The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-10-25
FRIDAY MORNING. OCT. 29

Col. .4fheaon introduced an amendment 70
the third section by some remarks 10 favour OF
districting, and Of small number Of Repre-
sentatives.
Judge Bridge was opposed 10 the system
of districtng. He thought it arose from dis
position TO theorize and not from the actual
condition and situation Of things He was Of
opinion that no system that gentlemen had
proposed was Of such equal operation as that
which The committee bad reported.
DR. Rose and Mr. Locke wished the question
divided so that the simple subject of district
ing might come before the Con,ento
Mr Allen wished TO reduce he number for
the first Representative 10 1900 instead Of
1900 in order not 10 unite towns whose inter
ests are diverse.
Vote to district negatived-noDe rising in
its favor
. Mr. Holmes moved TO strike out the figures
and insert words. Adopted
Mr. Allen moved 10 strike out 1900, and IN
sert 1900.
Judge Bridge opposed this alteration at
some length, and Mr. .dHen supported il; hut
it did not pIevail-86 voting in favor, and IS
against it.
Mr.. Rerrick thought the most odious feature
IN this section was the chasing of .mail towns
lie therefore would amend the report SO as 10
authorize two or more towns or plantations,
containing 1900 Inhabitants, to unite voiun
tarilv to choose Representative. If small
towns are arbitrarily put with large towns,
they viii have no voice in electing r. pre-
a. a fta
themselves, let US give them The right If
they are not so disposed, let them wave the
right
Mr. Bal hem spoke in favor of the report.
Judge Dana said. do not rise, Sir, 10 OPP
pose the motion. because was on the cun'
tniitee which prepared the report, but because
il would put il il the power Ct small town
or plantation to prevent the choice of Rep
resentative. and thus deprive whole section
of q representation 1t is said that when you
connect large and small town together, the
,arge town may prevent the smaller one from
enjoying its rights equally with the larger
but. Sir, ii il az probable that the small owns
will prevent the large ones from enjoyin heir
rights They are as likely to take advantage
of the parties 10 the larger towns, and tdrn
the scale as they please. lfyou compel them
TO elect from the small towns, YOU will oblige
them to take such men as ihey would not
otherwise elect The idea Is. that they should
voluntarily unite. Ii they viii not unite, they
may deprive the other towns Of the right ufI
being represented ~ presume, Sir, the power
Of chasing The towns viii be exercised by the
Legislature in a di Greet and iudiciOus manner.
aud therefore am Of opinion it had better be
leil with them.
Capt Neal remarked upon the inconven
fences which would he suffered BY the towns,
in he interior, by This mode Of classification.
He objected 10 The mode Of ascertaining the
election Of representatives in the classes a.
extremely burthensome-and also as depriv
ing small towns of their corporate rights which
were preserved by the larger
Mr. Holmes proposed TO obyiaie the Difficult
ty under which The classes la5Oured by pro
viding that the representative should not be
elected from the s.Ine town for more than two
terms in succession.
Mr.. Ponce said that in tie new counties The
small towns would have an advantage they
never had before, AMI with Ibis they must take
the disadvantage. The district in which he
lives, in the county of Washington, is fifty one
miles in extent, vet we are perle ctly satisfied
and lie believed that 70 he the case 10 all
parts of the county. lie hoped tie mctou
would not prevail
Mr. Herrick's motion lost
Judge Bridge proposed that the delegates
from the towns composing tie classes should
meet and agree upon such mode as would &C
commodate them
Mr. .Neale, Of Elliot, believed the bill con-
tanned the best plan that could be adopted.
Mr.. Whitman. Although should prefer
the scheme offered Yesterday, yet perceive
We shall probably find il necessary 10 settle
down on that which is contained in the report
II is, perhaps, medium between the differ
ent views of those who wish for districts al
together, and those WHO wish for renresen-
ta!ion Of towns. Sir, il is said there are
grievances in tie small towns by the plan
proposed. The small towns, sir. are not the
only part Of The community which are aggriey-
ed-ihe large towns are deprived Of their
rights, and very important part of their
rights which they have had for a great length
of lime, and which the God of nature intended
they ever should have. We can easily bear
The misiortunes Of our ne ehbours, but not oar
own. The large towns make no complaint
but the small towns which have the rigid IL.
representation secured 70 them, comps oils