Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-11-09

extra session, amounting TO the sum OF
twenty five thousand dollars, are Justly
chargeable to them.
1t was very evident on the FIRST NEE
ting oil the Senate, at the late session,
that the views and purposes Of Mr..
Madison's partisans were unal:ered. A
Committee to be Joined by the House,
was appointed tie first day of the ses-
sion 10 consider the best mode Of choos-
ins twenty-five Electors. Three of the
four appointed on The part Of the Senate
on this committee, by MIR Sprague,
(who in the absence Of MIR Dana acted
as President pro. tenn )were among the
most Jealous and avowed supporters of
Mr. Madison.
They would not meet the first day.
After consuming the second day in
hearing proposals from other members
ofthe Committee 4 report was finally a
greed upon IN favour Of choice by the
people al large, which these Senators
opposed, though they agreed that il was
too late to organize districts. When
he report was made, instead Of acting
upon it Immediately, time was assign
ed,J'it was again sent 10 a committee of
its ayowed foes without any debate or
motion to amend This committee, Of
which Col. futile was chairman, with
out any authority reported an amend
ment, proposing the old mode By Con
gressional districts, which the President
declared 10 be in order SO that il be-
came impossible to take the sense OF the
Senate upon the first report Ofcourse,
the old mode by Congressional districts
was adopted by the Senate, although it
was certainly foreseen that the House
would never agree TO it. When il retur.
ned from the House, it appeared that
they bad negatived the amendment and
adopted the original report-but it was
not without a yoioient struggle upon
question of order, that the president
would then permit the question, on con-
curing with the vote OF the House to be
taken :--standing in his place and char
ging the House and Speaker with Jes-
uitical conduct.
The question was at length taken and
carried against general ticket.
After the lapse of a day OF two Mr..
Lincoln introduced a resolution ProP0s
ing a choice by Circuit Court districts.
The federalists in the Senate, though
not satisfied with this mode-yet rather
than deprive the people of voice in the
election, agreed to it, and committee
was appointed to briAg in resolve
But the next day, when the resolve was
reported, several of those who were at
first in favor of il, voted against, for no
other reason that appeared, than the
disposition ofthe ftderalists to support
it. Mr. Foot suddenly became zeal
Gus opponent ofthe measure, though at
first he had appeared in It's support.
How much of this sudden and visible
change in the Senate is 70 be attributed
to the influence Of Gen King, who was
extremely active and known to be hos
tile TO the measure, is of little impor-
lance 10 know 1t was finally lost by q
majority of two-Col 1uule and Mr.
Sletson, both officers in the standing ar
nv, and sir. Parker son in law Of Gen
eraI Dearborn, opposing il in every
stage
The next day a number Of The Sena-
tors, sensible Of the fearful responsible
ty which they had ASSUMED became a.
harmed, and a motion YVES made 70 re-
consider the vote.-Atter many al
,empts TO battle II and 10 prevent the
question from being taken, principally
by Col Tuitle, 1t WAS reconsidercd, anC
the mode by Circuit Court districts Fl
nally adopted. In ten minutes atte
the report was presented to the Hous,
it was accepted.
One or two other examples OF TIT
conduct Of tie Senate during the LAT,
session, are marked by such proflIgau
contempt of the constitution, by SO Dol,
a determination to preserve their i'll
gotten power, At every hazard, as t
meIit brief notice.
Z he ffon. John l. futile, colone
in the standing army Of the Unite
States, deserted his regimeni-uavel
led post haste TO Boston, aud appeare'
at the Senate Board at the opening 0
the session. MIR. OTIS Immediately in
uoduced resolve declaring the seat 0
Col Tu,tle 10 be vacant, and setting
forth briefly the causes Of his disgual
iica,ion a time was assigned for IL
consideration, aud when il was callet
NJ. o.. - IL A. -. ...-IL.-l 80.