Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-03
F06e AND BLOOD FOR WAR.
Good Reason Why Gorernor Darts
Called Out the Militia.
READ, READ! READ,.,

q. Where do you reside:
\. Boston.
q. And what is your business?
\. Editorial writer and correspondent on
the Herald.
o. And were YOU in this state at any time
during the early part of the year or the last
part of the year 1879:
4. Yes. about the last two weeks in Janu-
airy in the city of Augusta representing the
Herald.
Q. DO you know Joseph L. Smith of Old
town:
A. Yes, sir.
q. And at the time when you were here
did you meet him:
A. met him several times, obtained in
terviews with him.
q. And at those several times when you
met him did you have conversation with him
about various matters?
A. Yes, sir, regarding the political stua-
ton and especially with regard to this enlist
ment of troops which interested more than
anything else, of course.
q. And will you please state the CONVEX
sation YOU had with him and the information
you derived from him in reference to the en-
listnlent of troops or the use of any force:
A. Yes; | will particularize one special
evening, because that was more important
than any think. That was the evening,
think. of Tuesday, the eth Of January, when
the news first came of the decision of the
supreme court, the second decision. | gave
Major Smith his first information of this sec
ond decision.
O. That was really the third decision. the
answer to the Fusion Committee, wasn't 1t!
A. Yes, perhaps it wa. That was the
very last decision.
O. 1t was really the third. Gov. Garce-
Ion had one?
A. Oh, yes, had forgotten that. On that
evening Major Smith said in substance :;
Some day the secret history of this thing
will come out, and it will be seen that have
acted like conservative man." (These are
just his words.) "Only to-day was visited
BY IA delegation from neighboring county
and asked to authorize the bringing of
thousand armed men to. this city for the purpose
of capturing the state house. And this very
night TUESDAY the 9th Of january | was
labored with by certain men to con-
sent to a plan which hardly could
have failed to put us in the state
house before Thursday night the 18th of
January, tive days later. IL refused to en-
terrain the plan. Had the court recognized
our government is the legal one | should
have taken the necessary steps to enforce
its authority" Maj. Smith then said that he
thought he was entitled to the respect Of con-
servative men, for he had resisted the intense
pressure upon him by the radical men of his
party, and had been censured by them for the
conservative course which he had pursued.
He also said if he hadn't held back the reck-
less adventures whom he named as Fogg
and Blood. men who had no stake in the
community, no property, who were simply adj
venturers--he spoke OF them twice adven-
turers-if he hadn't held them back there
would have been civil war. He said they
were ripe for it. He said they had nothing
to lose and everything to gain.
q. And he mentioned Fogg and Blood?
A. Yes, he mentioned Fogg and Blood
We talked about them, and he said it to me.
OF course knew him, as an old citizen of
Bangor. living in Bangor, and he talked
rather freely with me about it.
Q. By Mr.. Lord You had lived in Ban
gor.
4. Yes. ! was born and reared there. In
previous interviews Maj. Smith told me that
the fusonists had several thousand men
armed and equipped, who had been enlisted
throughout the state and organized into
companies. And he said that he could throw
into Augusta within "a hours certainly 1000
men, provided with ammunition for several
DAYS and rations. He also stated he had re-
ceived tenders of troops from other states
amounting in number from three to five
thousand men, and that these men
were armed and equipped. He would
not state definitely what organiza-
tons they were. | tried to find out
from him whether he meant the 9th Mass
Regt which is known as an Irish regiment;
but he would not say. And l asked him if
they were socialists, and he would not COM
nit himself on that point, was rather anIbig
uous. He was especially emphatic when he
stated to me the fact that he had been pur-
suing conservative policy trying to gain his
ends by methods of law. and not by force ::
but he said there was large and dangerous
faction, characterized them as a dangerous
faction in his party, who would be willing to
precipitate civil war. And as for himself he
said he was going home and mind his own
business and leave politics. That is about
in substance whot he told me. If amplified
it it would not be any more to the point.
Q. By Mr.. Hutchinson. That is the
substance you now reeollect of what he told
you of the matter?
4. Yes, sir.
q. And very much of it is almost in his
own words?
Q. Almost in his own words.
Q. You took it down at the time?
A. Yes, sir; by the way. he authorized
mt W hiih ds as WIS UeCSs-
sary, because he wanted to have what he said
go out with some authority. That is, he
wanted to have one with whom he could talk
and then he would know il would be all
right. and submitted the paper to him most
every day. when there was anything in il.
and he never found any fault.
Q. Did you cause this statement to be
published in the Boston Herald?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Substantially as You have stated it?
A. Substantially as have stated it. al
most in the same language.
q. Did YOU submit that TO him afterwards
do you remember
A. Tuesday.
z. Did you submit it to him afterward. or
did you submit to him what you had written
down before il was sent:
A. | didn't submit it to him, but he said
he would rely upon me not to misrepresent
him, and there never was any question about
it.
O. The statement published in the Herald
was never mentioned TO your knowledg bv
him.
A. No. sir. In fact. he suggested to me
that | see him perhaps few months later.
when he would have large amount of docu
mentary evidence. which would 60 to show
that he had resisted the opportunities of
those factionists who wished to bring about
hostility in the state He said he nould d,