The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-01-20
Letter from Augusta.
Especial Correspondence Of the Journal

in the galleries. Sing lie handed and alone, Senator
Mortland of Knox, championed the cause of those
who believe that there are doubts hanging about
the question that can only be cleared away by
| resort to the highest judicial tribunal. He talked
with great sincerity and earnestness, the subject
| bringing out his fine oratorical powers to good
advantage Emery of Hancock and Blsbee of Ok
ford made the telling speeches on the other side
| pleading for obedience to the peoples expressed
will, without any bubbles technicalites. They
held that it clearly understood last summer
during the canvass, that the constitutional amend
ment was to take effect the September vote
| and that after Governor Davis had made proclama
| ton Of the result, the word ''majoritv" dropped
out of the constitution in regard to the election of
Governor, and the word plurality" was substitut-
| ed Bisbee is a convincing speaker, using plain
| language, easily understood. He looks straight
into your face while talking with such real hon
est Oxford bear expression, that you've got to be-
| leve or else get out Of his way so he won't see
| you. Emery is a lawyer of fine culture, and
| speaks with decision and great carefulness The
measure passed with a rush, md with such accel-
Grafton did it 70 down to the lower branch that it
uedIlN loon away me messenger DIedtn lndt con
yeyed it. and several vouminous speeches that had
been prepared (among them a lengthy argument
| by Strout of Portland) were nipped in the bad.
and will be sold for old paper rags at one cent per
pound The heroic eight, who stood up to be
counted, seemed like spared monuments
| Governor being declared elected, the legislators
took long breath and then up jumped Major
Dickey, who wanted to go to Bangor and take
friendly bumper with The new Governor and
moved that committee be appointed to visit Ban
gor and accompany Plaisted to the capital tel
egram. however, was made to perform that service,
and GOV Piaiseds reply that 'he should be
happy to respond
inauguration Day" dawned crsp and bright
Crowds OF people were attracted to the capitol as
| there would have been to the exhibition of Bar
| NUNS bearded lady The seating capacity Of the
hall OF the house was doubled up the aises and all
the usually spare space being supplied with chairs
| There were men in the galleries peering down
with happy expressions, who last year were in the
same positions. but with nerved arms and glazing
| cyeballs. and back Of these the determination to
! shoot down the peoples representative, their am
muntion and shooting irons being close at hand
| in the alcoves Uf the State library How, under
| Republican rule. the whole scene had changed
| Summoned to the position of the Chief Magistracy
| by the magnanimitv of the Republican party, Gen
| Piaisted on advancing up the aisle to take the
| oath Of office, not saluted by Kisses, as was
(iarcelCn a year ago, when he came forward to
swear in an illegal Legislature The oath being
administered to General Plaisted by President of
| .. .4:.
rotary Chaibourne, that Harris NJ. Plasted is Gov
| ernor and Commander in Chief of Maine, and
| should be obeycd and respected accordingly clos
Ing by very appropriately imploring Divine help
| "God Sare the Stat OF Ntute!" Had that part Of
| the proclamation been made after the reading of
the message, its force and significance would have
been more apparent. Elbrdge Gerry was
| Governor of Massachusetts. much to the distaSte
Of the stalwars Of that day He issued proclaim
alton which read by an eccentric clergy man.
WHO Had poor opinion of Gerry. When the di-
vine came 70 the usual ending-"God save the
| Commonwealth Of Massachusetts he repeated
in sarcastic tone the name of the Governor sign
ed to the proclamation-"E df,dqe GuTyt Ell
BRIDGE GERRY !! and then raising his voice.
caimed-"Go3 &tre tr CommourenHA Of NaSm
| cta,1t<,
Plaisted's message greatly pleased the conspira-
tors Of last winter many Of whom We're the
floor, Frank Fogg and Capt. Chase being in
spicuous positions but the message disguised and
shocked all fair minded and patriotic persons.
The whining. crying tone of its delivery added to
its responsiveness. When he was about to an
nounee particularly exploded and offensive
Greenback dogma he would raise his voice to
\ high pitch, gestculate, and look around to notice
the effect Of his utterauces upon his audience
leave the criticism Of the message il detail to
the editor. who will doubtless extract from the
! dreary waste Of words the one lonesome recon-
mendatlon that the name Of the Reform school be
! changed to ,ti"sttiN school, and the suggestion
| that the law providing for Imprisonment for debt
be repealed. But this latter idea is not original;
it has Been advocated by Governor Davis and
| other Republican Governors. Plaisted says that
| this law IS driving people out of the State. Sen
ator Bisbee informs me that during his thirty
years practice in Oxford county ten persons in all
! have not been imprisoned for debt, and not one
uninstly. Sheriff Libby. of kennebec county. who
| has large experience in criminal matters, bears
! the same testimony in reference to this county.
! The class Of men who would be affected by the
operations Of the law are not Of the class that
would add to the value or character of the State
Plaisted's .slaring and studied insult to the Court
is pronounced sufficiently insoent to warrant the
announcement Of impeachment proceedings. The
most Of the drivel is a rank and communistic
Greenback stump speech in the bowels OF a Gov
errors message and am safe il saying that it is
the first Governors message in Maine that the
State committee Of political party ever voted to
widely circulate a campaign document OF it
a member remarked ut is good all but the
stump speech part and with that left out there is
nothing Of it Its communistic doctrines, array
! ing class against class, are dangerous in the
IRENE; but can but think. from the expressions
on every hand. that this baneul thing will carry
its own antdote and Will disgust more voters than
it will make converts for the Greenback party.
But It is humiH ltin; in the extrone to man
| honored by the ChIet Magistracy stand up and
represent Maine before the world State Of pau
pers ana present such horrible picture Of our
condition that would be al idiot to remain
longer an inhabitant thereof if he could possibly
get away.
lhe principal portion OF tins harangue of Plais-
ted's is probably Che same speech made by him in
response to a serenade III Portland last summer
He appeared very much exhausted from the labors
of the day. Making his appearance on the balcony
of the United States Hotel, he commenced with;
"Gentlemen, am very tired tsome people call it
| By another name for have addressed three large
meetings to day, and spoken to more than five
Thousand people, devd@S tire Mo~soAd t;,,7vr,'s
| ~oqo,tS
whatever otherwise might be expected OF Gov.
Paisted he is surrounded by a hard crowd that
will hold him squarely in the Fusion traces He is
going to show his stubbornness wherever stub
bornness will avail in furnishing party capital II
has insuted his Council at the outset by the prop
ositon to GUST a worthy soldier Maj. House from