tion of an act of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed on the nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, entitled, "An act relating to the separa tion of the District of Maine from Massachusetts Proper, and forming the same into a separate and Andependent state," shall continue in office, as therein provided; and the following provisions of said act shall be a part of this constitution; subject, however, to be modified or annulled, as therein is prescribed, and not otherwise, to wit: ing to which the said arms have been received from the United States as aforesaid. "Third. All money, stock, or other proceeds, hereafter derived from the United States, on account of the claim of this commonwealth, for disbursements made and expenses incurred for the defence of the state during the late war with Great Britain, shall be received by this commonwealth, and when received, shall be divided between the two states in the proportion of two thirds to this commonwealth, and one third to the new state. "Sec. 1. Whereas it has been represented to this "Fourth. All other property of every description legislature, that a majority of the people of the Disbelonging to the commonwealth, shall be holden trict of Maine are desirous of establishing a sepa- and receivable by the same as a fund and security Tate and independent government within said Dis. for all debts, annuities and Indian subsidies, or trict: Therefore, claims due by said commonwealth; and within two "Be it enacted by the senate and house of representa-years after the said District shall have become a trees in general court assembled, and by the authority separate state, the commissioners to be appointed of the sume, That the consent of this commonwealth as hereinafter provided, if the said state's cannot be, and the same is hereby given, that the District otherwise agree, shall assign a just portion of the of Maine may be formed and erected into a sepa-productive property so held by said commonwealth rate and independent state, if the people of the as an equivalent and indemnification to said comsaid District shall, in the manner and by the majorimonwealth for all such debts, annuities, or Indian ty hereinafter mentioned, express their consent and subsidies, or claims, which may then remain due, agreement thereto, upon the following terms and or unsatisfied; and all the surplus of the said proconditions: And provided the congress of the Unit-perty so holden as aforesaid, shall be divided be ed States shall give its consent thereto, before the fourth day of March next; which terms and conditions are as follows, viz. tween the said commonwealth and the said District of Maine, in the proportion of two thirds to the said commonwealth, and one third to the said Dis "First. All the lands and buildings belonging to trict; and if, in the judgment of the said commis the commonwealth, within Massachusetts Proper,sioners, the whole of said property so held as a shall continue to belong to said commonwealth, and fund and security, shall not be sufficient indemniall the lands belonging to the commonwealth with-fication for the purpose, the said District shall be in the District of Maine shall belong, the one half liable for, and shall pay to said commonwealth one thereof to the said commonwealth, and the other third of the deficiency. half thereof to the state to be formed within the "Fifth. The new state shall, as soon as the neces said District, to be divided as is hereinafter men- sary arrangements can be made for that purpose, tioned; and the lands within the said District, which assume and perform all the duties and obligations shall belong to the said commonwealth, shall be free of this commonwealth towards the Indians in the from taxation, while the title to the said lands re- said District of Maine, whether the same arise from mains in the commonwealth; and the rights of treaties or otherwise; and, for this purpose, shall the commonwealth to their lands within said Dis-obtain the assent of said Indians, and their release trict, and the remedies for the recovery thereof, to this commonwealth of clains and stipulations shall continue the same within the proposed state, arising under the treaty at present existing between and in the courts thereof, as they now are within the said commonwealth and said Indians; and, as an the said commonwealth, and in the courts thereof; indemnification to such new state therefor, this for which purposes, and for the maintenance of its commonwealth, when such arrangements shall be rights and recovery of its lands, the said common- completed, and the said duties and obligations aswealth shall be entitled to all other proper and le-sumed, shall pay to said new state the value of thirgal remedies, and may appear in the courts of the ty thousand dollars, in manner following, viz: The proposed state, and in the courts of the United said commissioners shall set off, by metes and States holden therein; and all rights of action for, bounds, so much of any part of the land, within the or entry into lands, and of actions upon bonds, said District falling to this commonwealth, in the for the breach of the performance of the condition|division of the public lands hereinafter provided of settling duties, so called, which have accrued or for, as in their estimation shall be of the value of may accrue, shall remain in this commonwealth, to thirty thousand dollars; and this commonwealth be enforced, commuted, released, or otherwise dis- shall thereupon assign the same to the said new posed of, in such manner as this commonwealth may hereafter determine: Provided however, That whatever this commonwealth may hereafter receive or obtain on account thereof, if any thing shall, after deducting all reasonable charges relating