The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-03-05

ed in that debate aud though some sentlemeu
may be mortified when they cone 10 see their
owu likeness reflected from the press, we think
they ought not to vent their spleen upon The
poor agents OF their porirsIlure.
Ii has been pubIickly asserted, that this pa
per mas declined publishing any ar ticIes in OPP
Representatives.. aboiIshiug The Courts Ut Com.
mon Pleas and transferring their power TO the
4 Supreme Court we take this opportunity To
declare The above assertion 10 be wholly groun-
\ less, y that we are 4, always have been, ready
10 receive and publish any communications
upon lhe subject whether N favour or against
4 The proposed system. But 10 say that me
nave or shall ourselves. advocate that measure
would be equally untSs - we cannot sup
port system which we Ng.eve to be unnec-
essay and nexDedient; we do not think tie
operation OF the bill which passed the House
will be sslulary q The community. nor will II
he destructive ol he odious vermIn, common
~ denominaied iaryers, who are so obnox-
ious TO The sensiblIlly OF some gentlemen and
who are modestly said 10 ptey opon the lair
fruits OF society
The House Of Representatives was enga-
ged on Thursday and Friday last on The M
iatiG B'H. and u has finally passed that body,
10 be engFossed, after geceising slIghl amend
ments, which 10 not effect us principles
Exemptions are very Hmited, being confined
principally, we believe, 10 those whom the
4
OF The Gospel, 10 Quaker aud Shakers, and 10
hose vino have held commissions 10 the Mill
ia Oh ;hs aud other States, and IN the United
States army, auo have been honOrabIy dis
charged. An amendment was offered, that
certain persons over thirty years old, who
should be attached 10 engines, with the APP
probation OF the select men OF the towns, 10
which they belonged, should be exempted
but u was rejected by majority of 2. We
( think some provision of that kind would be
useful, as it would relieve towns from con-
siderable expence 10 which they must other
wise be exposed, TO protect themselves a.
gainst caamties by fire. The bill has much
improved The present law on the subject of
Courts Martial their burdensome expence is
reduced, by limiting The numbers who shall
compose them, fixing certain daily compen
sation for The members, and dispensing With
The form q iak'ng the examination Of witness
es in writing.
.fPpor ttonment Of Represenfatives.-Thi sub
leot was taken up Oh Saturday, ~ the House
OF Representatives upon the reconsideration
when, considerable doubt existing as 10 the
construction OF that part Of The constitution,
which relates to it, the House decided 10 re-
fer It 10 the Judges of the Supreme Court Tor
their decision The doubtful clause Is IN the
2d section of the Alb article OF the constitution
and IS as follows. g I he number OF Repre-
senatlVes shall. al the several periods OF max
ing such enumeration, be hAed and apportIon-
&C among the several counties, as near as may
be, according 10 the number OF inhabitants, |
havang regard to The reiatIve increase o. popu |
idhon. II IS SAID by some that the latter sen |
lence, has prospective operation, aud that |
The representation therefore should be based |
upon The population which may hereafter ex
Ist, the number being determined ny the ratio
OF increase Tor the last ten years Others ID |
opposition say, that The representation should |
be founded on the actual number of lnhabI
tants (; that II IS absurd to predicate 1t upon
any thing which does not east that sUcn a
RUE would be uncertain III its operation and |
against all experience that when the constI-
tuition says, that" the number OF hepresenla-
tves shall be fixed according 10 The number
OF inhabitants" it does not mean, The number
which may be hereafter, BOT that which is now.
This seems TO be fair subject OF doubt. and
as Sir Roger de Coverly very prudently re-
marked, : much may be SAID on both SIDES"
The further consideration Of this subject is The
order OF day Tor to morrow.
1t will be perceived 10y the proceedings Of
the iiouse, that loan OF $4,000, has been
authorized, al an interest bot exceeding per /
cent. and that the committee on Finance have
been instructed TO report bill 10 assess tax
OF Soo,oUo, making total of $4,000, IN ad-
dItion TO other resources, for the expenditures
oil The current year.
-
r1ract OF letter frem officer in the United /
states Army, 10 his friend in this town, dated. \