Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-23

From the Portland Arsus.l
MAINE CONVENTION.

.Noniay, Oct z
The committee appointed 10 exa rune the votes
on the question o. Separation, made the following
REPORT
The committee appcistei tn examine the re,rra,
on the subject OF the Separation OF Maine from Mas
ssehusetts AMI report thereon, and also tn INQUIRE
wha; further measures it viii he expetlicnt tn alont
to obtain the of the Legislature of this Com
monweath such separatios-also, TO consider and
report or the iaemorial Of John Low Jun. and 9th.
ers, against the votes from the town of LYMAN,
and also the memorials of the inhabitants Of the
town OF Mercer and other towns, concerning said
separation, have attended to that service and ssk
leave respectfully to rebort Ia part-
That they have examined all the papers and tnc-
uments purporting tn be returns of votes from the
towns and plantations in Maine, which have been
committed tn them. AID hud thar a peru large pro-
portion Of taosc totes are Incorrectly illegally re-
Turned
H. nearly half Of those returns. the question
which was to have b4eu submitted TO the people,
WIS 'mpertec,ly or erfcneously stated
very many o. the meetings appear TO have con-
sisted ut other persors than qualified voters In sew
erA lows, certain descriptions of appear To
have been excluded. In this state Of the votes YOUR
committee te' p reluctance the one hand IN ex-
clu''Iug the expressions of the opinion of any pnr-
uon OF ie'r -eitlzcns, possibly correct, acd
OF the other, IN admitting any return which may be
the result oi-impOsitinn or fraud.
II other considerations views Of the subject can
authorize them TO dispense with strict on rieor-
Gus scrutiny, Decentralization urge them TO the aop-
ton Of such a course
BIT inasnuch rs the memorial from Low, Jun.
and hers, relating 90 the improper and unfair con-
anet Ia the officers and voters Of the TOW Of Ly-
man, was spe;isjy referred to yonr committee
they were obliged TO give their particular coasd-
erStiO7.
IL appears 10 your committee that after the meet
ing as opened, a motion was regularly maie ard
put AID carried that the voters BE poed tn see who
we're Tor and who against the separation that tho'
THIS course WIS objected 70, il carried into ef-
iee'. has, IN n town where the majority was de-
eueu AGAINST Its scparatior its advocates de-
s'gnated and pointed ont, before thcy were allowed
To carry their written votes. Thus, wer,. portion
OF the citizens deprived Of expressing th.ir opinions
7'iIhoW inspection. and subjected the inutnce of
powerful men, aud the censure or dsapprobation of
"ndiet've majority. Your committee have there
man.
by recurring to the 2d and Sd sections of the act
concerning the Separation of the District Of Maine
from Massachusetts, proper, and forming the same
INTO an independent state, find that the ConYen-
ton rs authorized to form constitution, provided a
" majority 81 Eve t. fur at least of the votes re-
turned are IN favor OF the measure. The mean
ing ol the word nGjorityi doubtful. This word is
sometimes understood TO mean the excess of one
nu!sber over another, and sometimes the excess of
melt the whole number. Exclude the words " a
majory Of in the I'd aud 81 sections of the act.
and no douht remains but five yeas TO four nays or
pre- H1li9f'S OF the votes returned, ud be requi-
REQ. But your committee do Rot feel authorized to
say That these words have no meaning.
in the report Of the committee pr, fixed to the
act, It appears to have been the intention that the
eXped'ency otSsparatOu should have been decided
by San assembly OF charged with the most
sienna duties" meaning no doubt CohUeation nj
Delegates chosen by toznS.
Here the Delegates would have been in propor.
ton 20 the number Of naiorties in each corporation
and not in proportion to tue aggregate majority If
all tie votes returned.
1t is understood that the bill as first reported 10
the Legislature, authorized the Delegates 10 decide
on the e.cpediency IL was however go far arnenn-
ed, As that on the day Of the choice ot Delegates,
the Inhabitants Of the fosVs, districts and lantatos
qualified to vote Tor Senators, 10 give IB their
written votes on the question proposed in the act,
and nIqj0Iity If fUe IN fo7ir was required
rs the Delegates mus5 be appo-tioned according
to the respective majores Of heir towns 80 on the
question uf Separation the majority Of Yeas ia the
towns aud pautstions IN favor be- to the naio-
rity ct Nays IN those opposed, fUe 10 fur, IL
the y"tes returned Inc corporate majoriti.s Of
yeas must be placed IN one column, aud those OF
nays ia the other, and each added Then, as fire
IS 10 four, so is thu aggr ge majority If yeas ia lie
towns and plantations ia favor. to the aggregate
majority Of nays in those opposed. In tus way
only can your committee give meaning to tic
word m1yOf7iy contained in the "a and 81 section
of the net.
The Whole number If votes returned, in
GLIDING those subject to the exceptions
mentioned, is 22,3i6
The yeas are I,g6g
The naysare 1851
Tie Whole aggregate majority Of yeas in the
towns and plantations III favor, i. COST
The whole aggregate majority Of uaysin the
towns and plantations opposed Is 4,iO9
-
Then. as fve Is 70 fur, so is 6.O3t to 1895, tie
NAYS required. Bt the majority Of nsy is 400
ohly. Hence it appears, that upon this construct
Of the act, there is majority Of fUe 10 fot, vt
least, ofthe returned, in for the said Dis
nict'5 becoming Eidebentiem Stale.
Your eOmnttse are aware that il has been the pop
ulsr stacuon. dat re aia'hs OF the votes reta-
ned csssny. But they apprehend, that this con-
octOn hss prevailed rather from the use of an ex
preston not contained in the sst, than from neees-
sary import Of tie words ,liems Ives. Where this
act is doubtful, it should receive sush Interpretation
rs shall best eomPort With the public vii.
That viii has heen deciie3ly I'D uncquiyocaily
expressed. On the pom Of Wy last, the singie
question ofcxp-Gieuey was deeied IN the aiiirma-
i've by very lcrge meiolity 90 tic 2nd ~ Sep
& nher, with tic terms ami conditions before hem
sbd ihe gr5urd'-ss alarms 0f pence TO the people
ana endorsements q tee coasters, the citizens Oh
,iape, ~ the majority here reported have deciJefl
tie question again AMI they are here represented
4 =. -. .s4.. .tI a.f... I. r.