The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-02-18


the British Parliament to search for precedcnis
and Wilkes, at one time, and the Queen at
another, have suffered by precedent and con-
struction, without reason and Justice.
| Several subjects which occasioned debate, ana
produced no little interest, were postPoned 70
the next Legislature. This il an easy mode q
getting rid Of responsibility. Hardly any qucs-
ton may arise but very plausible reasons may be
offered for postponement: 4 the people are nOt
prepared for the measure; 6 we wish to know the
opinion of our constituents 6 we have not had
lime 10 deliberate" sc. are always ready at
command: and these words have potent influence
upon minds not braced up by spirit OF manly
! independence.
| The principal subjects laid By for another SEES
! sion. were the new county, the bills to abolish
| the Common Pleas, and the Office Of Reporter Of
the Supreme Court North Yarmouth and Cum
berland dispute, and fixing upon shire town IN
the county of York. II seems that the towns
in Cumberland, which are proposed to be set OF
! to the new county, are opposed to the measure,
and the county itself is unwilling to let them go
a constitutional question then arises, whether
the Legislature have the right to make a sepa.
ration Of this sort, against the will of the parties
/ interested. Those towns have contributed to
| the public property Of this county if they are
! set off, they must lose the money they have al
ready paid, and incur additional expences for
| SIMILAR buildings in the rew county. Now II
! the Legislature should establish new county,
including towns so situated would they not viO-
I late the 2lst section of the " Bill Of Rights"
! Which Is, that " Private property shall not be
J taken for public uses, unless the public eXgen-
H cies require it,
The bill to abolish the Office Of Reporter, was
not popular in the House, although it passed the
Senate; it was perceived at once that il was
clandestine mode of increasing the salaries Of
the Judges of the S. G.. Some high minded men
in the House, observed that if it was proper that
the Judg Is Of the Supreme Court, should have
more salary, let The subject be fairly presented
/ but let not valuable office be abolished, mere
ly as an apology for increasing other salaries.
I It was also said that the consideration named in
/ the bill, that the Judges should make written
opinions, was all pretence they did the same
thing now they handed them to the Reporter
instead of fling them in the Secretary's Office
] cannot learn whose project this was. The bill
was introduced by one Of the York senators.
bill was subsequently brought in, TO raise the
n salaries Of the Judges without any accompani-
ment, but il Gd not succeed. There has been
strong opposition this session, TO opening the
treasury to any ofiiceT,Rnd every attempt to IN
crease salaries las been rejected. The only
gratuity that has been made, was that 10 the
Lyccum At Gardner This had sort Of mirac-
uous escape II had been once rejected in the
House but the vote was re-considcred, and
finally passed by majority of four, while un-
questionably, if All the members had been in
their seats or the subject had not been pressed
rapidly on, it would have failed even after it'll
had gone to the Governor an attempt was made
to recover il, and if they had succeeded in get
ting 1T back, it must have gone the way Of all
other private money bills.
The Cumberland aud North Yarmouth ques-
ton has been pursued with deal Of pertinaci- |
". Sgreat effort was made by the inhabitants
Of Cumberland, three or four years ago, 70 get a
division the subject was before the NIassachu-
sets Legislature without success, and IN every
session ofour own Legislature, considerable time
has been occupied il obtaining the division, set
ting the terms and qnaTrelling about them after
wards am told that since the separation Of
the State, eleven committees Of the Legislature
have had the subject under consideration, be-
fore each Of which The subject has been discus
sed it has been debated eight or nine times, in
the different branches, is referred, and is doomed,
like the ghost of Amm Dardin's horse, to per-
pick another Legislature. For all the time and
expence the subject has wasted, the State is on
ly compensated by the Illumination which the
member from Cumberland has thrown around,
by his multfariOus speeches.
Enough has been said in the papers, on the
dIstrcting bill. II was destined to undergo chang
es in the different branches, every one ofSghich
perhaps rather defOrned, than benefited it and
finally the plan adopted was forced down by
means Of that patent screw. denOminated a eau
Gus. The general impression at first was favor
able to county lines, but these were not found
to conform to the interest ofcertain divi1uals,
however they might be favourable to the inter-
ests of the people. On this ground alone it is
believed, that this county has had some of its
back towns trimmed away. A caucus leader
from one of the border towns in this county, who
} has his eye turned TO a seat in Congress, mani
tested considerable interest about this district,
and in order TO accommodate his views, a de-
tachnent Of four towns sent over to Oxford.
, But, to effect that great object, and change the
fair imprcssio that existed it was necessary to
call night meeting, and harangue a party into
, subserviency. 1t was very well remarked by
number in this connection that the steady farm
ers in the interior would be apt 10 inquire when
Z candidate was proposed to them, what have
been his public services and what are his quail
fcations; and not, how many parties it has been
his fortune to desert? A Federalist happened by
mistake, to be notified to attend Que OF these
t numerous caucuses he went from curiosity but
{ gentleman, who managed these matters, seeing
him, requested him to withdraw he was not
long in taking his leave, but he could not have
a very favourable opinion Of measures, that re
{ CURED secrosy and the night to arrange and ma
: ture.
2 The most important acts which have passed
this session. arc that relating to the pententia-
, ry, establishing n'si prluS system in the