The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-30
rConeord Monitor.I

Bigger than the Court
The United States House of Representatives
at one time boosted doorkeeper who was "a
bigger man than old Grant" Maine goes one
better, and has a man who is bigger than the
Supreme Court. At the time of his inaugura-
ton, Governor Plaisted took occasion to inform
the Legislature, that an opinion by the Court
was worth as much as the opinion Of any other
seven respectable men, and was no more bind
ing upon any other branch of the Government.
Since then he has repeatedly demonstrated
that his course ia guided by these sentiments.
Several months ago he attempted to remove
from office the Reporter of Decisions OF the SUI
preme Court. The Council objected 20 this
proceeding; and on making due inquiry of the
Court, that body informed them that the Gov
ernor could not remove an officer without their
consent. The Governor thinks he knows bet
ter, and though Col. Spaulding is still recog-
nized by the Council and by the Court. and
continues to perform the duties of his office,
the Governor declares that he is no officer, and
refuses to sign warrant whereby he may draw
his salary The valiant Executive keeps at
LEAST two other officers from their wages, pre-
sumably to establish the proposition, not that
presidents shall be followed and the mandates
of the Court obeyed, for his act is wholly un-
precedented and the Court is deied, but that
Harris FL. Plaisted is bigger than the Supreme
Court of Maine.
The attitude Of Names Governor would be
ludicrous, were it not serious But it may we'll
give concern when considered in connection
with the history which the Executives OF some
of the Southern States have made, and along
side of the recent scandalous conduct of Gov
ernor Crittenden, of Missouri, for it reveals y
dangerous and pernicous doctrine which is by
lfrAd RI ha m n
heart and bgoted head of Governor Plaisted,
neither to few individuals nor narrow sections.
There is All element in our country, not mean
in size, whatever it may be in quality, which
despises law and sneers at constitutional re-
straints. This element does not lack for leaders
or apostles, and occasionally, as in the case we
are considering, and now with alarming fire.
quency I'm unpropitious wave sweeps one of
these to the 'front.' 1t would be far from the
truth to say that such men represent the aver
age sentiment of the communities in which
they live; yet they have following, an in
creasing following, and their exalted positions
give them DO yer to win converts; and the con
yerts to their DEGREES are by no means meas
ured by the additions to their personal follow
ing e., - .a,L - a,;h,n - .ho uo,t,,
lessness of the solemn opinions of our courts,
are enemies to the State. They are scattering
firebrands sowing the wind-and the whirl-
wind shall be reaped The peace OF the State
the security of property, the safely OF life, are
all in the Keeping of this same court. Better a
corrupt court submitted to than an upright
one ignored. The people will correct the
former; the latter is evidence of rottenness at
heart, of cutting away from all safeguards,
and counting anarchy. Maine has judiciary
as able and as virtuous as has any State in the
Union. She has people as honest and as in
telligent as ever sprapg from Puritan stock.
We cannot doubt bnt that she will set the seal
of her condemnation upon this pestilent doc
trine, and send to the rear this man who dis
graces her by forgetting his oath and Wanting
himself to be the State.