Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-17


stake in the campaign and called the at
tention Of his audience to the necessity of
electing republican House of Represen-
tatives.
Statements Of Faets.-GOv. Plais-
ted and the Executive Council.
A correspondent Of the Boston Journal has
supplied that paper with long and thorough
article giving complete statement of facts
and precedents in regard to the issue between
Gov. Plaistsd and the Executive Council
Many Of the facts in the article have been
presented in our columns heretofore from
time to time, and are familiar to our readers.
but the following extracts will be found
worthy of their special attention.
THE MATTER OF APPOINTMENTS.
It has been proclaimed from one end of
the State to the other that the Council has
obstructed public business by refusing to
confirm the Governors nominations for i'm
portaA offices. Indeed. the stress which fus
ion organs have placed upon this matter would
give one the impression that the rejection of
nominations was the rule rather than the ex-
ceptiOn. To August lst Governor Plaisted
has made 9s3 nominations. Of these the
Council has rejected GO. The 60 nominations
rejected represent 30 different persons of
whom were republicans who had been ap-
pointed to take the places Of other republ-
cans whose terms had not expired, in accord
ancc with what appears to have been a pur-
pose to cause mischief" IA word His Excel
encs has publicly used on more than one
occasion. The only important offices that
are vacant to-day are those of one Justice of
the Supreme Court,two Municipal Judges, one
trusteeship and two Sherifs These vacan-
cies cause no interruption of public business.
The matter of-fact citizen will conclude that
a great deal of Indignation and false statement
has been wasted upon this topic. True, the
Governor claims there is vacancy in the
Office of fish commissioner. In this he is in
error. i he law provides for the appointment
of enc or two commissioners. The Governor
desires to put in one of his party friends, and
insists upon it by nominating him repeatedly.
The Council says one commissioner can per-
form the duties, and declines to confirm the
Governors partisan nomination. The game
and fishery interests of the State have net
suffered from the action of the Council in
this particular, and will not suffer.
GOVERNOR PLAisTEps COMPLAINT
The Governor, in his letter accepting the
democratic nomination, SAYS 1.-The Council
had sought to dictate appointments to office, -
and to prove it. goes on to give a report of
the committee on Reform school, where il
respectfully advised" the governor to re-
appoint Albion Little as trustee of that in
stitution. 10 is the duty of the Council TOAD
wise the Governor aud it did it in this case
in the form of report of the committee to
which nomination for that office was re-
ferred. 1t is difficult to see where dictation
comes in here.
A DENoCRAric PRECEDENT.
In 1853, Hon. W. G. Crosby, whig, was
Governor. Four of the seven members of the
Executive Council were democrats. namely.
Z. l.. Osgood of Oxford. Franklin Smith of
Somerset, A. NJ. Roberts of Bangor and AL
bert Pillsbury of Washington. Mr. Pills
bury was the democratic candidate for Gov
ernor that year. General Smith has since
been the party candidate, while Mr.. Roberts
has repeatedly declined the honor. That is.
these democratic councillors were represen-
tative party men. At one time Governor
Crosby had occasion to nominate sixteen
School commissioners, a Reform school
commission and a number of important
county officers to fill existing vacancies.
Eighteen of the nominees presented to the
Council by Governor Crosby were wing
and twelve were democrats. In presenting
the names to the Council, the Governor first
submitted the names of the wings, one by
one, and one by one the name of each whig
was rejected by the votes of the four demo
cratic councillors. For this act they were
applauded by the democratic press of the
State, while Governor Crosby was vigorous
~ assailed TOR not having sought the lad
vice. of the Council before making the nom
nations. Furthermore, these democratic
councillors were so indignant because Gov
ernor Crosby had not first consulted them
that they prepared, signed and caused the
following protest to be spread upon the re-
e09ds of the Council
THE andersigned, members of the EIeeu-
tire Couneii, not haring keen consulted BY the
Governor an relation TO the Commissioners
recently nominated by him for Office, feel it
fheir duty TO protest against their appoint
menf thereto
Particular attention is invited to this case.
The nominations were all made to fill Offices
which were vacant; the democratic councillors
had exercised their authority by rejecting
eighteen nominations, and still they were not
content. They must needs put themselves
on record a. protesting against the simple act
of nomination without previous conference
and agreement! Comment is unnecessary.
except to add that the present Council has
never assumed to go so far as to reprove Gov
Plaisted for not consulting it before making
nominations. II comedies TO the Governor
the full and free exercise of his constitutional
powers. The records of the Executive
Council present numerous instances where
councillors shave subverted popular govern
ment' by rejecting nominations. Indeed,
during most administrations such instances
are to be found. During the Garcelon
regime, Colonel Robbie, to whose influence
and contributions the establishment of the
Normal School at Gorham is largely due,
was recommended by leading men in both
parties in Cumberland county 70, . vacant
trustceship. Governor Garcelon nominated
him. but the Council rejected the nomination