Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-26
MAINE CONVENTION.
Wedaeslgv, De-. 9.
The Hon. Judge Sebbi,s mov 4 toi. leave Il
h've entered on the journals the following

4 ThO E.o .
III Contention Of Delegates, az B,ynsaick, Oct
| Q, 1916.
! beins convened in The first assembly called in
| "aiHc' 20 deliberate on the momentous subject OF
10 ming the y strict In;o a separate State su.iect
| IN winch all the members Of tie convention have
| IKE rights, duties and interests We who's. names
are underwrittsn, ID lesates III the convention feel
deep regret that such diversity of opinion LcutI
pfeVah as to render II necessary for minority Il
declare their dissent from the measures of the ms
! Jor'y' IL would be IN the highest degree crafty
| ing To us al discussion had prCduesd a result in
| which we could have united. But we hold thai al
| power emanates from the people; that no bodies
OF men, acting in virtue of delegated movers b,v.
rghi to designate net oaly to whom tl,sy will
ueitS"e power, but what power they will delegate ;
| tiSt according to our civi compact, by which the
who'll people Covenants with esch citizen and each
| cii'z'n with the whole people, that all shall be po
verned by certain laws ing the common good ;I,e
ctzeus, beside their natural rights possess as mem,
pers 81 The body poiItIc the rights secured bv Ibis
covenant !; That as this compact between the Cam
J monweaith and its citizens 10 mutual, il cannot a.
respects any porOH of its citizens be a.nuIled ,b
out nutaal consent, ard without power del ,.raed
from them, no man or body of men can establish
new government over them, or abolish that vi icb
they have egitimately established for Themselves
Considering these principles true snd uunuestio
able we fHorEsT against the report Of the com
mittee on the subject of the returns OF votes and
the resolutions thereto subjoned, aud against the
N.
ting the same because consider the said r..p.r,
and resolves, as in their general tenor aud sp,it
inconsistent with these principles aud with pronIi.
ely aud as instances, we adduce the fsilow-
my -
BY the said report, appears that aoart from the
Yots ut the town OF Lyman, which were in our o.
p''ior Improperly rejected, OF which majority 81
Us were against separation, there are returned
1869 votes in favor of separation, and 1857 p
sSn't III the tor'nec b. ing less than majority Of
10 ioAr Of the votes returned. Nothing thereto o
remains u be done by the convention. The ouIy
duty in this event assigned TO them, BY the oisla
tlre aud ticir constituents, here terminate An
alurnm ut Of ibis convention 10 future day rrus
thT"W upon our co Stitucnts an expsnce, without
possible advantage, AID without their consent III.
exercise Ct tirtLcr powers by this convention, we
are ccr't "a ed 70 consider as usurpation L" 10
proceed 10 form constitution is in our view. Il
violation OF express law, aud an invaso, OF
the rights OF our constituents.
We protest against q scparadpn IF Maine from
the present government, by anl means whatever
without the consent Of the people. SO sueI, Gov
sent has been given Their last vote vas witt, q
full understanding that majority of FIVE to four
Was nee, ssaiy TOT separation 1hii caucltiion was
by the eyuyCfer arihD'y nghtiuily ad.pieI ,stI
became q law. ca conclusion distinct aud uiy.-
ous. IL was ai..inct IN the lcsisa use. WIZ ere IL
passed againat but q small majority, who napnrni-
nously submitted to il, and constantly Support it,
II wa, IS we understand, and have never hc ard de-
nlrd, sarcii""eh 10y tie vote Of eyery member of
ihe Legislature present FROM Maine, who vas IN
letaur oi te separation. i has been distinct in the
mind nf every voter ard every citizen. How the
people would have DECIDED on a daf rent onest.n.
bed different gucstira been subfuit,cd TO tsern
sc have neHlcr the knowledge nor tire i4rbt Z,
d,cr,e. Tive prime plcs # amendment vsf-rnsiv
serted in the constitutions Of the states and OF The
iJn, conference tic opinion entertain Il W. ma
n.y. tha hve-uiniis is smaller proportion Of votes
usn ought to Dissolve the important rsietiaus ofei
VII sctiy. lu The prcsent easr, the pronoriiou At
i've ritf.s wa. fixed by large uaiorlty. sod bind
Hr the whole. 81 I'D thc late vote in favor of |
me para'i0n Of Maine be male Zee foundation or
ts erection into state, the gov rrmlnt would he !
o.Ddsd in force, not ~ right. The vote was aiyen
on coniitlon which has rot happened
We protest aCsips rricrcucr Of this sniioof IN
tie General Court for the purpose eXt,~s,e b, dc
re5oluuor, bscsuss, Ior the reasons already mert