Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-14
Governors Message.
Continued from first page. !

cept to force. The Governor and Council
NAV err in certifying who appear to be
elected members of the Legislature the Leg
slature NAV err in determining who is elect
ed Governor: but in either case, there is no
appeal except to force. SO. possibly. either
of these Departments in the discharge of
their official duties. may act corruptly and
fraudulently, and decide in favor of a candi-
date not elected; vet there is tho appeal ex-
cept to force. All possible frauds that may
Thus he committed. better be borne for time,
than to plunge the State into the horrors of
civil war.
The provision of our constitution which
permits the Executive OF Legislature to call
upon the Court on any occasion, solemn or
otherwise, for its opinion. seems to me as
wrong in principle, as dangerous in practice.
Under this provision. questions are referred
to the Court not for decision, only for opin-
ions, which the Executive or Legislature may
take for what they are worth, follow them or
disregard them at will as has sometimes hap
pened in our history. II these opinions are
to be regarded as decisions binding the cum
science and free will of the other branches of
The government. where is the boosted indie
pendence of these coordinate branches, which
has ever been deemed the peculiar beauty
of our system and as fundamental as the re-
served rights of the State?
As the Court has not the responsibility of
deciding such questions. its opinions partake
Of the character Of opinions generally. We
all know how cheap our opinions are when
we are not responsible for them. We never
know quite what we ought to do, any more
than what we can do. until brought face to
face with our responsibilities. For respon-
sibility is the true inspirer that gives us wis
dom and courage equal to our day,-the wis
dom 10 discern the path of duty and the
courage to pursue it.
In the Constitutional Convention of 1897,
John Adams proposed to engraft upon our
National Constitution this provision of his
own State constitutiou--whence we derived il
but fortunately for the Republic his PROPOSE
ton was rejected. Il in an evil moment, it
had been adopted. can it be doubted that
our constitution would have contained dan
gerous if not fatal, protision that the Su-
preme Court would have become the over
shadowing power in the Government. and in
the hands of weak or wicked President.
been used to sustain Executive usurpations,
destructive Of the Government itselfs
1t NAV be asked. is there, then, no remedy
against possible fraud and corruption, in mat
tiers of such vital importance? Yes, wait for
the righteous and certain vengeance of the
ballot box; and As to the guilty perpetrators
of the fraud-traitors TO public trHst-4et
their punishment be As swirl as was his. Of
old, who laid his hand upon the Ark of the
Covenant.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBr.
The increase of population in this State
during the last decade is between three and
four per cent This increase, for the most
part is limited to two counties, Androscog-
gin and Aroostook. and 10 due chiefly to the
manufacturing interests Of the one, and the
agricultural, attractions of the other. Thou
sands of our citizens have LEFT the State, dur
ing the decade, to escape their burdens Of
debt and taxation, hoping to better their
chances in q new country.
Why is ii that the VESTS making such
drafts upon our population, upon the bone
and muscle and intelligence Of our State. A
prosperous people do not emigrate: only
those who are in dietress. This Is true Of
emigration from one State to another as we'll
As of emigration from the old countries to
this.
One of the most efficient causes tending to
drive citizens ftom the State, 10 the Law of
imprisonment for debt, as all must admit Who
know anything Of its operation. This Law Is
made the means Of great oppression. De-
mands are cut up into small amounts, ten or
fifteen dollar notes given. execution taken
ont upon each. and the debtor is pursued.