Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-24
9ailp Atnnebef Journal.
Augusta, Wednesday Morning, March "a.
From the Portland Press
The Councils Apology.

The Councils Apology.
Since the days Of Marryatt's MIdship-
man who was arraigned for cutting off the
tail Of the Admiral's pet dog and who
pleaded in defence that the malicious beast
threw said tail with wicked cunning be-
tween the chopper and the block with the
intent to get the MILDLY into trouble, no
such amusing and ridiculous defense has
been offered By alleged criminals or their
alleged friends as that offered by the Ar
gus yesterday in behalf Of DIR. Garcelon
and his Executive Council, If that apol-
ogy is the best that can be made, the ex-
Governor should beseeeh Of his political
partisans the charity Of silence.
The line of defense adopted by the Ar
gus is that the alterations in the returns
and the forgeries Of them were the work
Of republicans. We are asked 10 believe
that the republicans in order to cast re-
proach upon the virtuous fnsionists went
10 work and had themselves counted Out
and fusion legislature counted in. Ito"
this could be done without the con-
nivance OF the Executive Councillors
the Argus does not explain-perhap+ be-
cause il Is unexplainabe. An acceptance
Of the theory advanced By our humorous
contemporary would force men to believe
that the change Of & to G. in the He
bron return was the work Of republicans
and a. the republicans had nothing to dc
with the return until alter the tabula,ion
that the change was made subsequent to
the count If this be 80 how happened it
that the Council insisted on countin. the
Hebron return for Henry g. Walker when
It read Henry G. Walker? How did they
count the Wells return for Josiah a. Sto-
yer when the return was for Josiah Slower
Unless the North Berwick return was
changed. previous 10 the tabulation. from
George II. to George 4. Wakefield. why
was il counted tor George \. Wakefield
Either these alterations and lorgcries were
made previous 10 the final tabulation, OF
else that tabulaton was designedly false
and the count a vast flschood; for the &c.
ton of the Council was ayowedly based
upon the changes mentioned above and
others similar to them.
All the changes made in the return,
were in the interest of the fusionists. We
have the evidence of town officers that
those changes were made after the re
turns left their hands. We know that III,
tabulation was based upon them. and the
fusion majority in the legislature counted
In by that tabulation. All the evidence
(evidence which the the Argus has re-
fused to pubish) shows that the altcra
tons were made in the Council Chamber
Yet the Argus asks Us to reject this sworI
testimony, and accept the unsupported
words of men who are directly implicated
in the iniamy. who have the stronges
reasons to lie about their connection will
the dsgraceiul and wicked affair, ant
who were afraid to make their statement,
under oath or subject themselves to the
peril of cross-cxamnation. When tn,
people of this State accept that preposter
Gus plea they will he ready to accep
Cap'n Chase's characteristic assertion
that the fraud and forgery which the evi
dcnce in the investigation discloses wa.
the work of THAT traitor Chamberlain. :