USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 60
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The elections of the present spring were managed with more
* The Judges appointed, were Samuel Sewall, and George Thatcher ; and Daniel Davis, in 1801, was appointed Solicitor General, with a salary of $1,000 ; being succeeded in the office of District Attorney, by Silas Lee of Wiscasset, a member of Congress, on the resignation of Judge Thatch- er .- Terms of the Common Pleas were now appointed to be holden at Topsham.
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A. D. 1800. spirit and zeal, than in any previous year. Both parties were
C. Strong chosen Gov-
ernor.
well organized and equally active in support of their respective candidates for Governor, and other elective officers; and so close was the run, that CALEB STRONG, who united the suffrages of the Federalists, was elected chief magistrate over Elbridge Gerry, his opponent, only by a majority of about 200 votes ; though the aggregate much exceeded any number ever before taken at the polls .*
Choice of Electors.
In the choice of Electorst for President and Vice-President, the contest was equally sharp and more rancorous. The manner of choosing them by the Legislature, as the administration had prescribed, and not by districts, as the democrats strenuously urged to have done, was by them censured with great severity. It was a franchise, they said, which ought never to be taken from the primary assemblies of the people ;- a franchise perverted, however, in the present instance exclusively to party purposes.
Opposition of the Re- publicans.
As the politics of the State and of the national administration were in unison, a successful attack upon the measures of the one or the other, was an advantage of equal importance to the Democrats. The stamp-act was rendered by them doubly odi- ous, as it awakened recollections which connected its name with the Revolution. The land-tax, they represented as oppressive and unnecessary ; and a bankrupt-act, which was passed April 4, filled their mouths and their newspapers with censure and
complaint. Many were induced to believe it a piece of legislation exclusively for merchants ; tempting to adventure and speculation, and legalizing a fraud upon honest creditors. In support of the position they had assumed,-that nothing was wanting to perpetuate peace with France, but a pacific disposi- tion on the part of our government ; it was happy for them, that a treaty of intercourse and friendship was signed at Paris, Sept. 30, (1800,) which, when ratified, settled the difficulties between the two powers, and furnished the Democrats with a pretext of
A treaty with France.
* The whole number of votes for Governor, was 39,059, viz. for Mr. Strong, 19,630 ; for Mr. Gerry, 17,019; scattering, 2,410. Previously to this year the minority voted for several candidates-having no one regu- larly nominated; this year the democrats united in the nomination of Mr. Gerry.
t The Electors in Maine, were Samuel S. Wilde, Lemuel Weeks, and Andrew P. Fernald.
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CHAP. XXIII.]
fresh credit, for their sagacity and judgment. On the contrary, A. D. 1800. if there were any merit, the Federalists claimed it as due to them, satisfied as they professed to be, that had not energetic defensive measures been adopted, the negociation would not have been effected. The bankrupt law, they contended, was what the Fed- eral Constitution itself contemplated, and would in its operations relieve from distress a large class of worthy citizens, and revive their enterprize, essentially important both to themselves and to the interests of the community. Amidst this struggle of the po- Federal litical parties for ascendency, the Federalists assumed as a badge badge as- sumed. of distinction, a silver eagle in a black rose, stitched to the side of the hat crown, and worn by them generally, in token of their patriotic attachment to the federal government. By this time, however, they must have been fully aware how much the wisdom of their politics had daily declined in the public estimation, since no one called in question their abilities and intelligence as a par- ty ; yet singular as it may appear, the national administration, at last, enacted a law, fatal to the revival of its popularity, by Circuit creating a Circuit bench, and the necessity of appointing six- Court of the United teen Judges to fill it .* For, as the newspapers had previously States. announced, it was found and declared, on canvassing the elec- toral votes, f in Congress, that THOMAS JEFFERSON and AARON T. Jefferson and A.Burr,
BURR, had severally 73 ; Mr. Adams, 65, and Charles C. President Pinkney, 64 :- From the two highest candidates then, the President. and Vice- House of Representatives, voting by States, according to the Constitution, chose, at the end of more than 30 ballotings, Mr. Jefferson, President ;- Mr. Burr being of course Vice-President.
By a second federal census taken this year, the population of 2d Census. Maine appeared to be 151,719 ; exhibiting an increase of more than fifty-five thousand inhabitants in ten years .¿ In a conse- quent apportionment of representatives to Congress, through the Union, Maine was allowed fourg instead of three, its former
* This act was passed Feb. 13, 1801 ; and the Judges were selected from the partizans of the administration.
t Feb. 8, 1801. Choice effected, Feb. 17.
