Little Falls transcript., 1880-01-30
THE SITUATION: IN MAINE

EHE SITUATIONIN MAINE y
sAuausrA, Jan. 90. NIachinists worked
all night at the State House to open the safe,
and when opened there were no valuable pa
pers found, nor Official returns, nor the miss
ing ing great seal ol the State T Is eonlsctqred
Republican Legislature met this morning at the
State house. Wallace r. White charged with
bribery, asked to have q committee appointed
to Investigate. A special committee will in
vestigate the case. Eugene Hale offered q
resolution declaring the State Government
fully established and denouncing all other
bodies pretending to be part OF the State Gov
ernment. The fusionist Senate and House
were called to order at 10 o'clock in Union
Hall Mr.. Dickey urged all members to stand
firm. He believed this body would be recog-
nized as the legal legislature OF Maine, by the
courts as well as BY Congress. In fact he had
not quite like the attitude Of some Of his fel-
low members. He urged steadfastness. Mr.
Swan denounced the Republican legislature
as q usurpation and the court as o partisan
court. Mr.. Plaisted urged moderation, and
deprecated rashness. he believed the rights
peaceful means. He recommended the avoid
ance Of all infammatory language and any
thing that would be likely to lead to violence
The fusion Senate met in the afternoon and
were expecting reply from the judges when
they will entertain questions from this body.
Mr.. Ellis wished the opinion of the court: It is
thought the fusion House was not legal, but if
the Senate was, no business transacted by the
House would stand legally. Several members
expressed the belief that both houses were le-
gal, and advised proceeding to business at
once. Adjourned to 4 F. NJ Mr.. Dickey Of the
House moved committee on pay ROLAND mi
ieage Of members. He said many members
1,oA AonT a 1onr nd
ed money. If money could not be got from
the State treasury, it would be provided for
otherwise. The House as well as the Senate
took q recess till 4 p. M. After recess the
matter Of the pay roll was considered. Where
the funds are to come from is not definitely
hold out long unless money from outside of
tthe State is obtained. 1t is stated that the fu-
sionists will make no attempt to. get possess
sion of the State House. Mr. Ellis of the fu-
sion Senate declared that members Of the Re-
publican House had made propositions to
He did not give names. It is averred that
there is no such feeling on the part of the Re-
publicans. The Republican legislature in
| the State House declared the existence of
the fusion legislature without authority,
and ordered an enquiry as to whether legisla-
| the State records and property. -Four fusion
Senators took seats in the Republican Senate.
The fusion legislature were preparing ques-
| tions to submit to the supreme court Much
opposition was made to referring questions to
| the court or to applying to congress. It was
| alleged that the Democratic doctrine of States
| rights would prevent any interference on the
| part of the Democratic Congress. It was
| doubted whether any appeal would be made to
| the supreme court, it being argued that
| they had already decided the questions Mr.,
| Ingalls, said there are but two arbitrers in the
present condition of affairs, an appeal to arms,
| or to the supreme court. He was not in fav-
or of civil war. This seemed to be the prevail
| ing sentiment among the fusionists at the
close of the day on Tuesday. The Republican
| legislature, both branches concurring issued
| a stirring manifesto to the people of the State
denouncing the fusion legislature for acting
wholly without authority and in violation Of
| aW.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 21-The fusion House
| met at 10 a. m. in Union Hall. Mr. Swan
| moved to reconsider the vote submitting
| questions to the supreme court. He thought
the House had enough of the opinions of the
supreme court Mr. Plaisted followed in the
| same strain. It was evident from the tone Of
! the speeches that the fusionists would sub
init no questions. Benner and Ratier denied
that they had joined the Republican legisla-
! ture. In the Republican legislature business
was transacted, among other things A. Hol-
onist State department has established their
quarters in Aliens block Mr.. Sawyer, the
fusion Secretary of State says the great seal of
the State is in possession of his department.
The fusionists are yet undecided whether or
not to submit a series ofquestions to the court
Mr.. Blaine addressed public meeting con-
graduating the people that they once more
meet as peaceful citizens of Maine under tne
protection of legal State Government with
the legality of its title pater to the world
Fusion Gov. Smith denies that he ever issued
an order calling out troops.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 22.-The fusion legisla-
ture met this morning. Standing committees
were announced, and other actions of a legis-
lative character had. A committee was ap-
pointed to enquire if a building could be had
in Portland for the legislative and executive
departments: An enquiry was made by tele-
graph on this point to the Mayor of Port
land. The Mayor, himself Democrat, con-
| suited with the council and replied, "No suit
able Accommodations" In the fusion Senate
Mr.. Atwen opposed the order to proceed to
P%Hsnsss %a9s seyng e Us 20 nt the State
member favored a compromise. He feared
their policy would lead to bloodshed. The fu-
sion Governor Smith said, "if we had pos
session of the State House the Republicans
would not get in without bloodshed" The
Republican legislature was in session. The
company remains in the armory. In the Re
publican Senate an amendment to the con-
stitution was presented to elect the Governor
by plurality vote. The Republican legisla-
ture are talking seriously Of having the whole
batch of fusionist officials arrested
tative Staple has taken a seat in the Republi.
canHouse. The fusionists have been telegraph
ed from Briddeford inviting them to take up
quarters there. 1t is not certain that the fusion
legislature will send a set of questions to the
supreme court The fusion senators who
are entitled to seats in the Republican legis-
lature, are reported on high authority to be on
the verge of descrting the fusion legislature.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 23.-The fusion legis-
lature met in Union hall, neither house hay
ing quorum. But little of public interest was
attempted. Both branches adjourned to 2pm.
Mr.. Whitman decided not to serve in the fusion
Senate and Mr.. Wilson went home to attend
a lawsuit The matter of submitting questions
to the Supreme court was discussed for and
against, and the questions postponed till Mon
day. Mr. Hill said he had resolved to 20 into
the other BODY so that his neople might be re.
presented in the new valuation. In the Re-
publican, House, amendments to the constitu-
ton were considered. The amendment that
the governor be elected by plurality instead
of majority, passed both Houses, and both
branches adjourned till tomorrow. The whole
situation is changed and has become more ur-
gent and sensational than at any time since
the strife commenced Fusionists arrive daily
in Augusta, and men are ready to march on
the capitol at any time. Governor Davis
and Gen. Chamberlain have = re-
inforced the capitol guard, military
companies have been placed in the building
and Gatling gun placed there. The fusion
lists give out that they are determined to take
possession of the State house. The residences
Of several prominent Republicans in Augusta,
are marked for destruction by fire. Men are
collected in country towns ready for the call
Of fusion Gov. Smith. Mayor Nash of Augusta,
warlike movements of the fusionists; stating
his fears that his civil force was inadequate to
protect the State house, and says, there are
suspicious circumstances which lead to alarm,
viz: Crowds Of men collecting at various
points, the continuance of organizations
among the fusionists, raising of money to sus-
tain them in their action, the activity of
Major j. K. Smith, the holding out Of fSawyer,
who claims to be- secretary of state, the drill.
talk ofthe Greenbackers, and the Labor Chroni-
Gle Of Auburn, that the State house must be
taken though it costs a Thousand iyes.p Gov.
'0dyfs. and the military have become convinced
cf the seriousness of the situation, and that
the. POSITION of Mayor Nash was perfectly
sound. Hence the movement to protect the
State house by military force. The following
statement is made: Information of the opera
tions of the Fusionists come from reliable men
State house. The prompt action by. Gov.
Davis will avert all trouble. Men are known
to be ready at the call of Smith from Lincoln
and Somerset counties, who are to take sleighs