thereto, be divided, one third part thereof to the new state, and two third parts thereof to this commonwealth. state, or in lieu thereof may pay the sum of thirty thousand dollars, at its election; which election of the said commonwealth shall be made within one year from the time that notice of the doings of the commissioners on this subject shall be made known to the governor and council, and if not made within that time, the election shall be with the new state. "Second. All the arms which have been received "Sixth. Commissioners, with the powers, and by this commonwealth from the United States, un- for the purposes mentioned in this act, shall be apder the law of congress, entitled, "An act making pointed in manner following: The executive auprovision for arming and equipping the whole bo-thority of each state shall appoint two; and the four dy of militia of the United States, passed April the so appointed, or the major part of them, shall aptwenty-third, one thousand eight hundred and point two more; but if they cannot agree in the eight, shall, as soon as the said District shall become appointment, the executive of each state shall apa separate state, be divided between the two states, point one in addition; not, however, in that case, to in proportion to the returns of the militia, accord-be a citizen of its own state. And any vacancy happening with respect to the commissioners, shall the same as if the said district was still a part of this be supplied in the manner provided for their ori- commonwealth, in all suits pending, or judgments ginal appointment; and, in addition to the powers remaining unsatisfied, on the 15th day of March next, herein-before given to said commissioners, they where the suits have been commenced in Massashall have full power and authority to divide alt chusetts proper, and process has been served withthe public lands within the district, between the in the District of Maine; or commenced in the Disrespective states, in equal shares, or moieties, in trict of Maine, and process has been served in Masseveralty, having regard to quantity, situation, and sachusetts proper, either by taking bail, making quality; they shall determine what lands shall attachments, arresting and detaining persons, or he surveyed and divided, from time to time, otherwise, where execution remains to be done; the expense of which surveys, and of the com- and in such suits, the courts within Massachusetts missioners, shall be borne equally by the two proper, and within the proposed state, shall constates. They shall keep fair records of their do- tinue to have the same jurisdiction as if the said ings, and of the surveys made by their direction, district had still remained a part of the commoncopies of which records, authenticated by them, wealth. And this commonwealth shall have the shall be deposited, from time to time, in the ar- same remedies within the proposed state as it now chives of the respective states; transcripts of which, has, for the collection of all taxes, bonds, or debts, properly certified, may be admitted in evidence, in which may be assessed, due, made or contracted, by, all questions touching the subject to which they to, or with the commonwealth, on or before the said relate. The executive authority of each state may fifteenth day of March, within the said District of revoke the power of either or both its commis. Maine; and all officers within Massachusetts prosioners; having, however, first appointed a substi per and the District of Maine shall conduct themtute, or substitutes, and may fill any vacancy hap-selves accordingly, pening with respect to its own commissioners; four "Ninth. These terms and conditions, as here set of said commissioners shall constitute a quorum for forth, when the said District shall become a sepathe transaction of business; their decision shall be rate and independent state, shall, ipso facto, be infinal upon all subjects within their cognizance. In corporated into, and become, and be a part of any case said commission shall expire, the same not constitution, provisional or other, under which the having been completed, and either state shall re-government of the said proposed state shall, at any quest the renewal or filling up of the same, it shall be renewed or filled up in the same manner as is herein provided for filling the same in the first in stance, and with the like powers; and if either state shall, after six months' notice, neglect or refuse to appoint its commissioners, the other may fill up the whole commission. time hereafter, be administered; subject, however, to be modified, or annulled, by the agreement of the legislature of both the said states; but by no other power or body whatsoever." WILLIAM KING, President of the convention, and member from Bath, COUNTY OF TORK. Edmund Woodman John Burbank John Leighton David Marston Abner Keazer Samuel Bradeen Henry Hobbs Sec. 6. This constitution shall be enrolled on parchment, deposited in the secretary's office, and be the supreme law of the state; and printed co"Seventh. All grants of land, franchises, immuni- pies thereof shall be prefixed to the books containties, corporate, or other rights, and all contracts for,ing the laws of this state. or grants of land not yet located, which have been, Done in convention, October 29, 1819. or may be, made by the said commonwealth, be fore the separation of said district shall take place, and having or to have effect within the said district, shall continue in full force after the said dis. trict shall become a separate state. But the grant which has been made to the president and trus. tees of Bowdoin college, out of the tax laid upon the banks within this commonwealth, shall be charged upon the tax upon the banks within the said district of