The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-24
Debate On nc Seal cf Covsrrmenf Q.cstion.
IcoNnIunTnl

"N'ss - sAtN lhat no part OF the deed would
imply contract on the part Of the State. tie
inevitable inference would be, II their doc
lrine were true, that II were 20 better than
folly 70 make this provision. Bot. said LIZ.
DO not believe the doctrine. | am satisfied
that after we accept this deed, We shall be
called upon 10 make appropriations of money
and u We decline, we shall be ted that we
have done the people Of Augusta an injury !:
that The faith Of the State Il forfeited. ana
nothing bnt money viii satisfy them. The
gentleman from Hartford seems TO have %
Tears Il the yoke Is on our necks, unless the
DOW - also; but he seems 10 be quite willing
TO use his niger as PIN to hold eur neeks to
the bow.
l.ar. p. continued his remarks, s5tieA re u,re
not abe 10 e0lleel
Mr.. WILLIAMS said he felt il his duty to
make few remarks, lest there should be an
improper use made OF the word permanent.
named ln=he report. He did not believe ii
meant eternal, bot for stated time and al
though the Legislature might be said 10 be
permanently fixed, il was vet subject to that
change, which must always be ia the power
Of any future Legislature
lSene further discussion here took place on the
cord permanent, at the close Of lchich there tgas
a cali for the guesi0n
Mr.. SMITH, of Newfed, said that the sub
ject bad taken such wide range, and had
embraced so many objects, that il was almost
impossible for him 20 consider the question
before the House, without a constant sPpre-
henslon Of being called to order. So much
had been said about yokes, and bows, and
bug bears, and the improper influence Of
Portland, that he should not, perhaps, be able
70 keep within the track Of the argument
The whole subject, indeed, presented such an
III formed figure, that it was not easily des-
cribed.
do not, said he, know Of but one thing to
which 1t bears a tolerabie ikeuess. | re-
member to have read in my earlier days some
account Of a famous monster, the HYDRA, that
infested lake in the fields of Argos, which
had many heads; and what made him most
formidable, as soon as one head was cut off,
another would grow out in its stead, unless
The blood that issued from the Wound was
stauncbed by FIRE. To Hercules was given
the CLOS Of overcoming this monster but
even this demigod required the assistance Of
friend to furnish him with fire brands or
torches to scar the wounds. did not expect
10 see in this House monster of the like
description; but from the never ending shapes
10 which the I" head aud front" Of this sub
iect is exhibited, l can think Of nothing
which it more nearly resembles. / do not
know that we shall be furnished with such
powerful aid to get rid Of the monster; but
from its constant appearance and reappear-
ance, to our annoyance and discomfort,
should hope we might find some among US
(, equal to the task.
I In the first agitation of the question, if am
correctly informed, the struggle was between
Portland and HalIowell; and it has been
pursued from the time of our first Legisla-
ture to the present, with an ardor worthy Of
4 a good IL not better cause, until at length a
committee was appointed, on the back Of a
Resolution respecting site for the State Pris-
on, 10 enquire Into suitable place for the
permanent seat Of Government. Who will
believe that committee would have been ap-
pointed for this purpose Independently Of the
State prison question This was favour
able opportunity oftacking on the former as a
rider, and il was not neglected. What could
the committee do under such circumstances
They must report something, and after visi-
ting several towns, concluded TO recommend
Augusta. The report and the subject matter
in consequence being brought into the legisla-
lture il was necessarily subject Of considera-
ltion and after some debate accepted bv a
Ilsan maisrity.--The gentleman who are ad
lvocates for the measure, say the people call;
loudly for permanent establishment of the
seat Of government but for my part hear
this from no other quarter than from those
who make the assertion. | doubt whether
there is single member from the county OF
York, that can say he has heard any such call
aud ! am warranted in saying that men,
bers voted last year in favour of accepting
be report ofthe committee, to get rid of the
constant and perplexing agitation of this
question, which had already cost the state so
much, from the unceasing pertinacity Of some
gentlemen, who were determined to resist no
opportunity Of urging their sectional claims al
whatever expense il might be of time and mon
ey.-Here il was believed the question would
have rested, for season al least, but al the
very next session we are pressed 10 except
deed Of piece Of land, on which 10 erect
buildings but Of the object intended bvI
the present, il seems there may be some doubt.
The gentleman from Augusta says we may
take the land and use it for any other purpose,
without forfeiting our title. Why then refer
to the report of the committee ? Strike out
that reference, and ], for one, am ready TO
ACCEPT the deed.
The gentleman from Hartford seems 10 be-
willing 10 defend this non-descript production
after whatever mutations il NAV suffer from
its friends or foes. For nv part, wish to
see no more of IL; and under this impression
! was induced TO offer the order which passed
the House this morning. to raise a committee
to consider the cxPediency Of submitting the
question to the people-whether it is expe-
dent 10 locate seat OF government and in
cur the consequent necessary and inevitable
expenses al the present time If the PEG
pie are prepared 10 TX upon a SPOT uhereon
TO erect State buildings, not word shall os-
cape from me- but am not disposed to deter.
nine this question. until the voice OF the
people is moro distinctly known.
The gentleman from Augusta, in his re-
marks The other day, affected to consider il Al
novel and strange thing T. submit such d