National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-22
the POLITICAL WORLD.
Maine Fusionists Still Claiming an
Existence.


luulclhly inquire as 10 lno removal Oh Jne
County Attorney, Treasurer and Commissioner
of Washington county, who hold their posi-
tiOns on certificates but were not elected.
A caucus of the members of the Senate
WAS held during the recess, in which John W.
Folger withdrew his name as candidate for
State Treasurer. Samuel A. Hobrook, of
Freeport, then received tho unanimous nom.
ination for that office, and was subsequently,
chosen for the position in convention of both
branches. A considerable amount of routine
business was also transacted in tho Senate.
THE FUSION FARCE.
The Fusionists met in Union Hall, but there
were not enough claimants TO seats in either
House to make n quorum. Mr.. Swan moved
reconsideration of the resolution to submit
questions to the Supreme court. He thought
they had had enough of the Supreme court.
Others followed in the same line of argument.
BAsING THEIR CLAIMS on THE STATE SEAL.
BosToN. Jan. 21.--A dispatch from Augusta
TO the Herald says: The Fusonst Secretary
of State, Sawyer, has establiblished tho State
Department of the Fusionists in two rear
offices Of the second floor of Aliens block and
appointed Henry NJ. Bishon OF Augusta, chief
clerk, and John Benson, of Plymouth, Deputy
Secretary of State. The Secretary and force
were engaged to-day in mailing the following
notice to every city and town in the State
All persons having correspondence with this
Department are respectfully requested TO address
In an interview, Mr.. Sawyer said "The
great seal Of State is in possession of the only
legally elected and qualified Secretary of
State"
FUsIoNIsTs TALK MUCH.
BosToN, Jan. 21.-The Hcrdlds special from
Augusta says: ain the Fusion House tho
debate was continued at great length, Messrs
Staples, Plaisted, Lewis, Howard and others
participating, Messrs. Clark, eastman, Brad
hur nnd IIill fa1. ,ha, t,1;
nanty repollipg the insnuation that they
wished this body to take any rash steps which
should plunge it into trouble. All three de-
clared that they had the largest majority in
the State and would never join the Republi-
cans. They believed they were righlfully
entitled to seats in the legislature, and they
were bound to respect the honest intentions
and desires Of their constituents.
In the Fusion Senate the following resolu-
tion was offered by Senator Hobson:
ResOlred, That the Supreme court being the only
tribunal for the adjudication OF the questions OF
law. II is the duty of this Senate when there are
questions In doubt, TO submit them not with the
Intention OF being overruled IN matters Of con
science but me duty of members so overruled is to
act In the body acknowledged by the court as the
legislature and use their influence conscientiousy
and protest against that which in their Judgment
must be Illegal and place the doubtful question
before the people in just light for final appeal.
At l2:25 joint convention of the Fusion
ist legislature administered tho oath of office
elect count of the members of the House,
standing, while the oath was administered,
showed thirty.seven present, while the num-
Der Of Senators who entered was fourteen
MILITARY ORDERED IN READINESS
AUGUSTA, Jan. 2l.-The capitol guards and
other companies havo been ordered TO their
arm0ries. There are suspicious men about
the city and 1t is deemed as precautionary
measure.
STATE ARCHIVES MISSING.
AUGUSTA, Me, Jan. 21.-State Treasurer
White takes the position that he must pay no
more money of the State Treasury nor give up
the keys of Office to the new Treasurer A
mandamus would then be served upon him at
once and the case would be heard promptly
before the court. Mr.. White is desirous that
this should he done for the purpose of reliey-
ing his bondsmen and himself from responsi.
bility. Mr.. White to-day so notified the chair.
man of the financial committee. He takes
this position not for the purpose of resistance,
but to place himself exactly right before the
law. The Secretary Of State fails to find in
his office the returns Of the vote for Governor,
Senators and Representatives to the legislature,
of county officers, or any docket tabulations;
he also finds that all tho reports OF the Gov
ernor and Council of 1879 relating to election
returns lave been extracted from the files aud
cannot be found at the office. They find
register of reports made.
ing this afternoon for the purpose of perfect.
ing bill to punish the parties claiming the
exercise of the duties of State officers when
they are not really such officers. 1t is very
severe in It's provisions and will meet at once
the cases contemplated of persons who have
beon exercising official duties. The bill will
tomorrow be passed by the legislature under
suspension of rules.
FUSION CAUCUS.
Tho FuslOnists held secret caucus this
afternoon, but il has been ascertalned that A, |
L. Gould made a lengthy argument in favor
Of the legality of the body, and WAS opposed to |
submitting the question to the court, urging
them to 20 straight forward In the discharge
Of their duties. 1t is reported that Mr.. Fogg
also addressed the caucus TO tho same effect
Ii was finally voted to draw up Il statement of
the facts and series of questions which will |
be submitted to the members, and then they
will decide whether to send them TO the
court or not.
A SPEECH BY SENATOR BLAINE.
Mr.. Blaine spoke at the Republican meeting
tonight, saying;
l congratulate you that we once more meet as |
peaceful citizens of Maine under the protection Of
legal State government chosen by the people with |
the validity of It's title patent to the world We
men, who sought TO diSiranchise voters by the |
thousand nnd TO substitute a false count for an
honest ballot as the source of power to State gov.
eminent; but ior all our troubles aud trials and for |
all the wrongs We have so patiently endured we |
are this day richly repaid when we remember the |
instrumentalities by which We have trumphed |
without firing gun, without shedding a drop of |
blood, without blow. or without one disorderly |
Hssemblage.
The people have regained theirown right through !!
tho might and majesty Of their own laws Friends |
at distance wondered why we did not use force |
on the first day OF the session, and seat the Ropub.
l!can members OF the legislature who werO duly |
elected. That might easily have been done, for |
Republicans were present IN the proportion Of four |
TO one, but when we had got through with II we |
should only have proved that we were physically |
the stronger party We should only have estab. |
lishcd tho fact that tribe could giyO the loudest
whoop and could assemble the largest number of |
braves for given battle, ana, after the battle was
over we should have been rOmandod TO the courts |
for a trial Of our title We preferred to 30 TO the
court aud have our titlo confirmed II was our |
belief as plaintiffs we cOnld not improve our stand. |
ing In court by committing a breach Of the |
peace on the threshold Of Qe chamber Of
Justice We remembered that We were |
New England community, and we believed that |
Of all the New England states Maine has b0en the |
most exempt, from lis origin 10 the year 1879, |
from every form Of defiance Of law. With the !
hight mcoucsnbly established, with tcchnealiues, |
lfaudS and iorBerles brushed aside, the admins |
hation Of Daniel f. Davis stands today strong In |
the confidence oithe people, The law hasagain as.
Iprtod Its supremacy order rules everywhere and
the people who but yesterday crowded our streets |
III the grim determination that fraudulent govern ]