Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-04-23
REMARKS OF MIR. MORSE,
OF BATH.

In Committee of the Whole IN The House
Of Representatives, March A, 184o.-
The question being on the motion Of Mr.
.andrews to recommend the andetnate
postponemen. of the bill 10 incorporate
the SEBooMooK SLUIcEwAy Mr.. Ham
lin havine inquired for the reasons in
support ofths bill
Mr., MORSE, of BATH, said he had no
experience in matters of legislation, and
knew but little about the mode OF conduc-
ting business in this House; but SO lar as
he had observed, it was, at least, an unusu-
al thing for committees to be called upon to
give the House, their reasons tor reporting
bills of this character. The bill before the
House was reported by a joint standing
committee it had received the favorable
consideration ofthe Senate, and had been
sent here for our action. Under such cir
cumstances, the general practice was for
the opponents ofthe bill to come forward
and endeayor to defeat Its passage; es-
pecially where such an undue degree of ex-
element had been raised against it. But,
1t seems, the customary order Of things
were to be reverse! on this OCCASION
The gentlemen from Hampden, (Mr. Ham
lin) with other opponents of the bill, has
mannuvered with considerable skill to out
general its friends. They hope by draw
ing them out first to gain something
But, as he hoped, this question would be
settled more by argument than the skill of
tac.icians, Mr. M. said, he was not unwill
ing to give them this advantage, if it was
one. lie had not expected to take the
lead in the discussion, yet, as the gentle
man from Hampden appeared to censure
the committee for bringing forward this
bill, he would attempt to offer few ofthe
reasons which led him, as member OF the
committee, to favor it, and which would
induce him as member Of this House to
vote for Its passage.
Mr.. NJ said, this was not new subject
the idea of sluice-way at the point
contemplated was not of recent origin. 1t
had long been in contemplation and was
looked to by individuals who own land in
that region, as the only means of getting
their lumber to market. And, Mr. Coffin,
Land Agent for Massachusetts, stated be-
fore the committee which reported this bill,
that the expectation that such work
would, at no distant day, be accomplished
operated as an inducement on purchasers
to invest their money in timber lands in
that vicinity A bill for the sa ne object,
and similar in its provisions, was before
the Legislature one year ago. 1t then re-
ceived the favorable consideration of the
Committee on Interior Waters, was repor-
ted to the Senate, and passed that body by
large majority, seven Senators only vot-
ing against it. 1t came to the House, and
was here resisted by the argument that no
survey of the premises had been made
that the soil betweenthe Meadow PONG and
the Northwest Inlet Stream was sandy,
and if an opening were once made, the
whole head waters of the west branch of
the Penobscot, would be turned into the
Ksnnebec These and assertions of a
similar nature had their intended effect,
and the Legislature, in its abundant eau
ton. referred the measure to this Legisla-
ture. Not, however, with the intention of
giving it the go by. but tina: the matter
might t~is year be proceededin with more
safety.-they passed an order directing the
Governor and Council to appoint COM
ne,ent and impartial engineer, to go on the
ground and make thorough survey. That
6os been accomplished. There (pointing
80 map which hung at the clerks desk)
hangs plan ofthe survey, and the report
nf,he engineer has been laid on the table
IS every member. He hoped no further
deJay would be asked for,