514 



MAINE. 



MARYLAND. 



and fidelity with which he is' discharging his duty as 

 Governor of Maine, giving careful personal attention 

 to the various institutions and departments of the 

 State, seeking equitable administration to the extent 

 of his constitutional powers, is entitled to the con- 

 fidence of his fellow-citizens, and to their cordial and 

 united support in September for reelection. 



The following additional resolution, submit- 

 ted by a delegate after the platform had been 

 adopted, was accepted without debate : 



Resolved, That we recognize not only the correct- 

 ness of the principle but the importance and neces- 

 sity of judicious prohibitory liquor laws, believing 

 them to be superior to any plan of license or local 

 option, and that the enactment, maintenance, and 

 enforcement of such laws is a duty which we owe to 

 the people. 



The Democratic State Convention was held 

 in Portland, on the 23d of June. There were 

 422 delegates present. There was some speech- 

 making, in which the shortcomings of the Re- 

 publican party were severely criticised and the 

 prohibitory liquor law denounced. Joseph Tit- 

 comb, of Kennebunk, was nominated by ac- 

 clamation as the candidate for Governor, and. 

 the folio whig series of resolutions was adopted : 



Resolved, That an inflated and irredeemable paper- 

 currency is among the worst evils that can afflict a 

 community. It enables cunning and unscrupulous 

 speculators to rob producers of the fruits of their 

 labors, and afflicts every reputable business with 

 the peril of continual panic and disaster. We re- 

 gard a currency based on specie redemption as the 

 only one upon which the business of the country 

 can be safely transacted, and hold that we should 

 as rapidly as possible approximate to such a circu- 

 lating medium. 



Resolved, That a protective tariff is a most unjust, 

 unequal, oppressive, and wasteful mode of raising 

 the public revenues. It is one of the most preg- 

 nant and fruitful sources of the corruptions in 

 administration. We, therefore, the Democracy of 

 Maine, in convention assembled, declare for free 

 trade, and in favor of an unfettered and unrestricted 

 commerce. 



Resolved, That the recent action of the Eepubli- 

 can majority of the United States Senate iu attempt- 

 ing to revive the worst features of the sedition 

 law of John Adams's Administration, and to estab- 

 lish a censorship of the press of the country at the 

 Federal capital, declares a purpose to silence all 

 criticism of the conduct of public men, and as such 

 demands the severest condemnation of every free- 

 man in the land. 



Resolved, That the framers of our Constitution 

 erected a system of government, the corner-stone 

 of which was local control of local affairs, which 

 for nearly a century held the States in the Union 

 as harmoniously as the planets hold their places in 

 the heavens, and it is among the gravest offenses 

 of the Republican party that it has wantonly over- 

 awed and prostrated the governments of several of 

 the States. 



Resolved, That the civil service of the Govern- 

 ment should be performed by those who are found 

 to be best qualified therefor ; and there is seen in 

 the recent action of the Republican Congress on this 

 subject a humiliating confession that the party in 

 power cannot dispense with the prop afforded by 

 public plunder. 



'Resolved, That the undeniable corruptions per- 

 vading all departments of the General Government 

 are of themselves ample arguments against the con- 

 tinuance of the present party in power, and proof 

 that it deserves the righteous indignation of the peo- 

 ple. 



Resolved. That in the Hon. Joseph Titcomb, of 

 Kennebunk, our nominee for Governor, we have a 

 statesman of eminent ability^ integrity, and purity 

 of character, whose political views are moulded after 

 the model of the Democratic fathers of the repub- 

 lic, and as such we commend him to the suffrages of 

 the electors of Maine. 



The canvass for the election of Governor 

 was a very quiet one. The election occurred 

 on the 13th of September. The whole number 

 of votes cast for Governor was 94,865, of which 

 Dingley received 53,131 and Titcomb 41,734, 

 making the former's majority 11,397. His ma- 

 jority in 1873 was 15,558, and that of Perham, 

 in 1872, 17,216. Five representatives in Con- 

 gress were chosen, all Republicans, as follows : 

 First district, John H. Burleigh, by a majority 

 of 1,470 over Bion Bradbury; second district, 

 Wm. P. Frye, by a majority of 2,415 over Philo 

 Clark ; third district, James G. Blaine, by a ma- 

 jority of 2,830 over Edward K. O'Brien ; fourth 

 district, Samuel F. Hersey, by a majority of 

 2,953 over Gorham L. Boynton; fifth district, 

 Eugene Hale, by a majority of 2,469 over Chas. 

 A. Spofford. A large share of interest was 

 taken in the election of members of the Legis- 

 lature, as the duty of electing a United States 

 Senator was to devolve on that body, and a 

 good deal of activity was displayed by those 

 who favored Hannibal Hamlin for reelection, 

 and those who were opposed to him in his own 

 party. The Legislature, as chosen, consisted 

 of 28 Republicans and 3 Democrats in the 

 Senate, and 95 Republicans, 51 Democrats, and 

 5 Independents, in the House. A strong ma- 

 jority was in favor of Mr. Ilamlin's reelection. 



MARYLAND. The biennial session of the 

 General Assembly of Maryland began on the 

 7th of January, and came to a close on the 6th 

 of April. One of the first acts was the elec- 

 tion of a United States Senator, to succeed the 

 Hon. William T. Hamilton, and to serve for 

 the full term of six years, beginning March 4, 

 1875. A viva-wee vote was taken in each 

 .House, and the result announced next day in 

 a joint convention of the two Houses. "William 

 Pinkney Whyte, Governor of the State, was 

 chosen, receiving 22 votes in the Senate to 2 

 for R. J. Bowie, and 51 votes in the House to 

 8 for "Washington Booth, 5 for R. J. Bowie, 

 4 for Lloyd Lowndes, 3 for S. Teackle Wallis, 

 1 for William T. Hamilton, and 1 for Frederick 

 Stone. Governor Whyte resigned the office 

 of Governor, his resignation to take effect on 

 the 4th of March. The election of a Governor 

 to fill the vacancy devolved on the General 

 Assembly, acting in joint convention, and their 

 choice fell on James B. Groome, a member of 

 the House of Delegates, who received 75 votes 

 to 18 for John E. Smith, who was the candi- 

 date of the Republican members. Mr. Groome 

 was inaugurated on the 4th of March. 



One of the most important acts of the Legis- 

 lature was the passage of a new registration 

 law. The officers of registration, who are ap- 

 pointed by the Governor, with advice of the 

 Senate, for every polling-district in the State, 



