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

give employment 70 Il graz "iSN' II P'oi
people, among whom the money raised by the
Lottery will be distributed.
The Canal when completed, will open the
country far into the interior, & afford aid and en-
enlargement in the clearing and cuitivatiug tie
sell
1t will raise the value Of lands contiguous to
IT. and of the wood and timber standing upon
them which will not now bear the expence OF
transportation to market.
1t will encourage emigration and settlement
in the vicinity the proposed Canal, by increas-
ing the facilities Of gS4ing the produce 70
market.
1t will be a means Furnishing an abundant
supply of excellent ANip timber-facilitate the
business Of p-build:ng-gIve employment 70
mechanics of various knds, and advance the
prosperity of agriculture and commerce.
IL will save vast expence in roads. And by
all these means increase the revenue and resour-
Ccs OF the State.
With such sentiments and views, and infu-
enced by such facts, the friends of the Canal ad-
vocated the passage of she bill and granted such
a charter as they brought secured the commun-
ty By sufficient guarantees, while It provided
the means of assisting work OF great public
utility.
Having thus stated their general views upon
the subject. will proceed TO examine the OBJ
iectisns which have been made in the protest TO
the details of the bill.
1t is objected to the bill, that the legislature
have reserved no control over'its provisions, so
as hereafter TO modify it that there is no limit
Of time to which the operation ofthe law is con-
fned that no provision is introduced by which
the reversion ofthe propcryin the canal should
be in the state: that the bill gives to a member
IL 4
managers Of the lottery Judging ofthe bond, and
determining when The work las made such prog
ress as TO authorize the money TO he paid from
the state treasury that no provision is made for
the manner 10 which persons aggrcved BY lie
miSdoingS Of Die managers may avail themselves
Of the bond: and last, that bill involving new
principles and practises in this state. ought not
to be passed without more deliberation.
1t may be promised generally, that the bill in
both branches, has been subject TO amend
ment. Isfrends have had no desire to exclude
anv provisions which should give ample security
70 the slate and to individuals; and they are i'm
pressed with the belief that this valuable object
has been fully accomplished.
Tie first objection is, that the legislature
have reserved no power hereafter to modify the
charter; and let ne ask, why should they? The
public have sufficient security in the limitation
as it regards the amount Of money to he raised,
and the time prescribed for its duration, which
is fixed at ten years, unless the sum required, is
sooner raised: and further, in the bond, which
the managers are compelled to give in the sum
of ten thousand dollars each, for the faithful dis
charge Of their duty A charter after it is ac-
cepted and acted upon, should not be liable to be
changed, unless for the misconduct Of those to
whom it conveys privileges: when there is such
misconduct, the law provides the mode Of annul-
ling it. Had provision been introduced, that
The property @4culd revert 10 the state, il would
probably have been fatal 10 the bin, tor 10 one
would be willing to subscribe for the stock, the
rcversion of which, was in the state it would be
placing an incunbrance upon the grant OF the
legislature, which would contain the seeds Of its
own dissolution. The amount proposed to be
raised by the lottery il less than one hafof the
sum required, to meet the estimated expenses.
Now, II such conditions should accompany the
pretended benefit, as to prevent the remaining
capital being furnished, BY private subscription,
the grant would be 4 nultty. But the lcgisla-
ture have Inserted a provision, which will pre-
vent monopoly, by retaining power al the
end Of twenty years, of regulating the toll and
in this way, II is evident that both the public and
the stockholders will be amply secured--Again,
it is objected in the protest that member OF the
corporation has the power of appointing mana
gers, sc. now, this person is no other than the
present Governor, who ia his official capacity
and with the advice of council, has a certain
trust reposed in him. To whom could tins pow
er more safely be cou6ded, than to the execu-
tive of the state? The present Governor may
cease to hold the Office when the provisions Of
the bill are carried into execution, and his place
may be supplied by one most hostile to the meas
ure. 1t is to the Office and not to any particular
incumbent, that the duty is assigned. The
fourth objection that no remedy is provided for
the aggrieved, is not well founded. The bill re-
quires a sufficient bond to be given, and the gen
eral provisions Of law will furnish a competent
remedy upon it, should its conditions be violated
The last objection which the minority offer to
the bill in their protest, is, that ii contains prin
cpes and practices novel IN this state, and there
fore more time is necessary foI deiberation up
on it. Ii is indeed true, that since the separation
our state has authorized no lottery but the
principles were not new in Massachusetts, whcr
we formed part of that commonwealth. They
have been practiscd upon there, for years, anC
must be familiar to many, who are now ia the
legislature. An the bad effects, whatever they
may be, arising from lotteries, have been duly
encouraged ever since the separation took place
by free permission to sell tickets in the Ma.
tional lottery. trust the immortality Of the
thing does not attach itself exclusively to thai
lottery which may chance to be productive o
benefit to ourselves.
FEBRUARY, 10.
Well, my Dear 10, the Legislature has a
length risen, the busy Stir is over, and in the clio
rious spirit of our constitution, those who wcr,
lately dressed in little brief authority, have