The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-01-28


70 the division of property between North var
month and Cumberland and the location OF a
sbire town in t.le county of York. The last SUD-
iect interests York people very much lncre
are several questions arising IN The case snaii
the re he but one shire town, and when shali y
Be If not, shall the courts be removed from
Work. or Alfred. 70 Kenncbunk the latter Is
stated TO be the most suitable place Ior 'he
county buildings and the session OF the courts
I These questions have been started but not deer
| ded. and how they will be. | do not know
enourh Of the subject to hazard al OPINION.
A subject Of considerable importance mas
been preached relating to the responsibility o.
stockholders in manufacturing companies. -
thought 6y many that they ought not 70 DC ia
bic beyond the amount of their capital; ina.
contrary provision has tendency to checK t'G
growth of these valuable establishments, anu
that the repeal of the restriction wou'o give
announcement. as our numerous favourable
scites afford opportunity to the Introduction VI
capital from other states there seems to De
some weirht in these arguments, bul they are
opposed by the very plausible one that the pub
! lie ought 10 be secured, and that they who as
sociated together for speculation should Jointly
and individually be accountable. ADlEU.
| The report Of the committee fixing upon Au-
gusta as the most suitable place for permanent
seat Of government, was taken up in the house
on Friday. After the report was read Mr.. NC
Cobb of Phlpsburg rose and moved that the iur
Their consideration Of the subject be postponed to
the next Legislature he said it was question
Of considerable importance, and one OH which he
was not prepared to act without knowing the
opinion of his constituents. This the first time
the question had been definitely presented to the
public no place has before been designated at
which the government shall be permanently es-
tablished; he therefore thought that the repre-
sentatyes ought to have an opportunity to con-
sui the wishes of their constituents before they
finally acted upon the question. This motion be-
ing seconded, thequesticn was upon postponement.
.Nr. Hutchins said he was now prepared TO vote
upon the subject and hoped it would not be post
p0ned he did not think that the gentleman was
correct when he said that this was the first time
the question has been before the public he said
il had beenbefore the public ever since the com.
mttee was raised by the last Legislature TO de-
signate suitable place for the seat Of govern
mcnt he did not doubt therefore but the people
were ready for the question and wished for
speedy decision of it.
Mr.. Parsons was in favor Of postpoHement
he was not prepared to 60 into the merits Of the
question of moving the seat Of government to
Augusta he thought the gentleman who last
spoke did not make a distinction between the
question where the nsrt Legislature sbouid meet,
and where we shout permanently locate the gov
ernrnent the latter ~ which Augusta was NAM
ed had certainly never been considered by the
people.
.nr UrLingford offered few remarks an IA !
vor of postponement, he stated the course the
subject took in the last Legislature he said
han NIL rI7tpo ha
tive to appoint a committee to investigate the \
subject of the punishment Of convicts and the
location Of a penitentiary and that the subject
now under consideration was hung on to that re-
solve by way Of rider at the earnest solicitation
Of the gentlemen from Kennebec who insisted \
that the enquiry might in that manner be made |
without any additional expence to the state.
This committee at an early day in the session re
ported upon the first and most important Of their
duties viz. on the penitentiary; that subject Of
deep and immediate interest to the state is per-
mi tied to siumber, while the latter and least i'm
portan of their duties is pressed thus eagerly up
on the attention of the house. Why, he asked,
are we called upon to legislate upon the latter,
and place ourselves in a situation to incur the
great expence of public buildings, until the sub
ject of the penitentiary has been brought before
us and determined Mr.. WIS arguments went
which he said he thought the Legislature were not
prepared to act, and on which there was no inme-
date necessity to act. We are provided here he
said with good accommodations for all branches
Of government and that without expence to the
state then why this haste to crowd a subject,
that was in itself very little public Importance
Mr.. Willtans, Of Augusta, thought the subject
was as well understood now, it ever could be,
, and that the members were ready to act upon
il. II had been agitated, he said, in every pub
lie body which had assembled in the state since
separation; it had been discussed in the conven-
ton and subsequently 10 every Legislature the
| people and their representatives must be prepar-
! ed for the question. Mr.. w said he could not
see the application Of the remarks of the gentle
man from kepnebunl1, to the subject what has
the states Prison to do with the location of the
seat of government? The reason he presumed
why that subject was not presented first in order,
was, that it was in the hands of Joint standing
committee, who still had it under consideration !;
/ it was of no consequence which was decided first
! they were by no means connected, and il was
important that decision should be had upon both.
! As to the merits Of the question he did not 60
at large into it this motion he said it was
only necessary for any gentleman to cast bis eve
upon the map and he would at once see that Port
land was not the place most suitable for the scat
Of government, and he might as easily satisfy
himself that Augusta was near the centre ofpop-
ulaton fit is proper then that the seat Of gov
crnment should be fixed near the centre Of pop
ulaton, it would be found that Augusta possessed
this recommendation i'll high degree. As gen.
tlemcn are undoubtedly possessed of the requisite
! information, there can be no necessity for the