The Portland daily press., 1880-01-26
THE LEGISLATURE.
The State Seal Bill Passed to
be Engrossed.
THE ALLEGED UNLAWFUL
ENLISTMENTS.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 24-The Senate met and adj
journed until Monday afternoon at four o'clock,
without transactng any business.
The House on motion of Mr.. Hatch of Ban
gor, ordered that the finance committee in
quire as to the expediency of providing for the
payment of bonds of the State, due August
10, 1880, by issuing new bonds therefor, pays-
BILE 100000 in one year, 100000 in two years,
100000 in three years, at a rate of interest
not exceeding a per cent. per annum payable
annually, the payment of said renewal bonds
to be provided for at maturity by taxation
On motion of Mr.. Hutchinson it was ordered
that the committee on judiciary inquire what
action, if any, is necessary to prevent any
person Or persons from falsely pretending to
assume the functions and duties of the State
officers.
The bill in relation to the State seal, public
records and documents, and to certain public
officers and their duties came up on its passage
to be engrossed. Mr.. Strout of Portland made
an able argument in support of the bill, claim
ing that this is legal legislature, so recog-
nized by the courts, the people and the laws,
and even the Fusionists themselves. In his
Judgment, 80 out of every 100 persons in the
State beiieve this. The court has decided
what the law is, and there is the end of it.
They have given their opinions fully and ex-
haustiveiy, and it becomes all authoritative dec
laration. The court does not make the law,
but they have the power to declare it. Their
decision is conclusive to all law-abiding citi-
zens. If not authoritative, what would be the
result? The enforcement of right will depend
upon might and we are passed over to
anarchy, turbulence and violence and re-
manded to state of barbarism. The State
seal and the records have been removed, the
decisions of the court overridden, and it is
plain that the next step will be to resort to VIC
lence Few crimes are more serious. To pre-
vent it this law is framed.
The bill then passed to be engrossed Mr..
Hutchinson of Lewiston presented the follow
ing:
Whereas, Information has been received
that certain persons have been engaged in en-
rolling and enlisting men in a manner and for
a purpose unauthorized by the laws of this
State, and
Whereas, .such enlistments and organiza-
lions tend to the disturbance of the public
peace and civil order and the outbreak of a
revolution, therefore
on the part of the House and such as the Sem
ate may join may be appointed for the purpose
of investigating the truth of such reports and
to ascertain what action, if any, should be
taken, and make a report of their doings to
the Honse, said committee to have power to
send for persons and papers.
In presenting the resolution, Mr.. Hutchin-
son said it was proper and right as a legislative
body to make inquiries concerning the truth Or
falsity of these reports. If true, for what pur-
pose are these enlistments being made? We
by more or less peril The question whether
or not we have laws Or State is asked If
these reports are untrue, the committee should
SO report them. If true, the parties who are
engaged in this revolutionary proceeding
should be found out and be made to suffer con-
dign punishment.
DIR. Butler regretted as much as any man
the exgencies Of the times, but he was sure
the men in authority are equal to the emer-
gency.
The resolution received passage, and the
following committee appointed:
Messrs Hutchinson of Lewiston, McKusck
of Calais, Butler of Vassaboro, ingalls, of
Wscasset Robinson of Oldtown, Lord of
Bangor, Twitchell of Bethel.
The House adjourned to Monday at II a. IN.
Gen. B. f. Harris has entered upon his du-
ties as State superintendent Of buildings and
has discharged all Fusonists.