Maine, and paid according to the terms of said grant; and the president and trustees, and the overseers of said college, shall have, hold, and enjoy, their powers and privileges in all re. spects; so that the same shall not be subject to be altered, limited, annulled, or restrained, except by judicial process, according to the principles of law; and, in all grants hereafter to be made, by either state, of unlocated land within the said district, the same reservations shall be made for the benefit of schools, and of the ministry, as have heretofore 'been usual in grants made by this commonwealth. And all lands heretofore granted by this common wealth to any religious, literary, or eleemosynary corporation, or society, shall be free from taxation, while the same continues to be owned by such corporation, or society. Elihu Bragdon David Boyd Thomas A. Johnson John Holmes Ellis B. Usher jun. Timothy Hodsdon Benjamin Green CUMBERLAND. Benjamin Larrabee, jun. Joseph E. Foxcroft "Eighth. No laws shall be passed in the proposed state, with regard to taxes, actions, or remedies at law, or bars, or limitations thereof, or otherwise making any distinction between the lands and rights of property of proprietors, not resident in, or not citizens of, said proposed state, and the lands and rights of property of the citizens of the proposed Joseph Adams state, resident therein; and the rights and liabilities James Irish of all persons shall, after the said separation, continue | Ebenezer Thrasher Solomon Dennison Secomb Jordan John Spear Joshua Wingate, jun. Thomas Slemons LINCOLN. Benjamin Ames David C. Burr KENNEBEC. Elias Taylor HANCOCK. Alfred Johnson, junior Ignatius Haskell Asa Green Andrew Witham Samuel Little John Dickenson Alexander Nichols James Campbell Ephraim Whitney Judah Dana John Turner Philip Bradford Bank notes. At the request of a number of friends, we shall publish in our next, and occasionally thereafter as need may require, the prices current of bank notes at Baltimore. It is suggested that it will prove advantageous to many traders, travellers and others. We shall also add a list of notes counterfeited, so far as we hear of them. Gen. Jackson. On information which appeared? correct, we intimated that a new town, intended to have been called Jackson, had been named RoyatNicholas Thomas, junior. port, by the legislature of Tennessee, on account of David Alden Horatio Mason Mark Shepard Samuel A. Whitney James Weymouth WASHINGTON, William Vance OXFORD. Alexander Greenwood a late memorial, signed by the general and others. It is true the name was changed, but as a token of respect to the general, that a place of more probable importance might be called after him-and it was called Royalport, because the land belonged to Messrs. Joseph and Richard Royal. Here is the difference between telling the truth and of letting us know the whole truth. The mails. Of late, from east, west and south, we have had very numerous complaints of the failure of the REGISTER, and we must suspect something of a general laxity in the attention of contractors, because our old substantial manner of packing this paper is carefully observed. Deeply interested in this matter, we will thank any gentleman for information that may lead to precise points at which error is committed or carelessness suffered, that the fact may be made known to the post-master general, whose promptitude in "correcting the procedure," we have the pleasure to bear testimony of. Though his agents are travelling to and fro to su perintend this great concern, it is morally impossi The descent to misery is easy; but to recal your steps and re ascend to happiness, is the difficulty and labor. In other words we easily glide into had habits, but it costs much labor and exertion to shake them off. A combination of circumstances introduced an extraordinary degree of public waste and private extravagance in the United States. Those circumstances have ceased to operate, and how to return to a set of habits suited to our condition, is worth enquiring into. I shall endeavor to elucidate these things, by telling my readers "what they themselves do know,” in the plainest manner that I can. derived from imports, has been short by a few millions; but every body believes that it will be yet much shorter of its accustomed amount. There is an apathy on this subject which is astoni shing. If, under a former administration, in a season of profound peace and without even the most distant prospect of war or disturbance, the sinking fund had been diverted from the uses to which it was pledged, and appropriated (together with three millions borrowed), to the ordinary expenses of go. vernment-we should have had it listed at the head of the crimes or errors imputed to that administration. I trust that this expression will not be regarded as of a partizan. I have nothing specially to find fault with in any of the public agents, and care very lit. tle, less than most men, perhaps, what person is in or who is out of office, provided the duties of the officeare faithfully performed-but of this I feel certain, that these things could not have happened, if the feelings prevailed, in congress and out of congress, which caused a great political revolution twenty years ago and introduced Mr. Jefferson to the presidency, whose inaugural speech was regarded as containing the landmarks of a sound national econo my, and as abounding with a set of principles which, in their observance, must lead to national happi ness. I appeal to those who acted in the time spoken of, for the propriety and justice of these In considering subjects of this nature, many politicians not only reject the light of experience, but build up their systems on false theories. Hence the multitude of errors which has reduced