Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-04-30

consideration the important question OF Separation
Of the District Of Maine from Massachusetts, Proper
soon to be submitted to The people, an Immense
concourse OF highly respectable citizens, without
d. tincion OF party, convened at the time apPoih-
ted, in Augusta collected from more than half the
towns in the county of Lincon from two thirds
of the towns in the county of kennebcc, and from
nearly half the towns in the county OF Somerset.
As many as four or five hundred gentlemen appear
ed in the Court House and it being stated that an
equal nuabeF without, DESTROYS o. attending found
it impracicabe 10 get into the court room, although
it is believed there is in the District OF lar
ger size IL became necessary TO adjourn iFst TO the
town house. aud then to the meeting house.
When il is lsidered that the travelling Us usii-
ally never worse than at this of the year,
tue number convened exceeded the most sanguine
expectations. IL would undoubtedly have been great
| y Augmented had the travelling been better
The Hon. Mr.. DAVIS of Bath opened the meet
| ins, by reading the circular, with the reeommen-
dation subioDed and the Hon. DANIEL CoNY,
being unanimously called to the chair took oc-
casion to remark that one of the articles in
o r bill of rights having secured to the people
tie right, in orderly and peaceable manner, to
| assemble TO consult upon the eoGnon good" and
believing that 10 be The object of the citizens there
assembled, he did not feel himself at liberty to de-
| cline The appointment. The hon. NJ ARK l.. HIT,
was chosen Secretary. The throne OF grace was
then addressed by the Rev. Mr.. TAPPhN, in which
he alluded in appropriate language, to the solenl-
nifty aad Importance of the occasion. After which
| Mr CoFFIN of Wiseasset addressed the meeting
in style OF eloquence, 50 truy impressive, that II
is unch to be regretted, that il cannot be comniu
icated TO the publ e. lie congratulated the ct
| ing upon the concatory Disposition which appear
| Ell 10 animate all the citizens assembled, of what.
| ever political party, than which, in his opinion,
nothing could be propitous to the vital inter
II Of he, ipu..l t-fd tha
| great question Of separation.
| A committee of tieeaty SIR gentlemen, OF differ
emf political sentiments, selected by the citizens of
| their respective counties, were then appointed
whose names are signed TO the subjoined report,
which was made by them 10 the whole convention.
After an animated discussion, in which gentlemen,
differing to their political opinions, took part
the report Of the committee was accepted without
a dissenting vote.
! The Hon. Judge CoNY. at the close of the de-
bate, remarkad, that Z" were he to speak Of sepa-
] rate government for Name, and could he be heard
from 81 Cf0iT 10 PiseGtaqa, be would say, that the
merits eff the question were broad its territory;
rs long its rivers; deep and capacious its har
bors rich as its commerce and fertile as its soil
and that separate government once wisely estab-
| shed in the affections of the people, viii prove
! sautary and important as the industry and enter
prize Of its Inhabitants" =
| The meeting was conducted throughout with
great harmony and decorum.
| fhe following is the report made by the commit
tee and accepted by the convention.
REPORT.
| THE committee appointed to take into consider
alton the general objects of this meeting, respect
fully report the following, the result OF their de-
| ibefaiion:-
| TaE leading principles Of our federative system
reierthe details OF local legislation comparative
/ iY small and convenient seefious of nd
conade great national and commercial interests
| TO the general government.
| THE growing prosperity Of every part of the
unoa, however partially checked by the conflicts
that have recently shaken the civilized world e..
vince the utility of our political institutions and
| the tendency of the local governments to cherish
aa, deveope their individual interests and resour-
ces fully test their efficacy the princeton OF the
| general welfare and happiness.
The new States admitted into the union since
tie adoption Of the federal constitution, have be-
eOme, under the fostering care of their respective
governments, pillars OF increasing strength and
Importance in the general conlederacy.
The new State TO be formed by the separation of
hlaine from Massachusetts Proper, would enjoy.
fqaiy with the other states, the protection of the
FEDERAL government, in defending il from foreign
INVASION, and IN suppressing domestic insurrecton.
W esteem II am incoutrovertable position, that
government chosen from among ourselves, aud
"ee'hnied III our own territory would better uBGer
stand, aud more assduousIy cherish our peculiar
Interests, than can be expected from that with |
which we are at presen. connected.
WE are geographically separated from Massa- |
ehsetts Proper.
9ua territory is more extensive than all the res.
Of New England.
ouR popuiation approaches nearly to three hun
dfed thousand.
OuR extensive sea coast and nayigable rivers
afprd abundant facilities in the pursuits of COM
egce and The fisheries; and there are already reg
istcfsd more than one hundred and twenty fveI
thousand tons of shipping in this District.
IRE erection of Maine into separate state. un-
dera liberal policy, would have tendency to d.
Nef-the tlde OF emigration now setting westward
aud 10 induce the Overlooking population of New
England to turn their attention TO this part of the
Ceaatry.
Oes SOIL for the purposes of agriculture. is sot
,nterpr to any part OF the northern portion of the
Unop
CONSIDERED With view to manufactures the
situation of no State in the confederation is more
eligible
FnoN all which causes combined, MAINE. al.
ready respectable cannot fail, compared with the
other membrrs OF the Union, at no distant day, to
become great and powerful State.
IhPoRrANf advantages may accrue to this Dis |
l