The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-02-17

competition among purchasers, anu lne
possibiliny offavori'ism excluded. Without
intending 10 Join in the popular clamor
apains, The administration OF the affairs of
the Land Office, which has for many years
prevailed, and without intending TO express
any dis,rus, of the integrity of the gentle.
men who have successfully had charge Of
il, F., feel i, TO be due 10 those who may sue.
ceed them, 10 the general peace and har.
mony of all Interested, 10 recommend 10
you 10 carefully define by Legislation the
duties of the Land Agent, and 10 confer
upon that officer 10 more discretionary
power than is absolutely necessary fos the
proper discharge of those duties. | make
The Recommendation not from any appre-
tensions iha, any discretionary power con-
ferred will be abused, but for the purpose
OF relieving the office from many embar.
rassmenis and responsibilities which render
the performance Of its duties unnecessarily
onerous 10 the incumben, and serve 10
arouse jealousies and furnish an apology
for impu,a,ions which should not exist
against any department Of government.
By reference 10 the map Of The State it
will be perceived that large proportion oil
our public lands lie upon The waters OF the
Saint John. The products and business
OF that country will naturally follow The
wafer courses and flow TO the city OF Saint
John. The railroad now in progress from
Sar, Andrews TO Woodstock, thence TO be
continued 10 The Madawaska settlement,
will afford a still further facility, and have
an additional tendency 10 carry the business
of the north eastern section OF our State TO
the Province OF New Brunswick. II there
is any mode by which the business and trade
Of that region can be saved 10 the Stale,
the settlement Of the Aroos,ook country
promoted, and the value Of The public lands
increased, il is mos, assuredy for the in.
,eresl of the State TO adopt il. The most
obvious and, perhaps, the only mode is by
furnishing facilities for transportation AT
the session Of The Legislature Of eighteen
hundred and filly-two an act OF incorporation
was granted TO certain individuals for the
purpose of enabling them 10 construct a
railroad from the terminus of the Bangor
and Pisca,aquis Canal and Railroad Com.
pany in Oldiown, 10 the Mal,awamkeag
River in Indian township. That Railroad,
as learn, is already under contract as far
as Lincoln, and there is good reason for be-
licving il will soon be completed 10 Malta.
wamkeag Point. AT the last named point
it will nearly touch the public lands. II is
said, although | am not prepared 10 vouch
for the correctness Of the assertion, that a
very valuable route can be found from that
point, by following up the Mattawamkeag
10 the forks, so called, and thence to mum.
Der eleven. Such road, if constructed,
will pass through very valuable section
Of the State lands, and furnish the facility
desired for the transportation Of the manu-
faciured and agricultural products OF that
section OF tho State 10 onr own narkels.-
Should the construction Of such road be
undertaken by individual enterprise, there
can be no question that il will be for the Pc
cuniary interest of the State 10 afford all
such aid and facilities as can be afforded
consistently with due regard for the rights
of the whole people. During the Ten years
last past, the appropriations for the cons!ruc-
lion OF roads and bridges, exclusive OF
grants of lands for similar purposes, have
exceeded siy,y-four thousand dollars. II is
not 10 be presumed ,ha, the well.esiablished
policy in this matter, rs indicated BY the
acts OF successive Legislatures from the
very commencement OF our existence as an
Independent State, is now to be abandoned.
My attention has been called, during the
pas, year, 10 the laws upon our statute book
providing for the organization of govern
ment, and discipline Of the Militia. Years
have elapsed since il was found necessary
TO call into exercise the military arm Of
The State, and you will all unite with me in
the hope that The occasion may never again
occur. But neither the experience OF the
past nor hope for the future can justify
a dcrelciion from duty. The obligations
imposed upon this Stale as a member OF the
Union are not 10 be dsregarded because
her people feel that they derive no ben.
eft from them, or because the observance
Of them is Of itself irksome, or has fallen
into disrepute. No such sentiment, surely
should find its way into the halls OF Legis.
la,ion, and occupy q place upon the statute
book. Yet n careful comparison OF the
laws Of this State with those Of the United
States upon the subject Of the Militia, may
convince you that this is The position which
Maine now occupies.
Should you, however, be Of different
'opinior, | would at least invite your aiten-
,ion 10 The statute provisions relating parlic.
ularly 10 The volunteer militia. The Act OF
Congress of April %, 1908, provides for an
annual appropriation of two hundred thou.
sand dollars for the purpose Of providing
arms and military equipments for The whole
body Of The militia in the United States. !,
provides further that all the arms procured
in virtue OF that Act shall be transmitted TO
the several states and territories, in proper
,ion 10 the number OF effective militia in
each state and territory, 10 be distributed 10
the militia under such rules and regulations
rs shall by law be prescribed. Under this
act, Maine has annually received the
amoua, of arms and equipments apporiioned
her, and has now in her Arsenals, at Port
land and Bangor, over twelve thousand stands
of arms, with The usual equipments and ap-
pendages. By the Act Of August 10, 1s4S,
provision was made for their distribution 10
ihe millia.-1hai act was repealed April
&c, 1852, and since that time none have
been distributed, although numerous appli.
cations therefor have been made by volunteer
companies organized in The mode required
by law, which constitute in fac, our ONLY eff.
fceiire militia.
submit TO you whether the Stale Is not
in honor and justice bound 10 appropriate
this property 10 the uses contemplated by
the law under which she received Il; whelh.
er prudential considerations do no, call for
It's distribution, as il may be required,
among The duly organized volunteer Militia
10 whom alone we can look for prompt and
eiiicien, aid, should occasion reouire, in
the suppression Of insurrecion, the pro,ec.
,ion OF persons and property from lawles
outrage, and in the execution of the laws
Of the land; whether il is no, for her pecu.
mary interests SO TO do, rather than to ex.
pend money in preserving il from de,erior.
alton, in keeping her Arscnals in repair,
and in the payment OF salaries 10 indiyid.
uals employed TO take charge OF them.
Our constitution, recognizing the truth
,ho, .......: l;H,s,nn of H.