the govern. ment to be a beggar for money, and spread distress like a pestilence throughout the land. The age of paper has passed away, and the people are no long-remarks. er to be horrified by seeing the odious word ECONO. The financial matters of the government, as well MY in print: though a person would have been sus by congress as otherwise, appear to have rested on pected of a qualified species of treason, if he had the chapter of accidents-just as many thousand used it a little while ago, as applied to public affairs; farmers have managed their affairs at their own vil and as impudent, if he had spoken of it to individuals. lag rag-shops. We had money enough, or could get A late writer in the Charleston City Gazette, on it easily,-what use was there then to take care of it? the encouragement of domestic industry, says Magnificent designs and dashing fellows were only "But, because domestic fabrication would exclude fashionable. The principles laid down by Mr. Jef"foreign articles of the same description, an ap-ferson were exploded, and the good old way of "prehension has arisen that our commerce abroad making money by labor was ridiculed. The follow"would decay. This might ensue did not our desires ing case of an individual may serve for a general "increase with our enjoyments. WHAT ARE NOW LUX- specimen of public and private delusion: There is "URIES, WOULD THEN BECOME COMMON ENJOYMENTS." an old man in Pennsylvania who now earns his living There is more common sense in these few lines as a common laborer-six or seven years ago he than can be discovered in some of the most labored owned one of the best farms in that state, and was essays with which the press is teeming-yet there considered as one of the most wealthy men in his is not any thing new in them. The same ideas have county. While the land mania was up, he was ofbeen frequently expressed; and were especially ered 84,000 dollars for his farm, which was also commented on in an article which appeared in the abundantly stocked-but he did not want money last volume of the REGISTER, page 434. and refused it. He had a large family of children, It is certain that many things which were esteem-accustomed to labor, and was contented and happy. ed as luxuries, may grow into mere conveniences, and that what were modestly thought comforts, may, of compulsion, be abandoned for actual necessaries; and, as the former, from real or apparent prosperity, may reach a point of desire to dine on peacocks' tongues so the other, through a series of adversity, may reduce a man to the condition of the laboring poor in England and Scotland, who work fourteen hours in a day, and yet are in a state of semi-starvation, from a want of the coarsest food-oats and po tatoes. But the devil came to his neighborhood in the shape of a bank-he had several thousand dollars in specie lying in his chest, and he took a number of shares. He then became a director, and soon began to sign and endorse notes for himself and others. He had handsfull of bank bills, and his family scattered them to the four quarters of the hea vens. The young gentlemen would no longer labor in the field or drive the waggon, and the young ladies, with gold watches at their sides, discovered it was impossible that they should continue to fod *I by no means think it necessary or proper, that the sons and daughters of our farmers should always be occupied in the performance of these humble, though important duties-but still, happiness does not depend on an exemption from them! How much more to be envied is the cheerful countenance and rosy health of the farmer's daughter, accustom If a man hath not that which, as a medium of com-der the cattle and feed the hogs. But pay-day merce, he can exchange with another, he must be destitute of all things without the range of his own immediate production, except such as are bestowed upon him in charity. When such cases are frequent, a great stagnation of trade is inevitable, and there is a general retirement from the use of costly commodities; because even those who seem entitled to use them, have new demands for their revenues, which also are rendered less certain by the comed to industry, than the sickly appearance of other mon difficulties and distresses of the people. As yet we have only had a type of the operation of these principles in the United States. Our revenue, young women whose time is spent in so great indolence, as to direct Sam to call Sue to tell Sal to come and pick up her handkerchief? But persons ac came round at last-a protest was succeeded by opinion, our present revenue on imports, under judgment bonds and mortgages-and the old gentle- an enlightened system, by which,on the one hand, man is now in the condition stated, and his sons and the people might be enabled to purchase foreign daughters, reduced to that of monthly hirelings, are goods, and on the other which should carefully disgad to obtain as much for their servile labors in a burse the money so raised, ought to be amply suffiyear as they had uselessly spent in an hour. The cient for our wants, and should exceed twenty milaffairs of government have been managed in this lions per annum; but that, if the present depression way; but have not terminated so miserably. Some of industry continues, it will probably not much exappeared to run a race of popularity by bringing ceed twelve millions, two or three years heaceforward measures to relieve the treasury of its sur-though the government, to meet the loans payable plus monies! There was nothing to do but to apin 1825, will want a great unusual quantity of mopropriate the cash, without ever reflecting that the ney. It may be well for us all to look seriously at revenue was excessive and artificial, and that dull the "prospect before us," and