Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-06
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY TRIUMPH
ANTI
THE BALLOT Box !!-LIBER-
YIN DANGER 1.-THE GOVERNOR AND
Council STAND BEFORE THE PEOPLE
SELF-CONyIcTED OF PERJURY

SELF-CONyIcTED OF PERJURY!!!!
II there were any doubts in the minds OF
honest men in relation to conspiracy to
overthrow the resuls Of the ballot, recent
Developments must have removed those
doubts. 1t is . well settled principle in
law, "that no man can take advantage OF
his own wrong doings." Let US examine
the conspirators In the light Of recent de-
velepoments (and more startling ones are
yet to follow the form of Blanks sent out
to cities, as given in your last issue, was
calculated and intended to mislead. The
exultation In few days over the declara-
ton that the cities had fallen into the trap,
which could only have been known by
clandestinely opening the returns, in direct
violation OF the Constitution; the offered
bets by the Fusion leaders, that j. l.. Smith
would be the next Governor the assembling
OF the Governor and Council, and their
ties to examine the returns for six weeks
after they were declared open; the refusal
to obey the laws upon the Statute Book;
their taking advantage Of every technical
error where it counted against the Repub-
licans, and entirely ignoring them, where
it was damaging to the Fusionists; the
issuing Of summonses to quorum of Fu-
sion Representatives in defiance OF laws
which have been on the Statute Books
since Maine was State; trampling under
foot the Constitution and setting aside the
decisions Of the Supreme Court; the decla-
rations Of the Governor in Fusion gath
ering at Augusta; the placing Of cannon,
as menace, at the head of a political news
column, by the leading Fusion paper Of the
State; the more recent attempt to remove
arms and munitions of war from the arse
nal at Bangor to Augusta; form chain
of circumstances so conclusive that any
jury in New England would convict the
parties engaged without leaving their
seats. The Governor in his letter of de-
fense parades Sect. 20, Chap. 1, of Revised
Statutes to justify throwing out the Re
publican vote Of Skowhegan, and like his
great prototype, when he quoted scripture,
stopped, when the quotation was against
shall be received at any election Of State
or town officers, unless in writing or print
ing upon clean white paper, without any
distinguishing mark or figures thereon, be-
sides the names Of the persons voted for,
and the offices to be filed, but no vote shall
be rejected on this account after 1t has been
received into the ballot-box." The Cover
nor and each Councillor before he enter
upon the discharge Of his duties, has to
swear that he will support the Constitution
of the United States and Of the State and
all the Id,cs OF this State. But here Is
plain provision Of law, backed by the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court 81 Me. COZ
disobeyed, defed, set at naught, by the
very men who have sworn in the presence
Of men, "angels and High Heaven" that
they will obey all the laws. Are they not
guilty Of perjury as well as conspiracy
Again take the case Of Durham, Lisbon
and Webster. The Governor and Coun-
Gil decide that the names OF all the Select
men in Lisbon are written by one man, and
the same in Webster, Notwithstanding
each OF the officers swear that he signed
with his own hand in open town meeting,
and the summons is issued to the Fusion
candidate. Again take the case OF Cherry
field these wise men decide that the Fusion
candidate must have the summons, because
they allege that one of the Selectmen was
born in New Brunswick, and although he
moved to Maine when boy, and has held
many offices Of honor and trust In his
town since he arrived Of age, they declare
him an alien, aud in face Of the decision OF
the Court that when one OF board OF Sc
lectmen Is disqualified by being ineligible
to the Office, he may sign with the others
and not vitiate their doings, 60 Me. 5sl.
In Farmington the Clerk followed the ex-
act letter Of the law. but the Republican
candidate must be slaughtered, as the Fu-
sion candidate was needed to constitute
quorum in the organization. Thus
might 90 over the whole list and show
that the action ofthe Governor and Coun-
Gil Is against law, against the Constitution.
against good morals. But will close this
already too long article by saying: that
the loyal people Of Maine, who made such
sacrifices of blood and treasure to save the
integrity Of the Nation, will derise ,cays
and furnish means to save the liberties OF
the State. ENOCH w. WOODBURY..