Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-06-18


measure, it cannot be doubted that to reject
the petitions upon mere fireSurItnon.-
founded on the absence of ci,izsns from their
meetings, which might not be verified with
out affording the fullest opportunity to test
its truth, would excite among the friends of
the Separation spirit OF discomfort and
sense of injustice; and by exposing the
Legislature TO the suspicion oil insincetity,
increase their number by auxiiaries, who
might otherwise be eisinclined tojoin them.
Hence would atise state of sgitation and
controversy, altogether unpropitions to the
spiri: Of calm inquiry and solemn delibera-
ton, which ought to prevail In the adjust
ment of this great and momentous question.
Should an. opportunity be aIloi ded 20 the
people OF Maine for coming 10 peaceable
and unbiased conclusion upon this question
and it should appear tina, the symptoms oil
dis Election to connexion which has SO long
subsi s,ed, are confined to minor portion OF
that community,or il in many instances they
may have resulted from sudden impressions
and partial information, it ough, TO be hoped
that they will find corrective in the DELHI,
erations OF an assembly OF men charged with
the most solemn of duties and which shall
be conducted without any pretence ofimped-
iments from the Parent State. A readiness
manifested by Massachusetts to remove all
obstacles 10 fair result, must be respected
as pledge OF her magnanimliy and candof /;
and some Of the advocates for Separation
may di scern in the righteousness of this
procedure motives for adheriDg to their an
-. 4 la.
ly prove TO be the fact, that general and
deliberate inclination prevails among that
people 10 try the experiment OF an iadepen
dent government, greatly as it must be re.
GREETED by Massachusetts, 1t will be expe-
dent 10 facilitate the issue a on just and e.
quiiable terms Ii is certainly in the opin-
ion OF the Committee highly desirable that
the citizens OF Massachusetts should contin
ue to sand together, to Pr eserve united and
entire their population and resources, and
their relative rank in the Union ;--yet if the
mass of our fellow-citizens in Maine have
been persuaded 10 deep rooied conviction,
that the interests Of the two great sections
OF the State are incompatible, and that tne
hour has come tor sundesing the ties unde,
which we have grown up and prospered and
fous hi, and conquered on the saIns side -
from whatever cause this opinion may have
resulted, it must prove an inexhsustibe
source OF local jeslousies and collisions, that
would only be fatal to mutual harmony and
confidence, and finally produce dissolution
of the present compact it, a ,empel and with
feelings less suspicious to fair and AMIGA
bic adjustment than at present exists.
Its however in the opinion Of his Com
mitee, important that the only sound prin
ciples BY which the process OF Separation
mus, be regulated, should be plainly svow, d
md understood and no advance towards .
Separation III the opinion Of the Committee
Can be admissible, which Is not attended by
a recognition OF principles, and consent 10
arrange ments, which shall be deemed essen
tial 20 secure the rights ofthe Common
wealth and the real and personal property of
its ciIlzens in every event
And for more fel' xplanation of these
princ,pls, the Commi,tee refer to bill
which they beg leave herewith respectfully
to report. II g OTIS, Per order.
IT TIE reported bill is long, con aiming six
sectlons---It provides for giving The coasent OF
Massachusetts thai Maine may be erected into >
separate S a., ii the People of Name, repre-
sen ed in Convention. shall consent /, The condi.
ions prescribed IN the act and provided The
Congress Of the u. S. snail give its consent
hereto. prior to the 4 n Mach next. The con-
dnions are ;-rhst all the public lands aud bull
d,ngs in Massachusetts Proper shall continue
me properly OF lie Commonwealth that ali
he public lands in Maine be equally divided be-
weer Massachusetts, and Name; and that the
moiety belonging TO Massachusetts shall be free
from TAX .tion while il remains her p opsrt,; sill
phe. public properly shall be holden by M.ssa.
chuse,is as secu,nyfor The pay ment of the public
debts Bus if a, the end of three years Con.
gress shall not have assumed the war debt of
Mas achusetts, certain Commissioners q wo of
which are 10 be appointed by The Exec utive
Ut Massachusetts, Two by the Name Conven-
ton, and two more oy these FOUL shell assign
jusl potion of the properly to MaSsachusens, as
naturalization for all debts winch remain due.
n ,udmg the wsr debt but Il the war debt be
sulncd by Congress, within three YEATS, Ia en-
e.. any loss which he Commonwe all h NAV US
rs. f.om he manner in which the same shall be
assuoed. The surplus to &c divided th,ee-fcwth
To Ass ehuse IS nd one5oa,h TO Msine. Ii,
howsN he pubic propessy, Other than lands
and real cs.ste shaft be found insufficient 10 pay
tie Deus, 'hen Name shalt assume and pay one
qnarte, part of,ne deficiency. fsfer three yeats
congress shall sssuns TIA War debt, then Msne
sl.4l receive one quarter Part of the stock. Thu
e an N, N, M ned Jac.d.