr.. Rounds afterwards appeared at the
ante-room of the Council Chamber for a
hearing. he was met there by Fogg, then
of the Council and now the fusion can
didate in the Second district for
representative in Congress. with this
salutation:
"GOd damn you, Rounds; we
evil take your scalp if there isn't
''anOther one counted out In the
estate of Maine!"
While such loud calls for justice as the
above. and for the opportunity to see the
returns were being made and refused. the
Governor and Council were also urged to
obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court
as to legal points involved in the count.
The suggestion was treated with con-
tempt. The same Fogg who is now run
ming for vindication in the Second dis
trict. published a scandalous and threat