The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-17

sksfeA s fAs DEBATE IN fhs Hoslst 81 Rsprtsensa-
ffs<f. ca - sfnsnfay, ftb. A, On fss Rfsolre rs-
spseiiag ikt .f4xusa Dssd. The debate aross
81 Mr.. HuiehiasoA's aBasnemeHi, ,sAish zee hass
esfers meliccd
Mr.. Isaac Answa rose, and said be was
exposed % adopting the amendment, because 4
went 20 co06rnan support a system Of plsdg-
e all tcndiug 10 one point, and that point he
aavocafes u the system were determined q
gaia II Il could be effected BY aay fair prinsi-
pies "a Legislauoa Bot said Mr.. Al ms
constituents did not seed ne here 10 deter
mlne questions which are within their cwa ia
mediate cegnixance and contr1l. and on which
they Justly ciksn right 20 act and decide for
themselves neither did come here 90 tell
yoa that Portland had expendedy very consider
able sums Of money for providing buildings
FOR the use Of the Legislature, where i was
directed they should bold their first session; and
that the State was thereES bound TO receive
aud use the building erected ia this place, and
which they can have as long as they cboOse,
free Of expense--but came free TO oppose
any measure which IL calculated 10 foreclose
public opinion and 10 be used as pledge from
the members OF this House.
IL there be no pledge contained ia the pre-
limaarics to the deed, why are wc 50 hard
pressed 90 accept IL, and why are We called
Hpon with such earuest0oss 70 determine the
question AZ this time The whole object aud
end cannot be mistaken il is self-eyident
II i 4 question Of local anl sectional interest,
totally disconnected with any particular re-
gard Cor the interest Of the State. What shall
we gain by accepting the deed az this lime n
II cannot be pretended that We are able toI
improve IL az present without an enormous
expense, and even If we could Il would be OF
no benefit 70 the State The spot Of ground
described in the deed. is said 10 be about one
third OF a mile from Augusta, and consider
able distance further from Hailoweil Il can
be scarcely necessary TO enumerate The dis
advantages which every one connected with
the legislative bodies must labour under for
accommodation IN place afording 50 few
and scanty means ofafording even shelter for
% considerable a number OF people Is mpst'
necessarily be crowded together at the meet
fng of the various branches ofthe government.
NAV here ask, sir. what has been the advan-
taVc Of removing the seat OF our national gov
eminent from Philadelph to Washington !;
IL is, to be sure, a little nearer the centre'
Of territory: but Of what consequence can
that be, compared TO the enormous increase
Of expenses Of every description consequent
upon that removalS A territorial centre is
perhaps the last 20 be regarded in settling
question Of this kind. Population. business,
convenience and accommodations of members
OF the legislature are all 10 be preferred to the
geographical point 70 which so much magma
~ importance has been attached By some
gentlemen who have given but superficial
views Of the subject. As | have before re-
marked, this may be the driving of another
nail / do not say that II will be clenched,
but it will be difficult 10 draw II out The
proposition would not be so Objectionable in
itself, were il not for the train Of consequent
ces which il will inevitably draw after it.
II was said, last year, If we would accept
the report OF the committee, the whole subject
would be at rest until 1880 that il would
not be understood As contract that the on
" object was 10 prevent further discussion Of
this fruitful subject. But we are scarcely en-
tered on the business OF the session, before
we arc presented with deed, 40 interviewer
with the report Of the committee, that il can
be considered in no other light than an ire
vocable engagement on the part OF the State,
TO commence the erection OF public buildings
az Augusta. II is not the ten dollars which Is
named in the deed as a consideration, which
binds the parties, but the reference the deed
has to the report Of the committee.
suppose we accept this deed, and the inter-
est Of the State does net require 70 occupy il
in short period. would not those who have
conveyed it claim the value Of the land
Suppose an heir of one Of the grantors, who
might deceSSe, should remove into another
state, could he not bring bis action and re-
cover his property There would be moth
ing to prevent his maintaining an action ia the
courts OF the United States TO recover posses
SION Of the land; and in case there was re-
fusa 70 give * up, our militia would be cali
ed out to aid the marshal IN enforcing the de-
cision. 4
When | look round aud see so many places
aaording strong inducements for a permanent
seat Of government, | confess arm unwilling
to be tied down 70 Augusta, without fair ex-
preston Of the public voice. | am willing 30
submit the question 10 the people, although
the gentleman from Thomasion, the othe n
day, expressed bis determination to vote for
his own town, and his belief that many Others
would feel the like partiallty for their own
towns. But for myself | do not believe the
people are so vague in their notions. / be-
lieve there viii be no more diFision on this
subject, than there usually is ia the election
Of Governor, and hope we shall not adopt the
amendment, bat let the whole subject be At
rest, and proceed 70 that part ofIegislaliOn,
which the people require az our hands.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, Of Augusta, saia-he-was sor-
~ 70 trouble the House with any farther re-
marks on this question; and should not do Ii
al this time, had be not considered IL has duty
70 reply 20 the gentleman from Portland
lie, lsaid Dir. W. has labOred TO convince
this House that in the event Of the deed being
accepted and the State afterwards finding Il
imPrudent to occupy the land, II must revert
10 the original owners, and the State thereby
lose its claim. am not prepared to give such
legal construction 10 the instrument and was
Millinr 10 accnnf n ns frsf rrd ,.l ,.t a. :.