Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06

to beSpeak the patience Of this COM
mite, because what l say will be said
with much difficulty.
First of all / think we ought to go.
one historical error right, into which
Mr.. Mclaughlin has fallen The his
tory of this matter ought not to start
with the idea that Portland was ever
the capital of Maine; and the public
ought not to go away with the impres
sion even that the capital was ever re-
moved from the city Of Portland. Port
land was never the capital. The capi-
ia, was never removed from the city of
Portland.
| took great pains, Mr.. Chairman.
and the members of this committee will
find it most interesting also, to follow
the same ground that I followed in
1889 when as great or greater re-
sponsiblity rested upon my shoulders
than is now upon them. That / might
not trust to memory, within IS hours
/ have r"traCed the Sa ME work in the
acts and resolves Of this State from the
date of the formation of the state
down to the year when this building
was first opened for public use
When this State was organized, and
generosity Of what Was then the town
Of Portland, the early sessions of the
Legislature were held in that town
not in a State House built, as says Mr..
Mclaughlin. by the town of Portland
for the State, bu7, as your Legislative
records show. in the town buildings of
the town Of Portland. The last official
act Of the last Legislature that ever
met in the town OF Portland was to cy-
press its deep sense of appreciation of
the generosity Of the town of Portland
for giving to it during those long years
the free use of rooms in which to held
the sessions of the Legislature; and, as
each Legislature adjourned a special
resolve passed from year to year
make-shift during the early years
to bridge over from year to year that
the incoming Legislature should again
meet in the town OF Portland; and it
was understood, as all these resolves
show, that it was but temporary
of the poverty and struggles Of Maine
when We separated ourselves from
Massachusetts.
Portland, Mr.. Chairman, and it is a
matter OF legislative history resting up
on the truthfulneSS of no historian,
resting in no mans memory, but spread
upon the archives Of the State. it was
understood from the first that Port
land should not lie the capital of the
State, and the discussion. Portland
consenting to it, commenced in 1920 as
to where should lie the seat of govern
ment outside of the town OF Portland.
As early as 1922 one of the commit
tees of the Legislature. appointed for
the purpose, recommended this very
hill OH which this building stands; but
there We're other towns that were anx-
ious to be the Capital. There was
Thomaston and Wiscassct and Hall
Dwell and Waterville: and it was only
after years Of patient investigation. APP
mating in 1871 or 1928 GS27. as Mr.. Hud-
son here cOrreCts mel in 1927 that the
Legislature Of Maine finally declared,
by Joint resolve, that Augusta should
hc the permanent seat Of government,
ana in that choice Portland was not
voted upon. Portland voted unani-
mously for tho city Of Augusta. The
county of Cumberland voted unani-
mousiy in this choice between towns
LOT the city Of Augusta. The capital
came here, Mr.. Chairman, with the aid
and assistance of the town of Port
land as II then was ana or the solid
county OF Cumberland. and this State
House was built, and here Maine be-
gan her real Legislative history in Il
permanent home.
The matter went along without agi-
tatlon until. in the dark years Of the
'Nil War. when the people of Maine
mad other things to think Of: then. in
'h"se troublous times, when my dis
uhsuiShed friend (Mr. MattoCks) was
hshting so bravely for the liberty OF
MS people in tho dark days Of the Re-
"eiilon. Portland then came here,
tempting the state OF Maine to change
her seat OF government. The people
SAID no. There the matter rested I'M
III lSS9-and | seem to be living today
me hours of 1889 when. hoy as / was,
my people loaded me with the re-
Sponsibility Of n seat in the other
prahch. and history. Mr.. Chairman.
seems to he repeating itself.
secret canvass was made in 1889. as
ms year. and men that thought upon
II hehtly and who did not measure the
SepS That were involved in the re-
'P"hSihiity of changing the seat OF
government. answered to the secret
canvass of Portland until two-thirds
vi moth branches in this Legislature
nao pledged themselves to vote for re-
n'"VaL 1t was found then. however
mat tho committee on public buildings
me committee that ought to have
hdd jurisdiction OF the subject matter
was opposed to the city of Portland;
ana the same order, couched in the
same language as the order under
"hich you are sitting here. to inquire
INTO the eyepdiency of removal. was
introduced. and. coupled with it.
vas a provision that. instead or
gong to the committee on public build
hles and grounds. there should be APP
pointed joint special committee for
,he purpose. That order was introduced
W senator from the city ut Portland,
ana its Introduction made him chair
man Of that committee. The order came
uo"n to the House of Representatives,
.le Speaker of that House was dis
Nnsuished son of Portland and. by a
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