The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-03-23
THE PAST LEGISLATURE.

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THE PAST LEGIsLATURE.
The Legislature, whose closing proceed
inss occupy 80 much Of our space TO day
we think will be- kindly remembered by The
people Of the Stale, A. working and we'll
in,enlioned body Of men, who have been
disposed to do, and have done, The STATIC
service. ffihey have no, accomplished all
that was hopei by the most sansnins. they
have done As much, and more. than could
have been reasonably anticipated by those
who have any experience in The obs'ruc-
ions unavoidably incidental TO legislative
business. The deliberations Of both branch.
es have been marked with M uncommon
degree ofpropneiy, and The dsmeanor OF
members uw.rls each other was unusual.
" corieous-as a report in one or The
other branches. or a. an officer Of ihs Senate
We have been conversan, with Inc proceed.
inss Of the Legislatures for the pas, twelve
Years and We can safely say, that we have
never known business dispatched with
more rapiIiiy, or with more regard TO tho
interests Of the State ani its people--'han
al the session just passed.. Tho members
worked with patient assidui,y. expendiny
bu, liuls Inns in speech making AMI mona
IiH Legislative irifling. Tho length Of The
session was sspe"iy,four hays-las year Il
VA. i07 days, aud the average length Of The
sessions for the pas, twelve years has been
nearly 95 days. The ss.sions Of is50'
1852 AMI 1884 were respectively, ia, ITO,
and io7, days The differences in the
amour, Of The Pay R'll between This aud
the preceding Legislature is aboui Twelve
Thousand dollars less. The diligence OF
the members has heen such a even 10 ex-
tort praise from the Age, apapsr which has
no sympathy with the sentiments OF The
men who composed the majority Of The
Legislature. That paper says There has
been fair amour, Of bnsi mesa before the
Legislature, and il has been dispatched
with ordinary promp'i'u'Ie and Gis'i'y"-
and "lhe members have been commenia.
bly, attentive 10 business. and have transact
ed Il with The usual despatch"
The more prominent arts 81 this lesis-
iaicre are, the amended Liquor Law f; the
bill recognizing The Supreme Judicial
Couris; The bill prohibiting Tho State Off.
ce's o' this State tom assisting in The ar
res, OF fugitive slaves, and denying The use
Of our Jail. for :heir 'lrisniion aud safe keep
in. the bill prohibiting the Courts Of this
Stale fron granting na'nraliznion papers 10
foreigners: Resolves provi'Iiny for an
amendment OF the Constitution. so rs TO
make ihs Land Aysii. Aitornsy G.nsral,
and a,ljniaii General elective bv The IL us.
la,ure. aud Sh.rriG.. Jniye.. and Registers
OF Probate. and Police ar municipal judges,
elective rs the pson'-; Rslaiihy ~ slavery
bill granting $is0fl0 10 ina M,ins Stale
Seminary; bills Respecting lo'isriss &c.
Oftle personal character NJ tho members,
We append tho opinions givon by thu two
p 'li'ioal papers published At Augusta Tho
Ago says:
Tho members of the Legislators just clos.
ed-includint tho fusio, msmrers-- .ers .
pretty clover aet Of C-ltoS> Tssss tAst. sls---r
thWngh ~ crazy rs b.i.ha.s IN I'LL the dis
tnctive doym of fusi,nism. were navsrthe.
less sane, reasonable and Gir.minded on
soma otlier matters. ri
Tho journal says:
or the personal character of those who
A. al 40
gives us pleasure n speak: 70 descrihe them
briefly, they were high onei. moral gentle.
men; coming together ~ che representatives
Of the ps"pls, their earns.fn"ss gave evi-
demo that they sPprccia cd ihe responsible.
i.y Of their trusts. and meeting ~ trisnds
( the Maine IA~, their t1nl ahstinenoe
from the u.e Of intoxicating liquors, show.
I'd that they recognised 'hs . rcngth and
Influence of cxau,ple M we'll 10 oi prccept.
The, reduced their theory to practice, and
ssrs thorough going te,npsrancs men.
Their intercourse with the inbabi'ants or
,ur ci,y. was M less pleasant than with
acl other ind IN my have formed acqu.in-
ances and friends In mr. midst. by wh,m
hey Sill not som be forgotten.
Among The measures which failed, tho
% OF which We deeply regret, was the bill
" the establishment of Normal Sch"s
he failure Of the till 10 not attributable 40
'uch TO the conviction VI il dement's, NJ
h. feeling which was pr.l' ed by u" os
the apr ,priation. Tor literary 'sn'inA'is'
nd tho lat.ness Of tho hour when is cane
p Coz snal di.p saioo. There was d''a-
rreinx vote between tho two branches up
n tic bill. and o"oftrens. parpo'ed "
10 Senate which bad passed the bili. Tie