Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-10-22

Cir when we WOulu uopt Iol Il ldfOufdUie
,nsver? Does not reason and experience,
both teach US that applications by petition to
Ne sovereign of the Countrywide Legislative
%,dy-the representationrof free people
sn,,;t be both decent and respectful
But. Sir, a mode of calculation is here hit
s,non by which we are enabled TO make out
hat FIVE ninths are obtained. A majority of
,r,iorities is TO be taken instead of majority
The Legislature would be made to say in eff /
feet that ia majority of the majorities in the
towns aud plantations heard from should. he
majority of FIVE to four OF all the votes returned
lien you may proceed. This is of itself an
absurdity; besides being nothing like the OBJ
Ious import of the language used by the Leeis-
hure. The language used by the Legislature
sea majority, of 5 to of all the votes re-
turned" A majority of the majorities is not
q majority Of all the votes returned--In such
calculation all the votes, except the majority
10 several towns, are thrown away and con-
sidered as nothing in the account. Inths way
TOO, if there was majority of one of all the
votes returned it would be more than major
iy Of five TO four of all the votes returned. 1t
swell known to every body, and by no one
better than gentleman here present (Mr
IIoInes) that this was not the intention of
the Legislature. Itwas objected, by the op-
ponents Of separation in that body, that bare
majority ought not TO entitle the District to
become independent. This Honourable gen
tenan readily acceded 10 that sentiment;
and instantly proposed that il should be de-
iermned by a majority Olive to four. Did
he then believe that any other meaning than
the Popular constructions was to be affixed
to these expressions (! Did any other man ev-
er dream OF any other sense to be affixed until
on investigation here it was found that the
Popular construction would not answer the
purpose. One gentleman Hon. Mr. Widge-
ry,) has remarked that as five is majority Of
one more than four so il we had a bare inaior
ity il would be majority OF five to four OF all
The votes returned. This is as plausible a
ground as the other; and equally rational
and not more ridiculous nor more inconsist-
ent with the :. Popular construction" of the
words Of the act.--This gentleman took occa-
sion TO remark also that conscience had moth
ing to do with this business. have no right
todoubt bis sincerity in this particular. But
ipray to God our constituents may not have
reason to be ofthe same opinion.
1t behoo.es Us mortas to be cautious how
we suffer our incorporate zeal to peryert our
Judgments. The time will come when our
passions will have cooled and we shall be
then left to sober reflection. will venture
70 predict that when that does come we shall
be satisfied with this g Popular construction =
and be left in establishment at our present de-
lusion.
lhave, Sir, prepared set of resolutions,
which should be willing to adopt, comprising
asystem ofmeasures which we might decently
pursue and which are alone calculated to be
attended with success and which would Of
ferif the present report should be rejected.
Toamend the present report, If the preamble
cannot be amended, as has been decided BY
the President, would answer no purpose-Iti
must be wholly rejected-The resolutions
which would offer should be in the following
words.
(Mr W. read his proposed resolutions and was
permitted to lay them on the table. Want Of room
compels os to omit them this week. They will be
inserted in our next.)
Thus, sir, Notwithstanding the aspersions
that have been so literally dealt out against |
me and my colleagues, ii will be seen. that we
are in tator Of separation if this report should !
be rejected: twill be seen, that, tho moder-
ate, we are frn--Tho disposed to pursue
SFaona course we are not 10 be brow beaten |
INTO any other. | would ask gentlemen to |
pause and consider the probable result Of The
course contemplated. Should the Legislature
refuse 10 grant its consent, will you dare tore
urn here; and proceed in the formation of
Constitutions? Would gentlemen be aware
u the crime they would be committing? Do |
they Or do they not know that it would be a
'raItorous conspiracy against which many, if
not all OF them, at some time or other, have
soemnysworn TO support the Commonwealth.
4 sheriff would be arresting us for treason.
Arms must be resorted to to protect ourselves
nom such arrests and civil war be the conse-
quence. A state of things for which no man
here is prepared,I would hope and trust.
~. Holmes. The principles of The act on
which the report is founded are as to a. It'll
mas been the conceived opinion thatsths Of the
,o'es were necessary, and this construction,
md has become popular. Your committee
aad no doubt, corporations might be fair ra-
10 OF calculation, and we concluded it was a
sT calculation to make a comparison of major
'es. Your committee apprehended, that this
popular construction prevailed, rather from