The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-28
Last Nights Dispatches.
MAINE
Ens zepub,4ean ceurt's-peo4aion no. 3.

BANGOR. Jan. 27.-The Supreme Court
Justices to day, set forth their reasons in
answer to the Fusionists questions, for
declining to recognize the Fusionists Lagis.
lature. They say, while not admitting
even By implication. that any legally orga
uized body has submitted those questions.
yet they would be lacking in their duty if
they should fail to give the reasons which
may guide the citizens Ia pursuing their
duty, as the Supreme Court must event
ualiY pass upon the laws which the SO
called or actual legislative bodies pass. Ii
is proper that that tribunal should con-
slider at once, with Or without this question
which is the one and only Legislature of
the two claimants.
the court says: A large portion Of this
question has been decided in it's answers
TO Governor Garcelon's questions. By.
these answers it appeared that Governor
Garcelon aud council is issuing certificates
OF election to certain men as Senators and
Representatives who did not appear to be
elected. and declining to issue to certain
others who did appear to be elected, were
in violation OF the legal and constitutional
obligations and duties, they cannot ignore
the fact that Garcelon disre egarded the
opinion of the court given in answer to his
questions omitted to revoke the SUMMON
ses Illegally issued to men not elected. nor
did he issue to men not elected, nor did he
issue summonses to men who were elected, |
The officers who presided in the Fusion
branches of the Legislature recognized |
men as members who were unIaWfully
introduced into them By unconstitutional |
means and refused to recognize certain |
ones who were lawfully elected. 1t cannot
be claimed that the Fusion House ever
had quorum without counting the men
whom this court had declared elected. and |
therefore they cannot recognize the Fusion |
House as legal body. The same is true |
of the Senate.
They then consider whether there is |
in existence legal legislature, and con
clude that the organization made peace
fully on the 18th of January (the Re |
publican House and SeDate), were "a ade |
by majority of members appearin
to be elected. They traverse the point
raised, that the Republican organization
was illegal, because no potice OF Intended |
action was given the minority SO as 10
enable them TO participate and say the |
minority were not excluded. The organi
zation was publicly made, and want of |
notice did not inFalidate the organization. |
although the manner was irregular j ct |
CDS VOICE vi tES peObI5 IS EUL 10 UG stlueO
on that account, nor the government fail |
to be naintained. A full quorum were |
present and both houses were therefore |
legal bodies.
The justices concluded by saying they |
ouly perform a solemn duty in deciding |
that the senate presided ever By j lose oh a !
Locke, and the house presided over by |
George e. W eeks, are the legal and const- |
tu;ignaI legislature. All the justices sign
the decision
AUGUSTA, Jan. o7.-The Fusionists did
nothing important to-day.
The FusiopistS are very much depressed
at the receipt of the news from the supreme
court.
Major Smith said be believed that the
controversy had now ended. He said that
while the previous opinion of the Judges
was based on a Republican statement.
there was room for reasonable doubt; but
10 view Of the fact that the court had
decided against them on a Fusion state
ment. they could but gracefully submit
He had got through playing governor, and
should go home. Major Smiths views
will be adopted by the better part of the
Fusionists who will take their seats in the
legislature.
Sawyer says be still considers himself
secretary of state.
Henry Ingalls,, leading member Of the
Fusion house. says he is not prepared to
give an opinion to night. but has always
beer in favor Of yielding to the court.