The Portland daily press., 1882-01-18
TIE PRESS.
A Chapter of History.
GOV. Crosby and His Hostile Council.
Bangor Whig.)

en- from the circumstances Vi DdNADS O 0of0A
nor and Executive Council politically opposed
an especial interest attaches at this time to the
record of events at former period when the
two branches of the Executive Government
were in similar political antagonism.
At the State election in 1862 for Governor,
John Hubbard, Democrat, who had held the
Office from 1850, received Al 1893 votes; William
G. Crosby, Wing, 29,127; Arson G. Chandler,
Anti-Maine-Law q, 774; Ezekiel Holmes, Free
Soil, l,617; and there were 1870 scattering. No
candidate having majority there was no
choice by the people. Owing to various causes
in that breaking-up period, the Wings had
elected a majority of the Senate, and when the
names of Hubbard and Crosby were sent up
from the House, Jan. "a, 1854, Crosby was
chosen Governor by II votes over Hubbard who
Received ID. In the House the minority in OPP
position to the Democrats was also strong John
G. Talbot, Democrat, being elected Speaker by
only SO votes to 65 for Noah Smith, Wing;
and when it came to the election of Executive
Councillors in joint convention mixed ticket
was chosen consisting of three Wings: Samuel
p Shaw, of Waterville, Thaddeus Weeks OF
Jefferson, William L. Buxton, of North Var
mouth, and four Democrats: Edward L. Os-
good of Fryeburg, Amos M. Roberts of Bangor
Franklin Smith, of N Anson, and Albert
Pilsbury, o. Machias.
There was thus similarity to the present
conditions in the choice by the Legislature OF
q Governor politically opposed to the majority
Of the legislative branch, and an Executive
Council controlled by the Governors political
opponents.
The Senate was controlled b. the Wings,
with Hon. Samuel Butman, of Plymouth, as
President and Hons. Newell Blake, of Oldtown
and Franklin Muzzy, of Bangor, as his COL
leagues from Penobscot Insthe House, which
was Democratic, were such Wings as William
Pitt Fessenden and John NJ. Wood, of Port
land, Freeman II. Morse, of Bath, Hiram G.
Berry, of Rockland Noah Smith, Jr, of Calais
james w. North, of Augusta, Waldo t.
Pierce, and j. B. Hill, of Bangor; with such
Democrats as Joseph Titcomb, of Kennebunk,
Hamilton Joy, of Ellsworth. John G. Talbot,
of Lubec ARENAS Libbey, of Albion, Geo. P.
Sewall, of Oldtown Joseph w. Eaton, of Ply
mouth and Isaac w. Tabor, of Houlton. But
the events we desire TO recall at this time are
more directly connected with the Executive
Department.
nized his peculiar position in a very different
spirit from that manifested by Governor
Plaisted. He said: "The peculiar circumstan-
ces under which am called by your voice 90
the Chief Magistracy of the State, must con-
stitute my apology for this public expression of
the earnest hope cherish, that however dis
cordant our views may be upon the questions
heretofore at issue between the great political
parties of the Nation, our councils and acts
here may be in harmony" The contrast does
L ~ &1,.,&n
nor Crosby opened war Immediately with his
Council by demanding that they should elect
his own son as their Messenger in place of the
men of their choice In fact Governor Crosby
seems to have been disposed to recognize that
the Council had some Constitutional and po-
litical rights and authority in connection
with the exercise of the appointing power.
In 1852 the Legislature passed an act author
izing the Governor and Council to appoint an
nually a Commissioner of Common Schools in
each County, and in 1858 Resolve was passed
authorizing the Governor and Council 10 ap-
point Committee of three persons to consider
the subject of establishing State Normal
School. On the 4th of May, 1868, Governor
Crosby made quite a'large number of nomina-
tons tolI the offices, also two Inspectors of State
Prison, five Trustees of Reform School, two
Trustees of Insane Hospital. three Sheriffs,
two Registers of Probate, aud one Police Judge,
making thirty-one names in all, comprising
men of both parties including Joseph w.
