Report of the Joint Select Committee to Inquire Into The Condition of the Election Returns of September 8th, 1879, and the Expenditure of Public Moneys Under the Direction of Gov. Garcelon and Council, Together With the Evidence Taken Before the Committee

Augusta: State of Maine/Sprague & Son, Printers, 1880 Original brick red cloth with black decoration; gilt spine lettering. Scarce report relating to a crucial event in Maine history, made to the 59th Legislature of Maine. "The annual election for the year 1879. . . was hotly contested, and the vote thrown was the largest ever given in the State. Party feeling ran high, and the keenest interest was felt in the result. Three candidates were in the field for Governor, and, as a majority of votes is required by the Constitution, . . .it became well known soon after the election that there had been no choice by the people for Governor, and that the office must be filled by the Legislature which had just been elected." Alonzo Garcelon, elected in 1879 Governor of Maine by the legislature, served one term until 1880. This report covers a period during his term, when he was involved with the post-Civil War "greenback" controversy that was still a major political issue; he investigated alleged voter fraud and determined that the Democrats and not the Republicans had won a majority in the legislature.[ According to Wikipedia, following this decision, ". . .Senator James Blaine came to Augusta with a hundred armed men to protest the results, and Garcelon called out the state militia. Civil war was narrowly averted, thanks to the peaceful intervention of militia leader Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain."] This 838-page volume includes the testimonies of the many men--including Garcelon--who were part of the investigation, as well as numerous fold-out facsimile documents that were exhibits in the case. Moderate-to-heavy rubbing and bumping to corners, with two corners worn through to boards; spine edges moderately rubbed. Cloth at upper front board alongside spine is moderately puckered, presumably from damp exposure. Some irregular small stains to cover. Prior owner name, date, place in formal script on front endpaper; diagonal crease and tiny chips to upper front endpaper corner. Interior text clean and tight.