The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-01-01
By this time the crowd began to grow larger


and the building was soon filed with q large
and excited mass of people, determined that
no shipment of arms should be made
through the city, unless under unmis-
taxable authority. Mayor Brown was
sent for, and soon appeared on the ground.
About the same time Arsenal Keeper Smith
also appeared. Mayor Brown asked the latter
under what orders he was acting, and received
the answer, " Under the orders of the Cover
nor" The keeper was then asked to show his
orders. He said he had no written order, but
was acting under q verbal order from Mr..
French, clerk in the Adjutant Generals
office. Meanwhile the crowd grew more and
more excited, and insisted that the arms should
not be allowed to leave the city; but should at
once be returned to the arsenal.
, Inquiry being made by Mayor Brown for Mr..
French, that gentleman appeared on the scene
and said that he was here, by the order of
Gov. Garcelon, to remove arms and ammuni-
tion to Augusta. He afterward admitted that
he had no orders from the Adjutant General,
and only verbal orders from Gov. Garcelon.
Mayor Brown called his attention to the
high state of excitement existing, and told
p"Ai0S
force under his control, that he could not
guarantee him safe conduct through the city of
the war material. The Mayor said he did not
undertake to dictate any course of action under
the circumstances, but suggested that it would
be better to return the material to the arsenal /
for the present. French, acknowledging his
want of proper authority, and seeing the ex-
cited condition of citizens, decided that this
was the best course to pursue, and ordered the
teams to return to the arsenal, which they did,
with the arms and ammunition.
As the teams started on their return three
hearty cheers were given by the crowd.
French has returned to Augusta to await
further action and instruction by the Governor.
[Later.i
AUGUSTA, Me-, December 26.-The attempt
to take from the arsenal in Bangor the arms
and ammunition there and bring the same here
was not generally known in this city till to-
day. On Christmas night team was in wait
ing at the railroad station here to receive the
contents of the State Arsenal in order to con
vey them to the State House.
The excitement here to-day over the Bangor
affair was intense. The widest rumors pre-
vailed until the true account If it was
received. 1t was rumored during the
day that the Capital Guards were or
dered out, but there was no truth in the re-
port. Then it was said that the Montgomery
Guards, of Portland, would be here in the af-
ternoon, but they did not put in an appearance
Governor Garcelon reached the city this after
noon. Only two of the Councillors were here Sc
no business was transacted. Governor Garce-
lon was seen tonight, and said he knew moth
ing further of the Bangor affair than what hat
appeared in the papers that for judicious rea
sons he had ordered French verbally to remove
the arms and ammunition, and he thought thu
whole matter was one of great discredit to tbt
city.
At special meeting of the city Government
in the afternoon it was voted to increase the
police force of the city to 200 men, so that The
City Marshal may have body to call upon il
case any trouble should arise.
The following is Governor Garcelon's reply
to the letter of Hon. Lot M. Morrill,:
LEWISTON, December 25.
| Hon. Lot M. Morrill,, Chairman, etc.:
| SIR Your communication of the oath inst
| reached here yesterday, just as 1 was leavin.
| Augusta, and take this early opportunity t
reply. The excitement in the public mind is
| in my judgment, wholly without excuse, ant
| is without question the result of systemizet
attack of vituperation and slander upon tn
| Executive Department, and not only withou
| parallel, but without cause. Be that as it may
4 it is the duty of every good citizen to use hi
| best endeavors to allay the public excite
ment, however created, so far as he i
| able, and to resort to such measures as will
| allay civil strife, and at the same time secur
| the ends of justice. You intimate that it is il
my power to restore peace, tranquility an
good feeling to the State and all its inhabitants
| by asking the opinion of the Supreme Judge
| on each law point involved in variation Q
! count from returns. Nothing would give n
/ greater pleasure than an authoritative opinion
| upon the points involved in the present condi
| ton of affairs, and also upon such as might
| likely to arise. Please to indicate the point
that occur to you which have not already bee
adjudicated upon, and doubt not that we ma
| be able to secure satisfactory solution of th
doubtful complications, or if not satisfactory
at least such as may be deemed authoritative
The fact to which you allude that so large
number of Republican members elect fail I
receive certificates, is due to the fact that s
many municipal officers failed to comply wit
the constitutional requirements, and this b
ljudicial decisions the Governor and Counc
have no authority to overlook. This conditio
of affairs is no fault of the Governor and Coun
ell. Respectfully yours,
ALoNzo GARcELoN.