Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-18
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.

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In my last gave you a general account
of Legislative proceedings for the week end
ing March the eighth. If you will allow
me a little room in your paper, will CONT
nue. the sketch to Thursday last, which ter
minated long and laborious session. On
Monday, in the House, several subjects were
passed upon. The principal one was bill
proposing material alterations in the militia
system, which was reported early in the
session. It contains numerous provisions
the most important of which are, first, that
every company shall be paraded on the first
Tuesday of May, at 8, A. M. for inspection,
&C., and on one other day, in September e
October of each year second, thatthe troops
shall be paraded only once in two years for
review, inspection, and discipline; third, that
all soldiers who have the certificate of the
commanding officer of their respective COM
panies that they have been armed, equipped,
and uniformed, according to law, and have
performed all the requisite active duties Of
the company, shall be exempted from the
poll tax. It provides further for repeal Of
several of the existing enactments on the
subject. The bill was discussed, altered,
amended, and banded about. A new bill
was introduced the number of trainings
was reduced to one in year, viz. the first
Tuesday Of May and many members were
DESTROYS of repeating all existing laws rela-
ting to the militia, which would strike at the
root of its present organization. After vari-
Gus motions and counter motions-considera-
tons and e-considerations-the whole mat
ter was referred by small majority to the
next Legislature. An appropriation was
made for the extension of a survey of route
for canal from Western to the Connecti-
cut River, in the route of the Chickope.
An examination was made last Summer as
far as Western by the board of commits
sioners of internal improvements, who re-
ported to the Legislature during the last
month, and made favourable Represented
ton of the proposed route from Boston to
Blackstone Canal, and thence to the line Of
Connecticut, &c. &c.
On Tuesday, amongst other things, the
bill providing for the establishment of the
Massachusetts literary fund was referred to
the next General Court, and ordered to be
printed in the newspapers in the meantime.
This bill was reported by the Committee on
Education, and is substantially as follows,
providing that the proceeds of the sales
of our public lands; also, such portions Of
our claim upon the United States as may be
allowed, and fifteen per cent. of all taxes
upon banks that may hereafter be incorpo-
rated, shall constitute a fund under the d.
rection Of the Governor, Lieut.. Governor.
Secretary, and Treasurer Of the Common
wealth, as Commissioners-to be applied to
the endowment of an Institution for the in
struction of School teachers in each county.
and to aid the common schools in each town.
But no appropriation is to be made to anv
county for the endowment of such an insti-
tuition, larger than the amount that such
county, or individuals, or towns, shall raise
for the same purpose: and no town shall re-
ceive from the fund, for the benefit of its
common schools more than one third of the
sum raised in such town for the same pur-
pose. The Legislature may, at their discre-
ton, provide that such of the practical arts
and sciences shall be taught in the county
institutions as may be deemed most useful.
The Commissioners are authorized to ac-
eept any donations made by individuals for
the increase of the fund, which shall be
deemed and taken to constitute a part
thereof
The bill constituting New Bedford half
shire of Bristol County passed the House
by considerable majority: A reconsider
alton was refused on the day following. The
bill was strenuously opposed by gentlemen
from the centre and upper part of the coun-
ty. Mr.. Baylies of Taunton used every eff
fort in every stage of its progress to defeat
the bill, but without success.
No business of general Importance was
transacted in the House on Wednesday.
In the Senate, on Monday and Tues
day, most of the subjects amongst the or
ders OF the day, that came up for discussion,
were referred to the next Legislature. On
wednesday but little business was transact
ed, and on Thursday morning both branches
were prorogued The following are the
names OF the gentlemen chosen by the Lee
glslature as board of Directors of Internal
improvements, under tIewnew act ato pro-