The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-10
Sf[aile Ieaislatl1re.
AUGUSTA, Thursday. Jan. 9.

AUGUSTA, Thursday, Jan. 9.
SEyArE.-Mr. Smart, Of Knox, offered the
following resolutions, which, on his motion,
were laid on the table and ordered to be
printed:
Resolved, That II is tho duty Of Congress,
BY such means as will not leopard the rights
and safety Of the loyal people Of the South,
TO provide for the confscation and liberation
of every slave belonging to any pcrson who
shall continue in arms against the authority
of the United States, or who shall. in any
manner, hid and abet in the present wicked
and unjusti6able rebellion.
Resolved, That Congress has the Constitu.
tional right "to mise and support armies"
and to call upon oil able-bodied men OF ev
cry color and condition. in this perilous crisis
of our country, to take up arms for its DC.
fence; and il the men who have been held
by the rebels as slaves. are found capable OF
bearing arms and performing efficient militia
~ service, ii is the duty Of the Government
to arm and exuip them, under proper mill
tary regulation. discipline and command. .
Resolved, That Congress shall grant to oil
such men, who may enlist in tho army, the
pay. clothing and subsistence Of q soldier.
and take steps for coonizing them at the end
of their service, and also for colonizing 9th.
ers who may DO confscated, SO far rs 1t may
be practicable, in some place or places OF the
Union, where tho climate is consenial to
them.
Resolred, That oil vacant and unoccupied
lands, held by States which have entered In
to On unconstitutional confederation for the
purpose of making war upon the Union,
should, by act Of Congress, be Immediately
confscated to the United States, to be nppro-
priated according to tho discretion Of Con-
cress, for the benefit OF manumittcd slave
soldiers and others of African descent, who
should be protected, wherever lands are set
apart for them, By system OF government
appropriate to their condition.
Resolved, That copy OF these resolutions
be sent to the Senators and Representatives
in Congress from this State, and that they be
respectfully requested to use all honorable
means to secure the passage Of acts embody-
ing their spirit and substance.
The Joint Select Committee, appointed to
examine the returns of votes for Governor Of
the last election, reported Us follows:
Whole number Of votes, l0o,oo
Israel Washburn, Jr., 5e,6ys
Charles d. Jameson, ~ wa
John W. Dana, lV,col
Scattering, 10
A Joint convention was held ut IL l.2
o'clock A. NJ, in the Representatives Hall,
for qualifying the Governor elect, and recely'
ing bis annual communication to the Legis.
lature. We publish Governor Washburn's
address in another part of tho paper.
FRIDAY, Jan. 3.
SEyArE.-A resolution was passed, author
king the Governor to appoint an agent or
agents to take charge of and transport to the
troops of tho State now in the field, such
hospital and other stores as may be donated
to them by the patriotism of our citizens -
providing that no pay to such agents DO al.
lowed, and that the cost OF travelling and
transportation DO betrayed by tho State.
A communication was received from tho
Governor, transmitting the report OF the
State Commissioners appointed to confer with
tho authorities at Washington relative to u
proper system OF coast deiences to DO adopted
BY the General Government; also copy Of
the Presidents message to Congress. dated
Dec. 18th, 1861, transmitting the correspond
ence between the Secretary Of State. Sccrc-
tary of War, and tho Executive of Maine on
the same subject; also copy of bill pend
ing in Congress to refund to the several States
money advanced for the prosecution of the
present war; alec copy Of letter from the
Secretary of War covering q report of tho
Chief Engineer relative to the defences Of
the city Of Portland.
In joint convention tho following execu-
tive officers of the State were elected:
Joseph B. Hall, Secretary of State.
Josiah II. Drummond, Attorney General.
Benz. w. Norris, Land Agent.
Messrs. G. NJ. Frost, Of Sanford. Charles
Holden, OF Portland, John ii. Gilman. OF
Sebec. Raymond 7. Rich, Of Thorndike,
John NJ. Frye, of Lewiston, Lewis l.. Wads-
worth, Jr., of Pembroke, and Washington
Wilcox, of Monmouth, Councillors.
A joint order was passed for the appoint
ment of Joint Special Committee on From.
tier and Coast Deiences.
SATURDAY, Jan. 4.
HousE.-Mr. Kingsbury Of Portland, in
troduced bill to amend chap. AZ OF the Re-
vised Statutes relating to Banks, and tho
Il