EabOU, D6DoCfdb, Ol 1lyIuOutlly lOT OncTlu Vi
Penobscot County, to take the place of the in
cumbent who belonged to another wing OF the
Democracy. Some of the Wing papers critl-
cised Governor Crosby for appearing to diserim-
mate between factions OF the opposition by ap-
pointing Democrat of one stripe to displace a
Democrat of another stripe, and the Bangor
Mercury criticised him for being too liberal in
nominating Democrats. On this point the Ban
gor Democrat vigorously Joined issue, and We
call especial attention to the views expressed
tions of the Governor and the Council to APP
pointments TO office. In an editorial aroicle of
May TO- 1853 after quoting the Mercury's re-
marks, the Democrat expressed itself in the
words which we quote precisely, as follows
Bangor Democrat. May 10, 1881
"What will the Mercury have? What can it ex-
poet? Mr.. Cro,by Is a minority Governor, and was
eleci ed by uominally Democratic Legislature. A
majority of his Council are Democrats ana have the
constitutional power to veto all nominations made
by him. Ii is necessary to fill the offices when va
csneies occur And is it surprising that under such
circumstances he should nominate some Democrats?
Would it not be very extraordinary if he refused to
do 1t, aud began quarrel with his Council? When
Gov. Lincoln, Democrat, and one of the most pop
Federal or Wing Council, he nominated a
batch of Sheriffs, half of them Democra S
and the other half Federalsts ami his Council CON
hrmed those of their own kidney and rejected the
Others The Mercury would have The Governor act
now upon the principle that the Council did then
to koto only has oscn party friends, Who are they?]
him. 1t would be fine state of things truly to have
no Sheritfs, Judges and other officers in the State
the Constitution and laws require, on account of
quarrel between the Governor and Council. :
of the thirty nominations made to fill the vacan-
cies on eight are Democrats, small proportion
tainly as the Governor is only b alf the appoint
ing pos er. Considering the situation of things it
is The Democrats who have cause to complain, not
the Wigs.
1t would be difficult to frame declarations
more applicable to the present situation, or to
mt -dau q mar off ind frna
Governor Paisted's reckless partisanship than
is furnished by the voice of the old Bangor
Democrat Would it not be extraordinary"
says that paper, ''if the Governor refused to-
nominate some members OF the party to which
the Council belong. That is just the extraord-
mary attitude Governor Pasted has stubbornly
maintained. The Democratic organ of Eastern
Maine then asked in establishment if Cover
nor with Council politically opposed to him
could be expected to take the extraordinary
ground that in nominating to office he would
"KI ow only his party friendsl" Yet that as
tonishing course has been persistently adhered
to by Governor Plaisted. The Democrat then
fully recognized that the Council had the
constitutional power to veto all nominations
and fully assuming that a Democratic Council
would certainly assert its power against an at
tempt at political prescription, it declared sit
would be q fine state of things truly to have nc
sheriffs, judges and other officers in the State
rs the Constitution and laws require on account
Of quarrel between the Governor and Coun-
CLIP Yet that is just the state of things we
should have if the Republican Council had been
as regardless as Governor Plaisted of the pub.
lie interests in the various countiss. We ad-
wise him to cut out that editorial of the Demo
crat aud pin it in his hat.
But there is another interesting lesson in this
chapter of history. Governor Crosby presented
his batch of nominations, tbirty-one III all, CON-
prisipg twenty Wings and eleven Democrats
including such prominent Democratic leaders
as John w. Dana, John M. Adams, now OF the
. Argus. Geo. f. Talbot, Joseph w. Eaton, and
others. The cases were brought before the
Council for action on the 18th of May, 1858
and there were rumbling indications of com
ing storm. Some of the cases over which there
was likely to be no dispute were disposed
of first, and four Wings and four Democrats
were confirmed. Then came the names of the
Normal school Committee and the County
Commissioners, and as the names of the Wing
nominees were read the Democratic ligh thing
began 10 strike and did not stop until fourteen
Wings had been rejected by the votes of the
four Democratic Councilmen. Among tn ose
thus rejected we're Caleb B. Lord, of Limerick
Mark III. Dunnell, of Hebron, lothian Donnell
of Houlton, Ephraim Flint, of Dover, and
others Of equal prominence. AS soon as the
slaughter of all his own political friends had
been completed Governor Crosby Withdrew the
seven remaining Democratic nominations, in.
cluding that of Mr.. Eaton, of this County who
has recently been thrust aside by Gov
Plaisfed,