especially the landreality would one day arrive. There are some who holders, on whom direct taxation, in the absence of eyen yet will not like this plain-truth talk-it is not other supplies, must most heavily fall. It does not pleasant to "great men," but the condition of our appear to me that it would be expedient to reduce afairs is such that they must hear it, and revert to the public expenses according to the expected rethe practical economy of former times, even to such duction of the amount of revenue, though they an extent as, I am afraid, may be detrimental, unless may be safely reduced some millions a year; and the people of Europe shall kindly set to killing one means must be contrived to increase the revenue, another to give us trade and find employment for as derived from duties on goods imported or by interour population! except, indeed, the oyes of our po-nal taxes on lands and commodities. We must liticians are opened, and they shall make the won-look at home. Let us enquire no longer enquire derful discovery that labor is the source of wealth! whether "Philip is sick," but set to work to build and that it is better to depend upon ourselves than up a system within ourselves which cannot be maon foreigners for raising adequate supplies for go-terially affected by foreign events. Certainly, we vermnent purposes! have the power to do this, or our boasted independence is nothing. peo. I will now proceed, in my homely way, to take a short retrospect of what has happened to us nationEvery man of 40 or 45 years of age, who will really and individually-after which I shall attempt flect on the progress of the consumption of importto shew what must needs result, if we do not altered goods in the United States, must see the causes our policy. It is a shame that a country and of its decline. I myself, though only in my 43d ple so vigorous as ours, should suffer for want of a year, can distinctly remember when the most weallittle attention to first principles, and that the go- thy men, and persons high in public honors, keepvernment should be borrowing money when there ing the "best company," wore leather breeches, be ought to be a superabundance of it on hand. I do cause of their durability, drank souchong tea, eat not wish to put myself up as knowing more of these their meats from pewter plates, and purchased a things than others; nor am I about to attempt to of pair of boots only once in three or five years.fer one novel idea-considering that a little experi- These articles are mentioned only for examples of ence and observation is worth a great deal of theo- the manners of the people of the United States a few years ago---for every thing else was on a proportionate scale of economy. But who did not ob First-as to the revenue. This is mainly derived serve a great change in the habits of the same perfrom duties on goods imported and consumed in the sons, when the wars of the French revolution had stiUnited States. We have seen it rise from about four mulated our enterprize and fattened our industry, by millions in 1791, to thirty six millions in 1815; and affording a profitable market for all that, either of ladecline again to nineteen millions in 1819-estimat-bor or product, which we had to spare-and by the ed to produce a like sum in 1820, but now not like-introduction of that now valuable staple of our counly to amount to more than from fifteen to seventeen.try, cotton, rendered equal to coining by the inIt is well to enquire how these things have came vention of the gin? An acre of land had not the to pass, without much regarding, however, the ex-natural capacity to produce one grain of corn more cessive importations in 1815, except to shew their after the French revolution than it possessed antecause and consequence in a note below§. In my [rior to that memorable period; but from the lively de ry. mand for our commodities, every one exerted himcustomed to an industrious life should not suddenly self to advance his fortunes, and he could dispose change it, or from slight or transient causes, lest of any thing which he possessed to a large profit. they should impair their health and arrest their So money became plenty-that is, it had a free cirprosperity, and, consequently, destroy their own culation; all persons parted with it liberally because happiness. This dwells in the mind; and, thank they could obtain it easily, and luxury advanced God, is not the exclusive property of any sect or exactly as fast as the means of its indulgence were condition of the human race. It may as easily be-afforded, that is, "desire increased upon enjoyment,” long to the beggar on the dunghill as to the king just as population presses on subsistence. The very day-laborers rejected the leather breeches and on the throne. The cause of the enormous importations of this put on imported cloths, they would not drink souyear, was in the destructive facility with which what chong tea, and it was two much trouble to keep the passed for money was obtained; and the conse-pewter plates clean, &c. they must have queen's quence was, a greater number of bankruptcies than ware, &c. This is a natural operation on the huever before happened in the United States. I think it may be said that these importations made 400 of "Many estates were spent in the getting "As women for shopping quit spinning and knitting them in Baltimore only! a large number of whom "And men for trade forsook hewing and splitting." were strangers and adventurers, The country was But government and people acted as if this madnot in want of the goods, but as almost every body ness in dealing was to last forever-and yet we could buy, so thousands went to shop keeping-should laugh at any one for supposing that the sun and would not set-that it would always be day. . |