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

three times, nay four times as great as the gen
teman had stated H. Mr.. w. then noticed the
principals arguments that had been offered on
the other side he said that many towns were
ready 10 furnish Accommodations TO the Govern
ment free Of exPence, and although Portland had
done II IN liberal manner, yet he was unwil-
ing 10 tax any town or any county with these
expenccs. For his part he did not wish tie
seat of Government TO be carried to Augusta,
untilthe State should have buildings for IFS &C.
commodation. He thought the time had now
arrived, when il was proper and necessary that
a state of the enterprise and resources of Name
should have a permanent seat of Government,
and be provided with public bulldogs of its own.
lie did not wish TO tax private benevolenCe
longer. 1t was not contended but the seat Of
Government must sooner or later be moved from
Portland, why then should we not begin TO
make the necessary preparations for such an
event The town of Augusta had offered an
eligible spot of land as a seat for public build
ings, and we ought to begin TO anticipate re-
moval. The same season had been offered
against its being moved every time the question
had been agitated, that there were no accom-
modations for the seat Of government, elsewhere,
and that the State could not bear the expenCe
of providing them #; if the same arguments pre-
vail every year, we never shall be ready. Ii is
apparent 10 every one, that the Legislature
should hold its sessions as near the centre of
population as possible. 1t is now ascertained by
committee of intelligence and independence
after Investigations that the IAst suitable
place is Augusta why then should we hesitate
10 give the opinion of such men its due weight,
and after the subject has been so long agitated,
to act upon it
1t was known to every body last year. said Mr..
w. that the committee had this subject given to
them, and that they were to report to this Lee
gislature they must therefore have expected
That the question would be discussed; the reason
then given for postponenent, that the people
are not prepared for the question can have no
avail be hoped the subject would not be post
poned but that the Legislature would meet it at
the present time.
Mr.. w. stated that the alarm about the treas
ury, was not well founded; the probability was,
that during this year we should receive from
Massachusetts, $4,000 on account of lands set
off by the commissioners for the indian claim
and this money could not be applied to the pay
ment Of the state debt, which is not payable IN
til 1882 why then would not this sum enable
US to commence the erection of public buildings?
Mr. w. did not see any reason why we should
not consider the eport Of the committee at the
present time.
.ur. adams, said that he had understood it to
be the duty of the committee to examine and
designate some place for a permanent scat of
government, but he did not understand, nor did
any of those persons with whom he had con-
versed, understand that Augusta was the place
determined on, until the committee made their
report. The subject was therefore, in this great
point, new the people have not bad time to con-
sIder it, nor can they without a postponement.
1t was not expected that subject of such mag
nitude would be settled by the present Legisla-
ture. Mr. 4. observed that he felt himself
placed in delicate situation upon this subject,
living as he did in Portland, but he had some sat
istactlon IN rejecting that il was not more so,
than that OF the gentleman from Augusta. He
rose, he said, at this time, merely to obviate the
position OF the gentleman last up, respecting the
situation OF the treasury. The Treasurer, he
said, had estimated that at the end Of this year
there would be balance in the Treasury Of
little more than $1,000; venture to affirm,
said Mr.. A. that the whole of that sum will be
swallowed up in the expenditures Of the year.
Beside the ordinary expences of Government,
You Will be called upon to appropriate money
10 commence penitentary this is no trfing
matter but If you now accept this report, the
next thing viii be, call to appropriate money
10 erect buildings for the accommodation of Gov
eminent. Are You ready for this undertaking
now are You ready TO increase your State debt
and the taxes of the people for this purpose or
will you leave future Legislature, which will
be informed By public opinion, TO determine this
highly important question