The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-16
MAINE BATTLE NOT ALL ON ONE SIDE.
Tho Republicans Organize n Legislature

yanization of the Maine legislature by |
The Republicans:
Augusta, Jan. II. The quiet of to-
day was as deceptive as that stiffness
which precedes an assault by an army
upon the works of an enemy. Few
were about the State
house during the day, and the spies
must have come TO the conclusion that
they had lost their interest in the great
issue between the representatives OF
the people and the usurpers. About
half past five the Repubicans-elect be.
gan 10 make their appearance in the
state house. In brief period the Flu
sion watchers saw to their dismay that
these men meant business. Then there
was hurrying to aud fro. But the arin-
ed men were gone aud their loaded
rifles were in Bangor. AT $40 nearly
all of the Republican senators and rep
resentatives had found their way into
the respective halls to which they were
elected. There was no noise, no ex-
element, but on the contrary the men
were very quiet aud very determined.
They evidently meant business. Never
were proceedings more orderly aud
Legislators more dignified. Outside the
Republican members aud the Republi.
can Advisory Committee not dozen
persons were aware of the plan. ST.
quietly did the members drop into the
state house that their assembling at
tracted little attention ut first. When
the two branches were called to order
but few spectators were present. Late in
tue evening the hall and galleries were
crowded and 50 remained until mid
night, anxiously awaiting the report OF
the committees.
When the surprised Fusion leaders
became aware of the III, citing of thu
Republicans they were as panic-stricken
as ii Il bOmbshcll had exploded in Their
midst. Mr.. hanson, the president OF
The rump senate, in frantic manner
rushed to Gen. Chamberlain's head
quarters and eXcitedly exclaimed: " ]
protest against these men coming III. :"
Gen. Chamberlain very coolly replied
that he should not only permit them IT,
come in, but that they should be ALLOW.
ed to remain us long as they pleased.
AT no time was there any appearance.
Former employees of the Legislature,
familiar with the premises, quickly
turned on the gas and assisted the peo-
pies representatives in every possible
| manner.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.
The sci a'e was called TO order bv
Senator Dingley of Androscoggin, and
Senator Harris of Washington was
called 10 The chair. Prayer was Of
tered by Rev. DR.. Butler, member OF
the House from Vassaburo'. Gen.
Charles w. Tilden, one of Names besl
soldiers in the late war and assistant
secretary of the last senate, called the
roll of senators who appeared by ih,
face of the returns to be elected, and
tie eighteen Republicans answered Ia
their names, a quorum. They were
then sworn in by WIN. r. Stration.
clerk of the courts for Kemnebcc coun
ty, as deddmuS proteStotem. Andrew
IL. u. Smith of Lincoln county was de.
cl red elected on the f,ce OF the returns
The following officers were then elected.
each receiving nineteen votes: Presi.
d"nt, Joseph a. Locke of Cumberland
Secretary, Gen. G.. w. Tiden of Gas
me; assistant, Geo. e. Bracket OF
Belfast; Messenger, Chas. II. Lovejo,
If Sidney. The following order was
then passed:
Ordered: That committee, consist.
ing of three members of The senate, b,
appointed by the President, to report
to the senate for its action whether til,
senate shall call npon he justices of tn,
supreme court for their opinion touch
ing the legal organization of the senaI,
for the 59lh Legislature, and TO report
for the action of the senate such cues.
| tions as the law aud facts require in the
premises.
ORGANIZATION or THE HOUSE.
The members of the house were call.
ed to order by Hon. Eugene Hale
PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr.. Crane,
member from Winthrop. Col. Marx
Wentworth of KiiIery was made tenn.
porarv chairman. Oramamdel Smiil
If Litchfield was made ERIK pro tenn
He called the roll of mem. ers who ap
peared TO be elected on the face of the
returns, and IS Republicans so elected
answered to their names, and were
qualified by w. NJ. Siratton, an Officer
empowered to qualify civil officers.
Mr.. Strout of Portland offered an or.
der admitting six other Republicans
who were elected, but who were count
ed ont Oh slight defects in the returns,
all of which were amendable under the
law of 1871 Hon. Geo. L. Weeks of
Augusta was elected speaker, Oraman-
del Smith of Litchfield, clerk, aud Ed
win e. Burleigh OF Linneus, assistant
clerk. The organization being com
pleted, Mr.. Hale of Ellsworth offered
the following, which was unanimously
passed:
ReSolced.: That a committee, consist
ing of three members be appointed by
the speaker 10 report to the house for
its action whether the house will re-
quest the justices of the supreme Judi
cial court to give their opinion touching
the legal organization of the house OF
Representatives of the 59ih Legislature
OF Maine, snch questions as tho law
and the facts demand in the premises.
Mr.. Hale, in presenting the resolve,
spoke of the extraordinary circum-
stances under which the house met,
and the solicitude OF the people. He
referred in flattering terms to Gen.
Chamberlain's judicious management
by which irresponsible men, armed
with muskets, we're removed from the
stat. house and the safety of the peo-
ple's representatives was secured. He
said that the object of this organization
Of the house, was to get these vital
questions affecting the organization of
the legislature and the state govern
meht TO the supreme court, the tribunal
which could alone decide them. He
said That this house will yield obedience
to the decision of the court, aud that
The Republicans of Maine are law-abid-
ing citizens and will accept the law as
interpreted by the court.
MIR. Hale's remarks indicated the
course which the Republicans will pur-
sue. They will take no further steps
toward organizing the state govern.
ment. The whole subject will be sub
miIted to the court. The speaker APP
pointed Messrs. Strout of Portland,
Hutchinson of Lewiston and Hatch nj