The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-16
NAMES DICTATOR.


The difficulty In Maine and tho fierce strife
between contending factions to gain the con-
troll OF tho State has been seriously compli-
Gated by the extraordinary assumption on
tho part OF tho Major General OF Militia
Chamberlain Of the right to decide who Is en-
titled to be recognized as Governor. This re-
markable person having been lntrusted with
the care or the property OF the State by Gov.
Garoelon Immediately feels his Importance
aud seizes tho State government Itself,
ooolly informing Acting Gov. Lamson
that no cannot recognize his title To
office, thereby setting himself up rs
n military governor or dictator. and rudely
Sitting down upon the civil authorities. III
tho people of Maine OF either or both political
parties submit TO the arrogant preteDsions OF
tho mlltIamen, especially when the title OF
Acting Gov. Lamson IL as clear as MONDAY,
under their constitution. they are scarcely
worthy of the estimable boon of civil liberty
and will deserve all the opprobrium and re-
prosch which their course will inevitably
win for them. The constitution OF Maine pro-
vides that during tho period Intervening be-
tween tho resignation OF the outgoing and
the Inauguration Of the incoming Governor,
the President OF the Senate shall act as Gov
ernor. Senator Lnmson was duly elected
President OF the Senate by majority Of that
body, and necessarily, after Gov. Garcoion's
resignation. became Acting Governor. On as
Stunning the duties of his Office he issued the
following proclamation:
AUGUSTA. Me-. January IL, 1880.
To the Honorable Senate:
have the honor to announce that by a caro-
full examination OF the constitution u, inter
nfet.d by the Supreme Court. In view OF tho
fact that he offic ot Governor has become va
cam, It becomes my impsrativs duty US i afesi I,
Governor until anot her Governor Is qualified.
Ii therefore beoomes my duty 10 inform your
honorable holy that III accordance with the
provisions IL the constitution, and In obedi-
anre to tho imperative maudntes q that instru-
msnf. have assumed tho Office OF Governor Tor
functions being inconsistent with my further
acting "a President of tha Senate, / cannot In
tho meantime discharge the duttee OF tho pre-
BfiInR officer OF your nonorabls BODY.
Respectfully, your obedient servant.
JAMES ID. LAMsON.
This proclamation Cen. Chamberlain treats
with profound contempt, and intimatos that
1t would not be we'll for Acting Governor
Lamson to attempt to exercise the functions
order from him until the Supreme Court shall
have passed upon his title. Thus We have
the extraordinary spectacle In time OF pro-
found peace Of a Major General seizlng the
government OF State and arrogantly defy
Ing tho civil authority upon the ilmsy plea
that he, u mllttiaman, does not recognize
the legality Of the Governors title. There IL
no parallel to this eifrontery Ia the annals OF
this government, and Ii Gov. Llmson be not
an lmbecile or a lunatie he will take instant
steps to GUST this epauletted Intruder
and have him tried for treason. A
Major General OF militia is not the tribunal
to which such matters are referred In this
country, and the sooner the Maine people
give Mr. Chamberlain to Understand that he
b q mistaken the very nature OF ths govern
m mt under which he lives, tho greater will be
the public estim alton OF their intelligence and
courage. Louisiana has been compelled to
su smit for q time to the rule OF usurping
governments, upheld by Federal bayonets
but she has never yet been disgraced b.
having her civil government overthrow by
militia nor does the milittaman exist within
her borders who would dream OF assuming
gate to himself with the free and easy style
of a pirate.
Aside from all other reasons. hanson
should be recognized as Acting Governor by
all parties because the Supreme Court OF thu
State. In 1890, decided precisely the same
point, and held that the President of the Sen
ate must act as Governor until the new Gov
ernor was naugurated. The Radicals In this
matter seem determined to set the constitu
| ton and the law at defiance and to inaugural
civil war rather than submit to defeat. Ii i
a shameful and humllating spectacle, ant
will do much to bring Republican govern
ment into contempt everywhere. The fore
| most figure In this disgraceful revo
luton against the constituted au
thoritles of the State Is the would
be President, the man OF Credit Mobile
motor ETY., james e. Blaine. who has for m an
weeks abandoned his seat In tho Unite
States Senate in order to personally sup3rin
tend the r publican campaign In Maine, an
under whose advice Chamberlain Is unques
tionably assuming his extraordinary powers
The people of the United States will remesn
Der this against Mr.. Blaine whenever he sha
attempt to attain the summlt OF his ambition
| A man capable OF countenaneing or advtsin
the subyersion OF the civil by the militar
authorities In time OF peace, is not the man
preside over the destinies Of the people OF LII
free and republican country.
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