The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-01-08

tremely close. In addition to the fact
that several persons fail to receive their
certificates in consequence of fatal
defects " in the returns from their towns
or cities, there are others who would
have been presumably elected but for
the carelessness of the voters them
selves or the ignorance of the csndid-
ates or those who provided ballots at
the elections. The judges of our SUI
preme court have decided that ballots
cast for William H. Smith and w. H.
Smith are ballots to be counted separ-
ately. Several changes have resulted
from this condition of affairs. In one
county persons with as many as four
different combinations in initials re-
ceived the republican vote and two the
democratic. That county was entitled
to only one senator, and there was no
alternate but to give the certificate to
the person having the highest number
of votes. In the Danforth district. al
ready notorious, the name of the repub-
lican candidate was Charles A. Role.
The town of Danforth voted for Charles
Rolfe. The result was that his COM
petitor received the certificate, and
from like causes other changes
have occurred. The great hue-and-cry
about conspiracy" fraud" etc.,
arises from the fact that we have taken
the constitution for our guide, fortified
by the opinions Of the sup. enc court of
the state and the. advice of several
of the foremost legal gentlemen
Of the forum, and have not permitted
substitution, alteration or unauthorized
amendments OF the returns transmitted
to us for examination and by us to be
transmitted to the legislature for their
final action. In other words, we have
not resolved ourselves into returning
board to investigate fraud, bribery, il
legal proceedings at the polls, and the
thousand and one charges of corrup.
ton that are af1oat, but have left this
whole matter to the action of the legis-
lature, where it properly belongs. The
governor and council have recognize
ed the fact that the people of Maine
have adopted q constitution and de-
clared it to be the supreme law of the
state. They have followed it's require
ments with fidelity and impartiality,
and when an intelligent public have
brushed away the mists and false color
ings which enraged and discounted
politicians have thrown around our &C.
ton, and the vituperation and SANDER
that has been heaped upon us has given
place to reason and fair investigation,
any condemnation of our course, either
by the democracy of the nation or any
fair-minded and honorable politicians
of any party, will be acknowledged
with due submission.
ALoNzo GARcELoN.
Augusta, Dec. 20, 1879.
CORRESPONDENTS.
Hon. Lot M. Morrill, addressed
letter to Gov. Garce}on asking him to
consent to submitting all the disputed
| points in the official canvass to the
supreme court. To this request Gov.
Garcelon replied as follows:
LEWISTON, Dec. 25.
Hon. Lot ". Morrill,, Chairman, ETC.:
Your communication of the Oath
reached here yesterday, just as was
leaving for Augusta, and / take this
early opportunity to reply. The ex-
element in the public mind is, in my
mind. wholly without excuse, and is
without question the result of sys~
tematized attack Of vituperation and
SANDER upon the executive department.,
not only without parallel, but without
cause. Be that as it may, it is the duty
of every good citizen to use his best en-
deavors to allay public excitement,
however created, so far as he is able,
and to resort to such measures as will
allay civil strife and at the same time
| ha ~
intimated that it is in my power
tc restore peace, tranquility and good
feeling to the state and all it's inhabi-
tants by asking the opinion of the SUI
preme judges on each law point, in
volved in the variations of the count
from the returns. Nothing would give
me greater pleasure than an authori-
tative opinion upon points involved in
the condition of affairs, and in such as
might be likely to arise. Please to in
dictate points that occur to you which
have not already been adjudicated up
on, and doubt not that we may be
able to secure satisfactory
solution of the doubtful complications
or if not satisfactory, at least such as
may be deemed authoritive. The
fact to which you allude, that so large
a number of republican members elect
fail to receive certificates, is due to the
fact that so many municipal officers
failed to comply with the constitutional
requirement, and this, by judicial de-
cislon, the governor and council have
no authority to overlook. This con-
dition of affairs is no fault of the gov
ernor and council.
Respectfully, yours.
ALoNZO GARCELON.
| MORRILL, REPLY TO GARCELON.
In answer to Gov. Garcelon's letter,
Mr. Morrill, odd rossod tho fo1louino