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

hest Ell ctuate the haes AID srstfs the esp.ct,,i-
ons of the people OF Maine ilaj yoar committee
iorb 70 recommend that the Convention act wi;l,-
rut de liberation and Gd5ace The Legislature oi
Massachusetts will soon be in session. No neon
venence would arise in consulting their vish-s or
asking their opuiors Sho-ld they. as :l.ev ssi,-
ionbedly will, confirm this cor sisurtion, or other
wise explain or molity the lsN 50 60 give Ell ctio
the voice OF this majority oil TIE p,opi. n,uch dis
pu'e would h. prevented and great satisfaction af
f.r''ed to the opposers oi the separation
But If contrary tval reasonable expectations the
opinion and decision q -faSS0oirgefss shor.d be I'M
favorable, we could, at an s'luuned session Of the
Convention, determine for orsol,es ard carry the
act into full effect agreeable TO unders,an
ding of its provisions.
But in the report ct the committee, prerxei TO
the act, we End it corcsded that " eAprctstions
have hecn authorized. that the Legislature of Mass
achusrtts would consent to the proposed separate
on, when the deliberate wishes of a msiority of the
people should be developed. in favor OF the
sare." Ard we have ,losbi, that with The pres
ent commanding majority, -1dssachussHs will
scch fair aud rational Interpretation the law,
shall carry effect the deliberate wishes OF tho
people Of Maine.
Confident tlrat separation must be declared,
yonr Committee womtl recommend that, rs
nay b. a Constitution Of Government should be
t'reTared to be presented to- the people Of Maine.
Bat, rs much time and labor would be required be-
fore SO important document could be inatured,
they wonih propose "a adjournment to some future
day, and that acom-oittee he appointed To act in
the recess, reports constitution the next meet
ING of the Convention.
In this stage Q the progress of the people of
Maine TO independence, il is prorer that they should
apply to Congress for their admission into tho Uai-
on II is important also, that a law he passed, that
N case ut separation our coasting trade should be
cured from ditto al embarrassment Should the
Legislature CONFIRM their consent, Congress, at
their next session, would admit US into the Union.
But, Should Massachusetts give unfavorabe in
terp' citation of the act refuse to modify il, as
justice requires, Congress- would decide, whether
we have not comp; 4 with the coudilions upon
which the consent of Massachusetts was to be OBJ
tanned.
Your committee have considered the memorials
from sIndry ;nhsbiants nf Mercer, and other towns
complaining that they have no Delegates in the
Convention And they are satisfied, that in form
ag Constitution, these and other towns and plan
tstious are entitled to be heard. They can howev-
er, devise no other remedy, (exeepi what may he
contained IN thst part OF the institution which shall
provide for nmendments,) = IN IN application to
the Legislature, so 20 modify the act, as 10 admit
those towns and plantations nos Represented tosend
Delegates 10 this Convention at its next meet
ing.
Your Committee, therefore, ask leave TO re-
port the following resolutions, which are submit
ted:
Resof1sd. That the further consideration of the
votes returned berefsved to Inc next session of this
ReSolocd, Tint, provided all those paper, ami
documents. which purpors to be returns of votes,
shonid be legal and correct, thu whole number Of
yeas are 1890
ihe whole number ct nays are 10,3i7
That the majority of yeas Of the town. and
plantations. in favor Of separation, are G,o3I
That the majority of nays in the towns and
playtstio's, opposed to separation, are 4,ano
And that the majority of yeas aforesaid is to the
majority of nays aforesaid, majority offs to j. at
Of fnau nfDc ,oI
Resosetl, That committee of five he appointed
to make application to the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts, 20 r-tty and confirm rs consent that the
District IF .itsne shall be separate and ndepen-
dent state.
Resolved, That committee he appointed ia re-
port constitution for the commonwealth Of Maine
ResofUed, That committee of,hree be appointed
to make apple ton to Congress for the admission
OF Maine into the Union, upon the same footing
AS the origina. States.
Resof7ed. That the same committee be directed
to endeavor to obtain alteration of the law of the
United States, that in Of separation our coGsting
trade should he relieved from additional embsrass-
ment.
Resolved, That when this Convention adjourn.
they adjourn to the - day o., to meet at
this place.