Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-01-14
The Situation in Maine.

Order-loving, and law-abiding peo-
pie hoped that when the Legislature
of M:.ine came to be organized, which
should have been done last Wednes
day, that Garcelon, the Democratic
Governor, would not persist in his
course of usurpation, but that he
would heed the opinion of the Su-
preme Court of the State, and recall
the certificates OF election that he
and his council had issued to as many
Democrats and fusionists as they
thought necessary to count in Dem
ocratic Governor. But IN that hope
the country has been disappointed
He spurned the opinion Of the Su-
preme Court, and convened his Leg
islature on Wednesday, on his own
plan, which was directly opposed to
the way pointed out by the Su-
preme Court, and the majority of
the people; but the result was any
thing but satisfactory to the usurp
er. A number of members that
had been counted in, We're too high
toned to be the instrument of
fraud. and would not act with the
Governor The usurper and his
friends tried to break the force or in
fiuence of the men who refused to
work with the Governor in his scheme
of revolution, by declaring that they
had been bought over by the Repub-
icans but that dodge failed. They
then declared that two other fusion
lists had been offered $1,000 each by
a Republican :awyer-White by name
to come over to the Republican
side. Mr.. White, as the Indian says,
has put on the paint, and viii show
that these charges are black charges.
During the confusion that ensued the
great body of the Republicans kept
away from the State House, and the
Democrats and fusionists had not the
necessary number TO organize and count
in their Governor. Garcelon's usurpa-
tiOn still did not work satisfactorily,
and when the time came for the new
Governor to take his seat, the new Gov
ernor had not been named by the Leg
islsture. and the State was without a
Chief Executive. BY virtue of the
Constitution of Maine when the Office
OF Governor becomes vacant the Presi-
dent of the Senate becomes Governor.
However, In this case when GarcelOn
retired from the office, on Wednesday,
be handed The Government of State
over to General Chamberlain, command
Ell of the military forces of the Com
monwealth. The General held the
State House, and Democrats and fu-
siouists we're al sea from Wednesday to
Saturday, doing their best to organiza
and carry out the programme of the
usurper Garcelnu.
Oa Sunday the President Of the Sen
ate-James d. Lamson-exPressed a
willingness to exercise the office OF
Governor, as provided BY the COnstitu
ton of the State for cases of vacancy
10 the gubernatorial chair.
On Mondsy evening at 6 o'clock,
when the fusionis.s were out, the Re
publican Senators and Republican Rep
resenta,ivss went TO the State House,
tock their seats, aud proceeded to or
gauize the Legislature. The President
of the Senate called oD General Cham
berlain 20 use the military to put out
such people as crowded into the cham
ber, but he replied that his duty is
simply to preserve the peace and take
care of the public property.
Both houses appointed committees to
ask the opinion Of the Supreme Court
touching the legality OF the Legislature
as just organized.