The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-01-18

Y
against it, by and surprising The .number
specified in the said second section. ne result
was made known by proclamsliol. And The
people of The said District were berein called
upon to choose Delegates to meet in CcLi
,eniion, for the purposes, and in ibe mannei
expressed jp :he said Act The history Of the
subsequent progress Of The separsion and tlls
resul, OF The doings Of the Convention. and q
the people, on the subeefoi.a consultation .o
government, ii is no, in {Y power at present
to lay before you. Bit IfSm communication
which ] have received from the Hon. William
King President of lin Convention, dated the
9Th inst. copy of which will be herewith
presented TO you, presume shall shortly
be enabled todo it.
| The Connection that has subsisted between
Massachusetts nd the DISTRICT of Maine, COM
m.pced al an early period Of their history
But nptil the year 1922 their union was anon
aousand Interrupted. The PRONUNCIATION OF
the Charter of William and Mary. compre,
l,ewding both sections of Cos,n'ry. united them
under one govefHment-and from that period
to The pv~ent time, the connection has been
unnterry ptedlv maintained to mutual salts.
faction and advantage.
! The time OF separa alton however is at hand.
Confofmably TO the memorable act of June
l 9th, 1919, The 18th Of March next " i'll termi
nate forever The political unity of Massacbu-
sets proper end the District Of Name. And
that District which is /" hone Of our bore and
flesh Of our ne.h." vi pume her rank as
an Independent State in 1be American Con-
federscy.
Toreview the transactions which have i'm.
mediately preceded and effected the separa-
ton, and to recolleci ths.sPirit Of amity and
mutual accommodating, that has distinguished
every stage Of its progress, most he truly and
lastngly satisfactory. il is at the same time
highly gratifying to every friend Of republ'-
can government, TO observe tie unanimity
and disposition to mutual concession with
which constitution, founded on The broadest
principles of human rights, has been formed
and adopted.
That the District Of Maine was destined to
independence, has been long foreseen and ac-
knovledged. But it has been delayed until
her internal resources and her capacity for self
government being fully developed. public o
pinion, emansiing from competent and n-
cressipg population. decidedly invoked full
filment Of her destination.
Having yielded my assent 10 the Act Of Sep
aration, it remain. Tor me to obey the impulse
of duty, as well as of personal feeling, by &C
knowledging to The Gentlemen Of the District
who have been particularly associated with
mr., either in the civil or military departments
of government. the able support. which, on all
important occasions, they have readily afford
ed-and TO the Citizens Of the District gener
ally. the canJour, liberali'y and respectful
attention have experienced in the discharge
of my official duties.
Ny Fellow Citizens Of the District, who
have now. for the last time. united their coun-
sells in the deliberations Of the Legislature, will
accept my devout wishes for their individual
happiness, and for the peace, the honor and
prosperity Of the new Republic.
In adverting to the separation Of Maine. we
are necessarily led to consider the effects of
that accession on the Government OF hassachu-
sets. The constitution was not only the pro-
duct Of the united wisdom of the two great
sections of country known as Massachusetts
and Maine hut he provisions OF il we're de-
signed TO apply TO the circumstances Of both.
Accordingly in appcrIioning the number Of
Councillors and Senators designated by the
Constitution among the several districts, Maine
has ever had assigned to il a constitutional
proportion And the act of February 1914.
constructed on this principle and now in oper-
alton. entities the eastern districts tn nine
Councillors and Senators. II would be un-
necessary for.mf 10 remark that the act just
mentioned, and the additional one Of Februa
~, l2l6.wll require modification.
In mediating, however on this subject, we
,re led to extend our views beyond the single
question Of modifying the first branch of the
Legislature, md 10 inquire whether considera-
ions affecting the Interests of the people, as
connected with the future operations Of the
government, will not. t,he present tine. call
al least for a partial revision Of the consiitu-
tcn? The great outlines of the constitution
were indeed drawn by masterly hand. and
in its general principles, is little. il at all, sus-
ceptble Of improvement. Waving hsrefore
every thing relating to the declaration OF rights,
and the definitions Of power, as vested in diff.
ferent departments, il would not be wonder
fnl ifsome Of the numerous details Of system
Of civil poity. intended 10 act upon, and to
protect the diversified interests Of a people