The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-04-07
Gbs arnlou nun suurnal.
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 7, "a.
REMOVAL OF THE COURTS.

CHI We content ourselves win the simple an-
nouncement that the Legislature OF our
State, In the exercise Of its wisdom and pre-.
negatives, had turned deaf ear to the pray.
er Of some three thousand OF the legal vot-
ers Of the County, who had asked Of them
the simple privilege Of allowing them the
opportunity Of settling, by the vote, OF the
people Of the County, the question OF the
removal of the Courts. This submission
was the practical question before the Lesi.-
lature, and on Friday last, by a concurrent
vote Of both branches accepting the report o.
the committee, ]: was settled adversely to
the petitioners.
This disposition OF subject which has e1-
cited so much interest among the people Of
the County, and which many people regard.
cd as peculiarly an appropriate one to be de,
tcr:ained by the votes Of the citizens Of the
County, will naturally excite remark, and
call forth feeling. Without questioning the
sincerity or honesty Of the motives which
nctuated the committee, we must be permit.
ted to say. that If the object was to quiet
the public mind, and TO settle vexed ques.
tion which has agitnted the people Of the
County, the decision will probably fail to
produce such an effect. The petitioners for
the removal were impressed with the belief
that the people Of the County, who were to
furnish the means for constructing the Coun-
ty Buildings, were in themselves competent
TO decide where the Courts should he located
1t was a very natural belief, and one which
no legislative action can or will root out
We deem it peculiarly unfortunate that such
an appeal to the people as was asked for,
should not have been allowed, and were we
opposed to the removal, we should regard it
equally so. The petitioners who feel that
they are seriously incommoded by the loca.
ton Of the Courts at Alfred, are too numcr-
Gus, too energetic, and too respectable to be
turned aside from further efforts by the sum
mary power Of the Legislature. Had the
Legislature allowed the question to go to the
people Of the County, and the decision Of
the people been against the petitioners,
there would have been an honorable obliga-
ton resting upon them to acquiesce, at least
for some time, in the verdict Of the people
Now. no such obligation is imposed, and it
matters not what expense may be incurred
in the erection Of the County Buildings, so
long as the location is fell to be seriously in
convenient to large portion OF the citizens
Of the County, Efforts will be made to change
tho location Of the County Buildings, or to
obtain such legislative action as will give bet.
ter accommodation to the people Of the sec.
tions from whence the petitions mainly come
In making these remarks we do no, in.
tend or desire to cast any reflections upon
the Committee Of the Legislature, or to cen.
sure the motives oil those who were opposed
TO the removal. We learned from one Of
the committee, that ono OF the strongest
grounds upon which their action was based,
was the general improperly Of leaving ques-
tons OF this character to the determination
Of the voters. The able and learned coun-
eel who argued the matter in opposition to
the prayer Of the petitioners, dwelt lcns up.
on this point, and, rs tho event proves, not
without effect, upon the minds Of the CON-
mittee. We do not intend now, or hereaf.
ter, to discuss this question at length, but
We wish to say-and we should be unjust to
those who have exerted themselves to pro.
cure the removal, if we did not - that 1t was
no merely personal desire to contribute to
the growth and prosperity Of single place,
that dictated their efforts. They believed,
and still believe. that the interests Of the
County would be promoted by the change =
In their view, the accommodation centre Of
Tho County is TO be found here, and the in
convenience to which they were subjected
themselves, added to desire OF promoting
the bost interests Of the County. induced
them to make the attempt to procure the re-
movnl.
We wero sorry 10 observe the studied at.
tempts Of somo Of the opposers Of the re-
moval TO disparage the business facilities and
business prospects Of our place; and not on.
~ this. bu, unworthy efforts to create a
prsjudics against the people Of our place,
by unjus, and injurious imputations against
their morals. We were not aware that in
all the particulars which 90 10 show US good
sisisens, and moral men, we were far behind
our peishbors. Tho towns Of Saco and Bid
dsford stand among the 6rst in the Slate in
the attention given TO their public schools,
and certainly there 10 no lack Of churches
and ministers among rs. together with other
means Tor social and moral culture. One
Ecntlsman, in particular, Ia his testimony,
did not forget 70 favor the COMMITTEES with
smother edition Of the. Philippe. which he
Issued aeainst our place two years ago.
This gentleman has grown gray in serving
himself and his kith and kin, BY srasp:ng
al The oasces'he could reach, and with his
long pockets stuffed to overaowing with the
ituis Of his disintsrested labors for the peo-
pie, Il did seem to DO somewhat ungratsful
%, him 10 b. found decryipg . portion Of
o., people ~ /" coating characters" with