The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-19
TAKING POSSESSION
Unsuccessful Attempt to Lock
Out GOV. Davis and Sec
rotary ChadbOu[nG.
The State Seal and Several
Important Papers Missing.
Ex-Councillor Moody Sees the Err
ror Of His Ways.
Especial Despatch to the Press

the Council chamber was locked and vigil
lent search disclosed the fact that the key
could not be found As if by preconcerted
arrangement the fusion officers of the several
departments were also missing. 1t was sup
posed that one of the keys to the Council cham
Der was in the possession of the defunct fusion
governor, Lamson, and another i'll the pocket
of the morbund fusion governor, Smith. In
this exigency Gen Chamberlain called upon
Mayor Nash, who represents the civil authori-
ties, to have the doors of the Council chamber
and the Governors room opened to the free
admission of Gov. Davis after he was quail
fed, so that he and his Council cou,I take pos
session of them. By the failure 10 get the
keys it seemed at one time as if the only alter
native was to force the doors open. Fortu-
nately, however, key was found among the
crowd that would open the outer door leading
to the Council chamber. This key was the
means of obtaining access to the Council
Chamber, but the Governors room was still
locked and no key to it could be feund In
this dilemma the services of a locksmth were
secured and the door to the Governors room
was opeEed When admission was accom-
plished a key to one of the doors to the room
was found inside with the key in the lock.
This key, together with lhe key that had OPP
ened the outer door to the Council chamber.
Mayor Nash delivered to Gen. Chamberlain,
who at the proper time caused the doors to the
Council chamber and Governors room to be
unlocked for the admission of Gov. Davis aud
members of his Council.
At about half past o'clock in the evening
Mr. Chadbourne. the Republican Secretary of
State, having filed his official bond and having
been sworn to the performance of his duties,
proceeded to the Secretary OF States office to
take possession; he found the office locked and
no fusion official Or employee about the State
House had, as they claimed, key that would
fit it.
In this emergency a messenger was forth
with sent by Gov Davis to Mr.. Sawyer, the
fusion deputy Secretary of State, (Mr Cove,
the fusion Secretary, having gone to Bidde-
ford) with instructions to have Mr.. Sawyer call
upon him (Mr. Davis and deliver the key of
the office. Mr.. Sawyer was about retiring for
the night when the messenger waited upon
him but he promptly complied with Gov. Da-
viss request by appearing in his presence.
Gov. Davis asked him for the key, but Mr..
Sawyer not handing it over, Secretary Chad
bourne then made formal demand of Mr.. Saw
yer for the key and possession of the office,
which Mr.. Sawyer politely but firmly refused.
Gov. Davis then directed Mayor Nash to ena-
BILE Secretary Chadbourne to obtain possession
Of his office. A key was then found, which
was the property of bystander, that would
nj l>rl,a, i'm 10
tary Chadbourne then appeared and formally
requested Mayor Nash to place him in pos
session of the office, which was done with
out any further delay, in the presence of sever
al officers, simply by turning the key and I'M
locking the door. An entrance was effected
by Secretary Chadbourne about $50 o'clock
and as soon as it was accomplished he entered
at once upon his official duties.
SECRETARY Chadbourne has discovered Lat
the State seal and quite u number of important
papers are missing. Possibly they may be in
the safe, the key to which is held by the fusion
deputy Secretary, who refuses to deliver it up.
Among the first acts of Gov. Davis was to re-
store Gen. Harris to his old position of Supt.
of Public Buildings in place of the fusion in
cumbent, DIR. Lancaster. By invitation of
Gov. Davis, DIR. Lancaster called on him at
the Executive Department, where an under
standing was agreed upon that until Gen. Har-
rs entered upon his duties he, Lancaster
should perform the duties of the office in a
manner not to annoy or embarrass the persons
legally in possession of the State House. BY
this understanding all difficulties which have
hitherto existed are removed and the police
will be removed if DR.. Lancaster does not
break faith or violate his word.
Mr.. Moody ,one of the members of Garcelon' s
Council, and who was made member of the
Council of Smith the pretended Governor, re-
fused to qualify, which refusal brought down
upon him the unmitigated wrath of the lead
ing conspirators. Mr.. Moody is too much of a
man to defy the decision of the court, and hay
ing, as he now says, seen the error he has CON-
mitted in assisting in the counting out con-
spiracy, he positively declines to take another
step in the great villiany, but submits to the
inevitable.
Mayor Nash and the friends of Gov. Davis
express themselves as being under personal
obligations to Mr.. Moody for his courtesy to
them. He says he would have cheerfuly ad-
mitted them to the Governors room had it
been in his power. Besides MOODY, neither
Messrs. Redman nor Foster of the Fusion
Council have been qualified. and the presump-
tion is tina they will follow the example of
Moody by not allowing themselves to be quail
fed. Redman has not been here, and Foster is
still absent out West where he has been absent
several weeks. Mr.. Rust of Belfast would not
have gone through the farce of qualifying had
he known the opinion of the court, which he
had not seen when he permitted himself to be
rushed into the Fusion House to be qualified.
He has since read the decree of the court and
does not hesitate to counsel submission, seeing
no possible escape from it.
Mr.. Whidden of Smiths Council left for his
home in c. ais on the early train this morning.
In the performance of his important duties
Gen. Chamberlain has acted with discretion,
prudence and fidelity, and it is cause of gratif-
cation that he was called upon to preserve
peace and orde- when anarchy and civil war
were SO imminent. The people will never for
get his services.
Odds and Ends.
Gov. Davis has nominated BENJAMIN 4.
Harris Superintendent of Public Buildings,
vice Lancaster removed; and Chas, j. House
of Monson, Messenger to the Governor and
Council The Governor will, tomorrow, APP
point Major John D. Myrick of Augusta State
Librarian, vice Stacy removed.
The Augusta clergymen recognized the
events of Saturday in their prayers and petit
tons today.
Gov. Davis hopes to have his message pre-
pared by the middle of the week. He has re-
ceived but one report as yet, that of the
Railroad Commissioners.
Gen. Chamberlain will go to Brunswick to-
morrow, and his duties will be performed by
Gen. Brown.
Republicans talk of having grand io llifica-
ton meeting at Granite Hall.
Pllsbury will publish a long exposition of
the law tomorrow, taking strong grounds
against the Supreme Court decision, and will
claim that the fusion legislature is legal and
that if it cannot meet in the State House it
can meet somewhere else.
There is considerable opposition among the
Republicans to allowing the fusion legislature
to meet in the State House tomorrow. They
think it would be quasi endorsement of that
organization.