The daily gazette., 1880-01-17
SECOND EDITION
The Struggle in Maine.
SMITH ELECTED GOVERNOR BY
THE FUSION LEGISLATURE.

SAGE.
AUGUSTA, Me-, January 16.-At five
O'Clock this morning the Richards Light
Infantry, of Gardiner, Me-, had orders
to appear at their armory at o'clock.
The men were gathered there at an ear
ly hour. There was no disturbance at
the State House last night. No one was
admitted without pass to-day.
At 11.60 a. IN. the House sent q mes
sage to the Senate Informing 1t that
Joseph L. Smith aud AloDzO Garcelon
had been selected as the constitutional
candidates for Governor. 1t was movt d
10 receive the message and proceed to
vote, Senator Strickland remarking that
this was legally constituted body in his
belief, but should the proposed action
be proved illegal he wished it under
stood that it would bind no one. He
was in favor of peaceful solution of the
difficulty, d and not in favor of resist
ance.
A committee was appointed to receive
sort and count the votes for Governor.
The vote resulted in the unanimous
choice of Joseph l.. Smith, IL votes being
cast.
Mr.. HoDson presented resolution re-
citing that it is The duty of Congress to
restrict the appointing power by placing
the election of POstmasters in the hands
of the people and placing the appoint
ment of other Government officers with
the Legislature of the several States
where the office is located, and take such
other immediate action as may be neces-
sary to prevent che use of money in cleo
tions, to prevent intimidation and TO Sc
cure to every person the unrestricted
right and privilege of expressing his
opinion at the ballOt-box without fear,
molestation or bribery.
In convention of both Houses of the
Legislature the following gentlemen
were chosen Executive Councillors
First district, Edwin G. Moody,of York
Second district, Charles q. Chase, of
Portland; Third district, Jonn b. Red
mon, of Ellsworth; Fourth district,
Henry II. Priest, of Vassalboro; Fifth
district, VIM. I'll. Rust, of Belfast Sixth
district, John b. Foster,of Bangor /; Sew
enth district, Charles r. Whidden, of
Calais.
OF the Councillors chosen Messrs
Moody, Chase and Foster were member
of Governor Garcelon's Council JJhn
B. Redmon is a young Ellsworth lawyer
and belongs TO the Democratic wing of
the party ; Charles r. Whidden,a "a young
man of about 80, edits the Greenback
paper at Calais, and was formerly Re-
publican; Henry II. Priest, of Vassal-
ooro, is lawyer and Greenbacker of
Republican antecedents. The seventh
man is William NJ. Rust, of Belfast. He
owns the Progressive Age, which was the
Republican organ in Waldo county until
last year, when it went into the Green
back movement. He was formerly in
the House, and has held other offices
None of the other men have had expert
ence at Augusta.
Although Joseph l.. Smith has been
chosen Governor, he will not issue any
order that will conflict with the position
of General Chamberlain. He is not a
rash man, and will see to it that his po-
sition is fully sustained by the Courts
before proceeding to action. He will |
await the decision of the Courts on the |
question before them before taking sin
Gle step that will interfere with the Or
ders of General Chamberlain. Mr..
Smith will not be recognized as Govern |
VI ny Ooutidl Sudtuuclldi1s
Both branches of the Legislature re-
assembled at 4 o'clock this afternoon. |
The committee to wait upon j. L. Smith |
and inform him of his election reported |
Mr.. Smiths acceptance to office.
Al 4:20 O'Clock a joint convention was |
held in the hall of the House for the pur-
pose of administering the oath of office, |
A committee was appointed to wait up |
on the Governor, and forthwith Mr.. |
Smith appeared accompanied by the |
heads of the departments, the outgoing |
Council and the Adjutant General. The |
oath was then admi ministered by Acting
President Ellis of the Senate after which |
a proclamation was made by the Secre-
tary of State, and Governor Smith de-
llvered message.
Another joint convention was formed |
and State officers chosen as follows p.
A. Sawyer, Secretary of State Charles
A. White, Treasurer; W. III. McClelland
Attorney General; NJ. M. Folsom, Ad-
iutant General.
Both branches adjourned until o.
clock tomorrow.
The following are the principal points
Of Governor Smiths message In open
ng it refers to the blessings which have
been conferred on the State by Provi-
ience, plentiful harvests and peace being
enumerated among them. The duty of |
the Legislature Is set forth as determined
by the rule of strict and earnest en-
deavor to comply with the will of the
people and to promote the welfare OF the |
Stale. Taking that as guide, he con-
tinues : ESQ long as we DO not seek to
evade or oppose its evident require
ments, or to exceed the power 1t has con-
ferred, we cannot go astray, or at least
be deprived of the consciousn of an
honest endeavor to subserve the best in
terests of our fellow citizens. Not hav-
ing had sufficient opportunity to exam
inc State reports, he refrains from max
ing suggestions referring to the depart
ments, but refers to the increasing de-
preston in industrial commercial and
interests. He regards the
present Improvement as but temporary,
and considers as prime evil the depres-
sion In M aine shipbuilding interests, to
which the attention of the Legislature is
invited, as well as to the down-trodden |
of the laboring classes. Among
the causes OF dissatisfa ction are over
taxation, privileged systems of finance,
admi inistratiou, subsidies for
the benefit of the few at the expense OF
the many, etc. The Legislature may
meet upon the common ground of econo-
my and retrenchment. Much was done
by the last Legislature to reduce taxation
which has become blrden on the State
and Nation"
The whole number of votes cast for
Councillors was 80, and Edward G.
Moody, of York; Charles II. Chase, of
Portland; John r. Redman, of Els
worth; Henry A. Priest, of Vassalboro;
William NJ Rust, of Bangor, and Chas.
X. Whidden, of Calais, each received 92
votes, and were declal ed ele, ted.