Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-14


kennebunkport, or any Agent that may be hereafter
legally appointed for that purpose, to build said
Little Rysr ts ne Of nV road that NAV be
hereafter legally laid out and for that purpose pre-
sent the bill heremnto annexed
WILLIAM CURTIS, and others.
You see at once, gentlemen of the House,
that our time to prepare our defence and give
any notice that might be required, was mar
rowed down to few hours only. Our people,
for fear that this outrage of locating this pro-
posed way might be saddled upon them,
though 10th to part with one inch of their ter
ritory, since that notice was served upon us,
have put into my hand to present TO this Leg
islature a petition asking you to straighten
their town line, so that if the proposed way
is laid out. Bddeford, who alone is to be
benefited by the road. may take our land and
build the road over il at their own expense.
This petition, some two weeks ago, was pre-
scented to this House, and | asked an order OF
notice thereon. The order passed both branch
es of the Legislature. Subsequently it was
gotten back from the Senate by the gentle
man from Biddeford, and referred to the
Committee on the Division of Towns. A
majority of the committee reported in favor
of referring it to the next Legislature. The
present position of the case is on my motion
to recommit with instructions to report an
order of notice.
And now, Mr.. Speaker, and gentlemen of
the House, the long expected petition of
civilian Curtis and others" of which l have
had occasion to allude before, appears here
to-day for the first time, and has been pre-
scented and referred by the honorable gentle
man from Kennebunk, Mr.. Stone. bastard
petition it is, for he disclaims any relation
ship to it, and the gentleman from Biddetord
won't father it, and so the honorable gentle
man just consents to present it as q matter OF
mere courtesy to a brother lawyer.
Now, gentlemen of the House, Iwish to call
your attention to this plan or map of the
towns.
Mr.. COUSINS proceeded to explain infinitely
and at considerable length from his plan, that
the city of Biddeford and Kennebunkport
were a-board towns, adjoining each other,
being about ten miles in length and three or
more in width. That direct south east
line running from Lyman struck Little River
within about one mile of the sea, when the
river from that point called Scadlock's Falls,
became the dividing line, said river making a
bend into Biddeford, then running south
westerly and turning into the sea. As before
stated, citizens of Biddeford proposed to run
a road across the turn of said river. thereby
crossing the river twice, and over much DOGGY
salt marsh, creating necessity for kenne-
DunkDOTt 10 Dullu MY IOuS Vi bioESS, oiiu
thirty rods of turnpike over salt marsh, which,
together with the rest of the way within Ken
nebunkport, would cost that town, by careful
and competent estimation, nearly $4,000 to
build beside yearly expense, for all time,
for interest and repairs of some eight hun
dred dollars. He further showed from the
plan, that there was no necessity for the pro-
posed way. as the people of Biddeford could
be as well or better accommodated by straight
ening the old road and building it wholly in
the town of Biddeford on the east side of
the river, thereby costing Kennebunkport
nothing, and also saving the land damage OF
nearly 81 900 to the county, and costing Bid
ford no more than to build its part OF the pro-
posed way.
You ask. said Mr. Cousens, why is not that
your best defence? Mr.. Speaker and gen.
tlemen of the House, 1t is our defence in part,
and it is strong and impregnable point
and we have other strong points OF de-
fence which l think it not good policy to
disclose now. But against such an outrage
as the one imposed on us We ask to have every
means of defence that may legitlmately be
made. A distinguished elderly lawyer in our
county, said that he never had case in court
in his long practice that he was perfectly sure
would go in his favor. So, gentlemen, when
a matter is put into legislative body, who
can predict what its fate will be? Therefore,
as last resort, we put in this petition for
Strengthening the town line. Why, gentle
men of the House, the reason why we do it,
is not because we want to part with one inch
of our territory. We lore ere,y foot of it. Ii
is our matire soil and our birthright. And as
the gentleman from Biddeford, Mr.. Burn
ham, has said, Little River has been our
boundary line for two hundred years; and are
would to God it could be so STILL Do you
ask why we propose to give it up! Why, Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen, do you, when the
meets you and puts his dagger
to your throat, and cries out ''yonr money or
your life" why do you. ask, fling the former
in the scoundrel's face? Is it because he has
the least right to it? No sir. You part with
your money to escape greater calamity.
This, Mr.. Speaker, illustrates our case. The
citizens of Biddeford have laid covetous and
unholy hands upon our lands. They say to
US. build us road along the line of your
town, and within your town, at your own ex-
rense. and for all time to come maintain it,
though we know it is no benefit to you. We
answer. nay. You can build the road as well
On your own side of the line and on your own
s1ii. This they will not do, sir, but insist
E2zs their unjust demand shall be complied
with. And now we turn upon them and say, If
yeur intent is robbery or death, if you wtH have
lhe way over our territory, for fear of a worse
catastrophe, we say. take our land and do
with Il you please. but spare our life. 1t
u good land. free Of incumbrance, no paupers
thereon, no settlers, and is worth 5000.
Take Il. c0vetous. grasping neighbors; we are
10th 10 pars with il, but If we must, we must
We ak no return for il, ask no exchange,
;Bouah in justice we ought to do so.
Here Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen of the
House, is our case; we ask justice at your
hands. Much has been said in this House of
late. abou, disfranchising persons. Shall the
2T00 inhabitants Of Kennebunkport be dis
franchised by this House! Will you deny us
the right of petition! Gentlemen, this is
might against weakness, it is wealth against
poverty. Here is Kennebunkport, with her
valuation of only seven hundred thousand
dollars, and there is Biddeford, with her sew
en- hundred thousand dollars and four mai
hons besides, willing to crush us to the earth.
Here is Kennebunkport, with her enormous
outstanding debt of forty-twO thousand dol
lars, standing in this Hall, in the person of
her representative, and raises her voice for
justice at your hands. Can you deny it? Is
not our request reasonable and right?
Mr.. Speaker, the motive of the gentleman
from Biddeford in asking that this petition
and notice go over to the next Legislature, is