Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-14

investigation proceeded to administer the
oath to these men. 1t has been often
said that as Mr.. Hale qualified in this
House. he acknowledged its legality:
but those who so speak do not know the
facts. Mr.. Hale did not qualify in this
House. After the oath had been ad-
ministered to Is men as Legislature
Mr.. Hale appeared before the Governor
and took the oath which Garcelon was
obliged to administer 20 him as duly
elected and certifcated member. BY
taking this oath he became member of
the legal Legislature of Maine, and not
of that turbulent body. His subsequent
action with these men was the same that
he might have taken in any debating
club. In administering the oath to these
men as Legislature and putting them
on their way to do business, Gov. Car
eelon and his councillors took another
step in organizing revolutionary State
Government.
When these men. without voting
quorum, disputed at every step, acted as
a Legislature and elected State office rs
without giving attention to the petitions
for redress from disfranchised localities,
they took another step in their revolu-
tionary course. Without a quorum and
without allowing full representation
they could not elect a Governor or a SIN
gle officer, yet this is just what they
undertook to do, in defiance Of law and
in defiance Of the opinion of the Court,
because they did not consider 1t manda-
tory. Then they proceeded with tins
revolutionary scheme which our people
now denominate a farce, but which came
nearer being a tragedy than many are
aware Of, save the few hundreds who
witnessed the proceedings.
Joseph l.. Smith their pretended Gov
ernor says he was importuned TO allow
the enlistment of volunteers " sustain
the Fusion government, but that he re
fused. The militia was tested, armed
men were .eoresed IL the State House
and armed men filed the halls Nearly
every man in the building on that event
ful day of disorganization carried arms
and one pistol shot would have inaugur-
eted civil war in the State We look az
this thing loo lightly. This bloodicss
revolution attempted 10y fra4d, came
close to the edge Of an armed conflict
Ii never became necessary before IN
Maine 10 ask aid from armed men in the
organization OF Legislature. The viii
of the people had never before been dis
regarded IN the formation OF Legislature
20 q. things had been conducted with
due dccorum. nui when revolutionary
government was set up. it was necessary
to keep the people down, and To shut
them out Of tuc.c State capitol. Bay
one, rule a, well as ballo,-boN fraud was
attempted in Maine.
/ The member who we7e elected by the
/ people finally o.S4D.4ed q Legislature
which vas sustained by the Suprems
Cour, Of Maine aud tbs Is wha, the
| Fusionists call a revolutionary govern
ment.
! \ government elected by the people
and sus.a,red by the Supreme Court Is
wha; we now have. Is iLs; revo!n.
AIRY government:
\ government organized in defiance OF
ne popular vote, counted in on pre-
tended te,h...Ss, defects, bat -, fact by
alterations, eraSur,,, forger,e. .rTf s''"-
stii,8,on>. officers selected by an un-
, arsaSiyed minority less than a quorum
and condemned ~ TIE Surrcmc Court
was what was attempted Was not that
revolutionary government:
Remember. voters, YOU sustain one OF
the ether If these propositions when you
deposit your G4iloi peyi Monday.