Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-04
Extracts from Governor Plaisted's
Speech at Portland, Aug. 3Oth,
as published by the Argus.

Il" occurred so frequently a it does in the
recent speech of Governor Piaissed nj Port
land, as We find il reported in the Argus
it appears but gave up the task in despair.
and concluded instead TO make fsw extracts
so that our readers might from these obtain
some idea Of the egoistic character Of the
speech.
II was up to Gorilam to-day, and made a
good speech"
Col. Robbie is ont, and FRYE is the other
Richmond who has come into the field. and
am after him."
1.-Two years ago / was before the people as
a candidate for the Office which now hold
I vas elected. have been in Office going on
two years."
There was my inaugural address. which
brought down upon my head such bitter
denunciation. l was declared to be an
agrarian q communist of the most extreme
kind, because expressed those equal prin-
ciples which characterised the doctrines of
Thomas jefferson and Abraham Lincoln"
"well, my friends. believe the people are
equal to this contest, and | said in my
inaugural address, sought to express their
sentiments, and what a rage, and what a
nOWt II caused All over view EDRidbu
II had been a republican almost from the
start Of that party and until | saw that the
republican party had departed from the great
principle upon which it was founded. the
equal principle of Thomas Jefferson and
Abraham Lincoln. was brought up at the
feet of the Jeffersonian democracy. | re-
member from a child of hearing my old
grandfather speak about Jeffersonian democ
racy Equality! Equality. Equality. that
remember, and then standing up, and of his
making me swing my crownless hat and
hurrah for Jackson"
But my inaugural address took care Of
itself It needs no defence"
'You remember two years ago that the
republican speakers denounced me and my
political friends as being in favor of the old
system Of State banks, and that was absolute.
They came together, and this republican leg
stature passed forty-fve bills to re-charter
these old banks. Thirty-one came into me
within five days. / could not keep them
longer than five days, otherwise they would
become law, without my approval, but got
thirty one and vetoed them all beginning with
the biggest, and but for the limit of five days
would have ruled them all off,"
There is the veto of the apportionment
bill. They thought would not dare take
the responsibility of vetoing it, and make my
self and my party friends responsible for an
extra session of the legislature. | was told
so by one of the committee that had charge
of this apportionment bill. At night he said
They are going to send in that bill tomorrow.
We have had it prepared for three weeks and
have kept il back: and said he. 1T is a bill
of abomlnation and hope you will veto the
whole damn thing"
what is there in nv administration which
is in issue, with which they can go before the
people and demand that should be defeated?
Well, my friends, there is a conflict with the
Council. invoke the closest scrutiny and
examination of every act in my public life
since | have been Governor. | welcome
discussion"
lone day called up the nomination of
Mr.. True as trustee of the Reform School,
presented it for their advice and good sense;
my friend Col. Barker said We'll. didn't we
reject his nomination. Yes, but l renom-
mate him."
at belongs to me to name the man, not to
the Council, hence renOminated him.
~ said nothing. l was not going to discuss
it. | listened. When he got through with
his lecture, said to the secretary, Call the
roll They did so, and True wss~cejected.
Then called up the nominatjn~ Lit
tle.' ~
"They wanted time to get a feettaf from
Mr.. Little declining the nomination. re
fused. for that would have been an admission
that was simply presiding officer
II thought l had stood about enough of it.
And | said. Gentlemen, this Council stands
adjourned without day. That was all l said.
and as quietly as l have said it here. did
not wish to adjourn them without their con-
sent; but knew / had the power to do it
and that was sufficient provocation. could
not allow them-I could not recognize that
claim that the Governor was simply pre-
siding officer"
81 did not regard the constitution from
their standpoint"
81 nominated Mr.. True. They said, 'No
take Mr.. Little l nominated Mr.. Smith for
Ash commissioner. They said, No, take Mr.
Stilwell.' | nominated large number oi
county officers-Mr. Foss among them, sheriff
of Androscoggin. They said, No, take Mr..
Little; he is a better man.
"You can see why this conflict has arisen,
and because would not yield to the dicta
ton of the Council AMI appoint the men OF
their choice, they say the Office shall not be
filled at all
VERY WE'LL said l, you may divide your
salary with him, but you cannot have the ex-
penses of your appointee paid out of the pub
lie treasury And refused to draw a war
rant"
81 had rot been in the executive chair
twenty minutes before an order intro
troduced, appointing House messenger to
act as my private secretary"
Il said to the Councillors. 1T is a surprise
to me; l don't understand it; l hadn't any
suspicion of that kind certainly claim thai
the Governor should be consulted"
Il told them then and there, at that first
meeting. l did not deprecate the fact that
differed in politics, but did claim the right
to have something to say-to have the right
to select a messenger. / had no intention OF
selecting any one not agreeable to them had
no thought Of it."
II asked that the order might lie on the
table"
II said should not approve It."
"why, gentlemen, l didn't ask to be
counted in as Governor: was not there;
would not talk about it; would not go to
Augusta"
II went into the executive chair--the ex-
ecutive room., had not been there FIVE min
utes before these Councillors came in to pay
their respects to the office. One of the Coun-
cillors did not come in, he staid outside.
saw him."
"Now that was the spirit in which was
met,
These are the words, with that spirit
was met by the leader of the council, the