Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-29

amended so as to take that power fron
the Executive and confer it upon tn
people, shows that the people desired t.
control the selection ofthese local officer,
Themselves fact which should hav,
led the Governor, if he is DESTROYS O
consulting the popular will, to appoin
men whom they had approved by al
election. But His Excellency turned {
deaf ear to all such suggestions. Hun
cry political friends in crowds wer,
standing about clamorous for place ant
salary. For these twenty-five vacancies
Governor Plaisted nominated twenty.
four Fusionists and one Republican, the
latter because, incredible as it may seem
no Fusionist applied for the place. The
Council felt that this action was unfair
and in disregard Of popular sentiment,
which, as expressed in the last election,
was Republican in ten Of the sixteen
counties. The nominees for the sixteen
County Commissioners were confirmed,
all Of whom were Fusionists. This was
done because there existed a slight
doubt whether the several Boards OF
Commissioners, which by law are con-
stituted Of three men, would be legal il
composed Of but two. As county dis
bursements and assessments, the location
of roads and large financial transactions
devolve upon these boards, the Council
confirmed these nominations in order TO
close the door to all doubts and questions
relative to their validity. And yet
these Councillors are denounced as reckless
partisans, without regard to public well
fare. In regard to other county Offices,
Fusionists were confirmed in counties
where that party elected at the last
election. The law deciding the duties
of SherifFs upon Coroners in cases of
vacancy, and the Judges of the Supreme
Court having authority to appoint Clerks
of the Courts and County Attorneys
where there are vacancies, the Council
did not confirm the nominations of Fu-
sonists in Republican counties TO such
offices in seven instances. In one in
stance the Court appointed the nominee
Of Governor Plaisted for one of these
Offices. 1t would be an insult to the
good sense Of the average people to even
ask them whether the Governor or the
Council has displayed the greater regard
for the public welfare in the matter of
county appointments. On the contrary,
they will be forced to conclude that to
carry his points and to carry out his ex-
Allied ideas Of the one-man power he was,
entirely willing to run the risk of throw
ing the affairs of every county in the
State into inextricable confusion.
THE ASSAULT UPON THE JUDICIARY.
The term Of Judge Libbey of the Su-
preme Court expired last April. OF
Judge Libbey is unnecessary to speak.
He is known in every county in the
State as a high minded. dignifed, i'm
partial and learned Judge--one of those
who give character to courts
and inspire confidence and respect in the
tribunals of justice. Judge Libbey is a
Democrat of the old school, but Governor
Plaisted had marked him for slaughter,
because he had joined his associates in
decising which paralyzed the
who had determined to
overthrow popular government in Maine,
and because later he had signed an
opinion TO the effect that the Governor
IS not the entire Executive Department
Of the State. Two months before the
expiration Of Judge Libbey's term, the
Governor nominated Mr.. Putnam of
to be his successor, and
asked immediate action. To Mr.. Put
nam as a man and lawyer there
could be no objection, and under
other conditions his nomination would
have been confirmed, but the Council
ors did not propose to be instruments
Of Governor Plaisted for furnishing
high.minded Judge for discharging his
duties with independence. For the
first time in the sixty-two years which
has been State the single act of
Judge was made the real cause for
driving a Judge from the Bench. 1t
was an attack upon the independence
If the Judiciary, and if the Council
mad been in harmony with the gov
ernor, a step would have been taken
:oward making the highest court in
he State the creature of the Executive.
The Council promptly rejected the
nomination.
Long before Gov. Plaisted had made
known his purpose to rebuke Judge
Libbey, members Of the Bar and other
,itizens signed petitions addressed to
he governor and council urging his re-