Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-19

t,as,v rendering of the opinion Of the court
! If would seem that they do not acKho"ieuse
;, W. want psace, and at the same time we
,ra,, ~ se,ure our full rights and the fdii
r;yhts Of our constituents. The ques-
lion is how ii can he uo"e :"
the best manner. The qaestio" Is,
can we SECURE our rights and at the same
time secure peace: Inc people " ''iS -
ar, in favor of peace. We mean to preserve
| i ana ~ the same time we intend. If We can
/ constitutionaliy and fairly, to secure the
r;yhts which belong to us and our consnt-
oen,s Ii is for the appointment OF COM
r,ittee for that purpose that now ask. ana
boI5 that the duties devolving upon that
committee will be very great the RESPONSE
/ bilitv very high. But they will only nave I"
report To this body. and then the larger ana
higher responsibility will rest upon US.
hold that there should be no feeling OF dis
NOV M feeling of undue anxiety. although the
crisis is imminent and great. | hope there
will be no panicky feeling. feel none Let
us consult together rs men knowing our
[ RIGHTS and seek fairly and constitutionaliy 10
! maintain them.
| Nr KxowLrs of Bradford.--Mr. Speaker.
I wish TO saw | came here to act upon my
honest convictions and to do the will OF my
constituents And notwithstanding the pres
ent decision. which | believe Is partisan
one of the Supreme Court, for one p.iie'e
,ha, this House should submit to that decis-
/ ion | don't think it would avail us any
! thing 10 appeal TO higher court or higher
mower. And as for doing anything to plunge
This State into civil war anarchy, am the
last one that would take such step. have
seen enough bloodshed ard war and misery
And this brings il right home. 1t We should
have revolution here it is bringing it right
home to every mans home and family twill
not be one thousand or fifteen hundred miles
away as it was during the rebellion. This
State will be the battlefield. and ! for one,
Notwithstanding cons Ter this decision Of
the Supreme Court partisan decision, am
willing to take any honorable course here to-
day TO avoid bringing on conflict, or any
trouble upon the people of this State. And
hope that gentlemen of this House will look
at the matter calmly and candidly and make
nm their mind. not to be led or influenced by
this man or that man, but act upon their
own conscienccs and their convictions of
duty and right.
Mr.. Brx>ER of Wadoboro: The gentle
man from Cornth, Mr.. Hill defines my
position in this body. precisely. And | can
saw that | heartily indorsc every word that he
has uttered.
Mr. BRApHrRY of Norway Mr.. Speaker.
We claim to be here legally and lawfully. We
claim to represent il aiority of the voters of
the State of Maine We do so. Still.
are undoubtedly upon perilous times. and we
must act the part of wise men if it he posi-
bile. ! favor the appointment of Joint COM
mittee. l believe, under the circumstances.
it is the best thing that can be done. 1t is the
part of wise men As well rs the part of brave
men to submit gracefully to the inevitable
at any time and at all times If the Supreme
court has been used as an instrument to strike
from under our feet the law upon which we
appear here then we must gracefully yield.
| The crime is not ours, the fault is not ours.
the injury to the public. to the people. is not
ours. We stand as honest men claiming our
rights under the constitution and the laws of
the State. That is my position. l am here
! legally. and believe properly under the laws
that stood upon the statute book when | came
here. II partisan Supreme Court in par
tisan decision shall declare unconstitutional
the laws which brought us together. aud upon
! which stood when we organized this
| House. il is condition of affairs to which we
must submit. And, as | say. while submit
ting like honest men. like honorable men. we
will return to our constituents. we will place
before them next fall. the next time we have
an opportunity TO appeal to the ballot box. we
will place before them all the circumstances
of this case. Revolution has come has come
to-day by the action of the Supreme Court of
peal. Against that court We can only protest
as honest and honorable men. believing in the
right, and appealing to high Heaven for the
justice OF our cause. Applause. 1t is i'm
impossible, Mr.. Speaker, to crush down and
out all the DEGREES of any court or bv the
votes Of any party or the. chcanery of anv
party, the will of the people in a sovereign
State. The ballot box is still left to us I hope
These questions are of great importance to
the people of the State. We know that dur
ing the last election the feelings of everv man
in the State was stirred. We know that be-
hind us stand majority of the people of
this State. and their word has been constant
stand firm under the pressure that is brought
to bear upon Won.
The speaker referred to the alleged brib
cry of voters and alleged attempts to bribe
members Of the legislature which he claimed
had been fully proved, and proceeded to de-
nounce 1t. In closing he said: owe will
never leave this hall until we have exhausted
all honest and honorable methods to obtain
our rights, and to hold them. For the time
II 1t shall so result that we must leave, we
must 90 back again to the people that sent
us here, we will go like men, knowing that wn
have honorably and honestly and to the ex
tent OF our ability, as citizens and as repre-
sentatves done our duty IN this hall and in
the other branch and await the result. An.
! Plause.
! Mr.. ROBINSON of Thomaston.-I am in
favor of this committee. Some gentlemen
here seem disposed to act upon rumors NJ
what the court has decided Ii seems to mo
that we should deliberate upon this matter
and that we should find out exactly what ,ho
court have decided and where il leaves ne
and then will be the time to consider What
shall be done. trust that no gentlemen
vii, vote to act upon these rumors Let us
find out the facts
Mr. CrsHMAN Of Sherman did not under.
stand that our State court /. the last resort
ne thought the legislature should not submit
to the bogus legislature without submt,;na
| land. III inc
Mr. PERRY Of Camden.-I am in favor ,f
inc committee proposed bv the gentleman
from Wiscasset Mr.. Ingalls,. 1t seems 70
me mat 1t Is proper at this time that snch n
committee should he chosen and take into
consideration all the bearings upon the case
We as legislative body, claim tina, wo ~
the only legal organization and we claim ,on
HI.