Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-04-21
Anti Vassal Meeting.

several tracts Of land in Kennebec, Lincoln and
Somerset counties, which has been claimed By
one Henry Webster, as divisee under the will
Of Florentius yassal, assembled at the Court
House, in Augusta, on Tuesday, April II. 1853
Statements in regard to the nature of the
claim, were made, and the following relations
unanimously adopted :
ResolUcd, That in the opinion of This con-
vention neither the King of England, nor any
other foreign monarch ever had just aud val
ID right, title or claim TO lands in the kenne-
bee Valley, extending from MeTTymeeing
| Bay fifteen miles on each side Of said river
10 Norridgewock, and that having no origl-
nal right or valid title or claim, he could not
grant or legally convey TO others what he
never possessed. Hence any grant from him
to the colony of Plymouth, or any purchase
from that colony, is invalid and without just
or true foundation.
Resolred, That it is evident from the con-
duct Of Florentius Vassal and those claim
ing under him that if they ever supposed they
had claim based on the above grant to any
part or parcel OF the lands 10 question, by
purchase or otherwise, they evidently con-
sidered them valueless previous TO our revo-
luton, therefore allowed them to remain dor
mant and unmproved and unsubstantiated
during his long life, which terminated in
ITS. -H
ResoiUed, That the fact, that the said Flor
entlus Vassal, previous TO his death, and that
his heirs have no, during the IS years which
have elapsed since VassaI's death, bad any
agent or person in tbs country to take the
least supervision or care Of said claim in any
public registry or document in this country
is abundant and conclusive proof that their
claim has been actually abandoned by them
for nearly 100 years.
| Resolued, That as said lands have been
abandoned by said Vassal and his heirs for
nearly one hundred years and been 10 the
actual peaceabie occupancy and possession
of others for that period, no sane or judi
cious person can fail TO award them to the
persons who have occupied and cultivated
them for this period, by themselves or de-
scendants, rather than TO those who have
bought these abandoned and dead claims for
song, and are now harrassing the true pro-
prietors, by repeated, vexations and expen-
sive lawsuits.
Resolred, That we are grieved to say that
our early laws, and many still remaining on
our statute book, touching landed estates in
this country, were framed mostly fo- The ben
eft, and to suit the wishes Of large landed
proprietors, 'and the decisions and construc-
| lions in regard TO those laws were made
mostly by judges, who were either proprie-
tors themselves, or Influenced by proprietors
10 whom they owed their appointments.
| RcSolUed, That we the members of this
convention are law-abiding people-we
plant ou selves on the laws of Maine and are
willing that our rights and interest should be
l g
peers, and shall abide such decisions as shall
be promulgated through such source.
ResolUed, That if foreigners and mercena-
ny men are permitted 10 prosecute our quiet
and slaid citizens with impunity, and harass
them with stale, absolute and unlounded
claim--if our laws are to be rendered null
AID void that such claim may be substantial
ed and made valid, we can only say, when
that crisis arrives, we shall throw ourselves
on the strong arm of the State authority, for
support and protection. If that fails us, we
must resort to our natural, indefeasible, re-.
serUed rights.
The committee also reported resolution
proposing a committee of three TO raise by
subscription at this meeting, sum OF mon
ey, 20 assist Mr.. Cooper i'll the further defense
of this action.
| OllnOre DIlSS, w IN. H. JOHeS, anu HtooCo
! Harris, were chosen said committee.
Voted, that a committee OF three be cho-
sen TO have the supervision, in connection
with the defendant of the present suit, and
| also all future actions that may be brought
against any who shall associate with them for
the general protection of our rights. And
said committee may select one Of their num-
Der to act in concert with said Cooper and
his attorney or attorneys, in defending the
suit.
And Nathaniel bennett, Moses ID. Bliss,
and Jerome BurrelI, were elected said COM
mittee.
Voted, That the above named committee
be hereby authorized to call legal meetings
of the settlers, whenever they may deem II
expedient.
Mr. HANEs. We cannot permit this old
and particular friend Of ours, 1--WE mean outside
of poltics) to retire from the Postoffice with
out parting favorable word. He has dis
charged his duties, as an officer of the govern
ment, as well as could have been expected,
when his strong federal afinties were taken
into consideration, and we may say, to the ger
eral satisfaction of our citizens. We have
known Mr. Haines long years-we know he
has good heart and although as newspaper
! ed;tor ba has said some hitter and erroneous