The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-23
THE MAINE CONSPIRACY.

Under the above head the Lawrenc
Journal summarizes the events of til
trouble in Maine, and as that difficult,
is becoming historical it is well for al
TO be posted in the facts, so we repro
duce the Journals article:
At the election last fall the Republi
cans carried the state by large anC
| sweeping majority, electing decided
majority of both branches of the legis
| lature
The returns were made according t.
law 10 Gov. Garcelon and his council
who, in defiance of the constitution, pro
ceeded 10 reverse the verdict of the PEG
pie. This was accomplished in two
ways, one of which was 10 give seats tC
Democrats or Greenbackers to which
| Republicans had been elected; and the
other was to refuse certificates TO Repub
lIcans from other districts where they
had been elected and TO thus leave va
cancies.
This proceeding caused great excite
ment throughout the state. Finally, ex.
senator Morrill,, on behalf of the Repub.
licans, requested the governor and coun.
ell to submit The legality of their action
in thus reversing the vcruict of the PEG.
pie TO the supreme court. The governor
and council did this, and their action
was oyerruled at every point and the Re
publicans who had been elected by the
people were declared entitled to their
seats. Gov Garcelon, who had pretend
ed to be inspired by vast respect for
the law, now refused to he governed by
the law as laid down by the court and
proceeded to carry out his infamous
plot.
The day for the legislature to assem-
bic arrived. The constitution of Maine
provides that quorum of each branch
OF the Legislature shall consist of a ma
Jority of the members. AS the total
number of members of the house is ISL,
1t would require 76 to make a quorum
Certificates had been issued TO Just II
tusionists. OF these three, Messrs.
Sproule, Snow, and Voter, had refused
to take part in the proceedings-leav
only "A. Mr.. Hale, a Republican, also
took part to watch the proceedings,
making in all 70 members present, or
one less than a quorum. In spite of
MIR. Hale's protest, however, the body
went through the forms of an organizes
ton, in defiance of the constitution.
with less than Il quorum, electing a So
called speaker, clerk, etc. The Repub-
licans, with the exception of Mr.. Hale,
not taking their seats and not participa-
tating IN the proceedings.
The senate, meantime, had organized,
but with the Republican members from
the DISTINGUISHED cities and towns left
out, and with members who had not
been elected counted in.
The next day the Republican members
OF the house requested to be sworn in.
Meantime, the term of Office of the gov
ernor and council had expired The
president Of the senate, however, who
would be the constitutional successor of
the governor, refused TO act in that ca
pacity, alleging that there were serious
doubts whether il vacancy III the office of
governor had occurred. This was on
Friday last. Apparently the government
had lapsed. Garcelon and his council
were out, and the president Of the senate
refused to act as Governor pro TEN. In
tins emergency, ex-governor Chamber
lain, major general of the militia of the
state, who, ON the 9th of January, had
been ordered by governor GarcelOn Ito
protect the public property and institu-
lions OF the state until his successor
should be duly qualified" assumed COM
mand and became acting governor.
Meantime the fraudulent, rump house
assembled from day to day, its numbers
decreasing, and adjOurning without do
ing anything.
During Sunday Mr.. Lamson, president
of the senate. made up his mind that a
hdd occurred, aud ON Monday
issued an address claiming to be acting
governor On Monday evening full
quorum of both branches of the legisla-
lure, being the Republican members
elected by the people, quietly and with
out opposition took possession of the
Legislature and proceeded TO business,
electing full set of officers. In the SEN
ate 19members responded to their names,
and in the house IS, these being the
members duly elected by the people. |
Both branches then voted to lay the ques- |
lion of the organization of the legislature |
before the supreme court. Mr.. Lamson |
to act as governor, ex-govern- |
Dr Chamberlain refused to recognize |
aim, referring the whole matter to the |
court. And thus the matter |
stands