The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-01-28
Dorfgu 40 !
Portland, jan. %.

with the proceedings of our Legislature, little
more at large than YOU can gather them from a
perusal of the journal.
know you retain much of your interest in
business Ct this sort, from the active part you for
merry took in it, in the good old g Bay State !"
and you like to if they order affairs now, as
| well they did some ten years ago, when you
shared the daisbefofions and sustained 40 unins
portant part ID the resting scenes which were
| then passing before the public eye. How differ
emily appear to Us the subjects Of the preseut-day
| talk, and how differently even TO ourselves do
| those measures now seem which then wound US
| up @ the highest pitch OF excitement.
These things seem small and indstinguishable
Like far OF mountains, turning into Clouds
| suppose it is the dimness with which Adams
and Jefferson behold times, when they were
active and bitter leaders of party, that makes
them now call each other old friends. If these
men can forget the asperity with which they
| once viewed each other, well may humber indi-
yduals imagine political millennium, and call it
( the era OF good feeling"
| But to the subject the two houses of the Lee
gslature were organized on the first day of the
session, and of the year. 1t was thought that
| some opposition would be made TO AInes as speak
err the administration party, at least the lead
ers, no doubt ardently desired to see some other
person occupy the chair, but no person on their
side seemed TO be Sufficiently well qualified, to
be named as candidate; had Sprague been re-
turned think he would have been elected, and
| know not but Judge Green. As il was howey-
er, DO division was made on the question, for they
pruIently judged that an Intellectual opposition
| would weaken their cause. fear 10 speak of
the Senate, lest if / speak truth, shall expose
myself to the charge OF scanddiU0l mdgndtuDt---
] beg pardon-scdndGlnDs naihoruns, if yon will
excuse the coinage Of the phrase. The senate
! begun their session by an act ofdereliction they
| agreed nemine o6stdn.e in meeting the evening
before, to support the old secretary, our friend
Sewali, who you know besides being the clever
est fellow in the world, is in every respect well
qualified for the station to the surprise Of every
body, when the ballot was taken, Sewall was a.
bandoned by a majority of one vote.
| The Legislature gave up this year the cere
nony IF procession % the church to hear
prayers, &c. all branches quietly met il the
Representatives chamber, aud heard an excellent
prayer from DR.. Nichols. The season of the
year is i'll adapted for election parade for it is
| not very comfortable to plough through the snow,
| 10 bleak day ia January, to a cold meeting
! house, merely TO hear prayer and psalm /
am very glad the practise is abolished.
! The Governour's message, YOU have no doubt
read, and dare say agree with me, that It is much
too long these long talks at the beginning of
every session-snd find they are getting into
fasbon-sre as tedious as they are unnecessary.
What is the use of a long preamble about the ex-
cellence Of our republican institutions and our
glorious privileges You might Just as well
write an essay upon the advantages of having a
pure atmosphere, comfortable clothing g. whole
some provisions we do not need to be reminded
Of these blessings our great aim should be to pre-
serve them unspotted. The substance OF the
message is very well.
After the usual committees were appointed
there little done for several days but hearing
and committing petitions, choosing councillors,
secretary and treasurer, and filling vacancies in
the Senate these things were done without any
organized opposition 1t was thought there
would be considerable interest made for the Office
of Secretary ofSate, and certain Gen. in this
vicinity, was quite busy for day or two; but
| finding his exertions entirely Intellectual he prU-
IDENTITY withdrew from the contest, and Nichols
| was elected unanimously.
! Among the petitions which have been pre-
sented is one for bridge from this town to Cape
| Elizabeth, which will have the effect to turn the
travel from Vaughan's bridge this Of course
will be opposed by Mr.. Gray and others. An
other petition has been offered for Lottery, to
raise money TO construct canal to the Sebago.
THIS project suspect will prevail for il is noto-
rous that our prohibition of all lotteries except
the National, has given that scheme an unjust
monopoly, and has been the cause of sending a
large sum Of money out of the State. Now it is
plain that if we can turn this gambling DISPOSE
ton to some account among ourselves it is far
better than the course il now takes. 1t will no
doubt be opposed by Davis, the principal lottery
venGer here, who is said to have gleaneda con-
siderable amount from tie sale of ticketsin the
| Washington scheme Petitions have also bee pre-
sentc2 for manufacturing companies and for two
Banks in this town, with capital of $4,000, and
for banks all about the state with small capitals
| these latter projects were got up in consequence
Of tie South Berwick Bank bill, which you know
produced much discussion last session, and which
then passed, but with such restrictions that the
petitioners would not accept it. They have now
| concluded to take the charter with reduced
capital of $4,000. The great objection with
the petitioners was, that tie stockholders were
made liable individually for all the debts of the
bank, and Of this liability they could not divest
! themselves. They coutended that they ought not
| to be responsible beyond the amount Of their
stock 1t is curious to see what direction the
mind will take, when DOORS opened for schemes
ingenuity was wonderfully exercised on this poor
South Berwick bank some wanted to give every
share vote and not limit the number; some were
4 for limiting TIE amount of stock, which any one
man should own and other plans were proposed
which, however, did not prevail. This act prob