The Portland daily press., 1880-02-06
FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 6.

State militia was subjected to exceptionally
severe tests of subordination, discipline and
LOYALTY and it is in the highest degree credita-
Bile to all of our citizen soldiery, that through
out the critical period land in despite OF CON
hicting assumptions of authority that might
well have confused them), they were mistaken
in their allegiance to the constitutional au-
thorities and without regard to personal OF
political bias, held themselves constantly In
readiness to aid in unfolding the laws. Inc
soldiers discipline and patriotism lmbue MIN
with profound respect Tor law. whoever
der respects and obeys it, and, II necessary,
will see to it that others obey. With large
State In territorial extent, with great stretch
of sea coast and a long frontier line, the inter-
ests of Maine demand an efficient militia force,
not large to be kept up at great expense, but
enough to insure confidence and give security
UsURPATIoN OF POWER.
Our government is one of checks and bal
ances. 1t is divided into three departments
the executive, legislative and judicial. Each
in its own domain has duties peculiar to itself,
but each is amenable to law. For the first time
in the history of our government the Execu-
tive Department has usurped powers never
delegated to it Instead of giving expression
to the will Of the people by counting the re-
turns of votes according to law and the plain
est dictates of common sense, the attempt was
made to subvert the will Of the people, The
state into disgrace and almost revelation only
averted by the patriotic and law-abiding quail
ties of our citizens. There can be no half way
ground in regard to this great public wrong.
1t should be no question OF party but should
receive the condemnation of every honest and
patriotic citizen that it may serve as warning
in the future to those who under free gov
eminent may attempt to trample upon the
rights of the people. / would recommend an
investigation of the whole subject OF the ar
ranging, tahulating and counting the returns
of votes, that the facts so far as they be ascer-
tanned, may be made public.
CoNcLUsIoN.
In conclusion 1 congratulate you and the
people Of the state that in all the excitement OF
the past four weeks no act of violence has been
committed; that through all and over all the
majesty of the law has been sustained. Our
fathers brought to this continent two noble
principles, one the love OF liberty and the 9th
er a respect for law. These qualities working
together have built up the grandest govern
ment the world has ever known. The love of
liberty sometimes leads beyond the liberty to
do right. The respect for law checks and regu-
lates this spirit. 1t has ever been our guide in
all the history of our state, it has triumphed in
the great crisis through which we have just
passed, and it is a credit to the law-abiding
citizens of all parties that such is the case
Representative government is stronger for this
test The history of this period will mark one
of the bulwarks of constitutional liberty; it
will serve as a beacon light shining down
through the ages to keep the ship of state fro m
the reefs and rocks that lie along her course.
(Signed) DANIEL F. DAVIS.
Augusta, Feb. 5, 1880.