# Census in York County, 37,729 ; in Cumberland, 37,921 ; in Kennebeck, 24,394 ; in Lincoln, 30,100 ; in Hancock, 16,316 ; and in Washington, 4,436.
§ In districting for the choice of Representatives to Congress, there were assigned to York, one ;- Cumberland, one ;- Lincoln, with 6 towns from Hancock, one ;- Kennebeck, Washington, and the rest of Hancock, one .= 4 in all.
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A. D. 1800. number ; and it was therefore divided into as many districts for choosing them. A new valuation of taxable property through the Commonwealth, was also taken ; and by a subsequent dis- tricting, seven Senators* to the General Court, were assigned to Maine, instead of six, the former number. Another evidence of Six towns incorporat- ed. its rapid growth was the perpetual multiplication of towns .- RUMFORD, + ORLAND, È ELLSWORTH, § and LOVELL :| were
* Thus, to York, 2 Senators ;- Cumberland, 2 ;- Kennebeck, 1 ;- Lin- coln, Hancock, and Washington, 2 .- Statute, June 23, 1802.
t Rumford, (123d town,) incorporated February 21, 1800, previously call- ed New-Pennycook, was settled, A. D. 1777. The name of the first set- tler was Jonathan Keyes. The town lies on both sides of the Androscog- gin, above and below the Great Falls. It was granted in 1774, by Massa- chusetts, to Timothy Walker, Jr. Esq. and 83 others, who were deprived of their rights at Pennycook in N. H. by running the lines. That town, in N. H., was called Rumford for many years after incorporation, and then changed to Concord-and as most of the settlers were from that town, this was called Rumford, from Count Rumford, who was owner of 6 shares in the township. " Pennycook Falls" in the Androscoggin, are towards the easterly part of the town, where the water descends 70 feet in 2 or 3 rods, and rests in a large basin ; from which it escapes over another " large fall." Within half a mile, the whole descent is equal to 140 feet .- Here is Ellis' river, south-west,-Swift river, east, and Concord river, on the south, of the Androscoggin. The mountains seen, are " White Cap," to- wards East Andover, 400 feet in height ;" " Glass-face,' near the centre of the town, 300 feet high ; and " Black mountain," north-east. A mine of red, white, and yellow paints, has been discovered here. The village is at the point, in the upper part of the town. In the town are two meet- ing-houses ; Rev. S. R. Hall, was settled Nov. 14, 1811 ; succeeded by Rev. Daniel Gould, May 31, 1815 .-- In town, are two Post-Offices, one at the Point, the other in the lower part of the town. The first Representative to the General Court, was William Wheeler, in 1811 .- MS. Letter of Rev. Daniel Gould, 1826,
# Orland, (124th town,) was incorporated February 21, 1800. It was " Eastern River, No. 2," and adjoins the " Thoroughfare" and Bucksport. Census in 1790, was 240.
§ Ellsworth, (125th town,) incorporated February 26, 1800, was previ- ously No. 7, or New " Bowdoin," and lies on both sides of Union river. It was settled in 1763. First minister was Rev. J. Urquhart, in 1785,- dismissed in 1790. Rev. Peter Nourse was ordained in 1812.
| Lovell, (126th town,) incorporated November 13, 1800, had been called New Suncook. It was settled in 1777 ;- and was named in memory of the famous JOHN LOVELL, [Lovewell,] the hero of Pegwacket. The township was granted to the officers and soldiers of that battle, and their heirs. The place first selected was Suncook, on the Merrimack, which, on running the line between New-Hampshire and Massachusetts, was taken into the for-
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CHAP. XXIII.]
established, in 1800; and STRONG* and LEEDS,+ in 1801. A. D. 1801. -In 1801-2 and 3, Governor Strong was re-elected, by an in- Gov. Strong creasing majority each year ; though Mr. Gerry, an able and re-elected. truly popular man, was run against him ; and in both legislative branches, there was a large majority of Federal members.
The public lands.
The public lands were uniformly in some way, a subject of great interest. To every soldier, who had served three years in the Revolutionary war, or to his widow and heirs, were offered 200 acres of land, on the eastern frontier, or twenty dollars in specie, as a new gratuity, for services or sufferings ; the govern- ment designing to offer so small a sum in money, as to induce Pleasant every one to prefer the land, and undertake a settlement .- Nine- ed to the In- point secur- dians. ty acres of land, at Pleasant point, [now in Perry,] on the wes- terly bank of the Schoodic, were granted by the General Court, to the tribe of Indians at Passamaquoddy,-to be possessed and used by them till further order of the government ; and here they have planted their village. In short, it appeared that no less than 24 new townships had been granted or sold within the last six years, notwithstanding an order was then passed for suspending sales. Several of the grants, however, were donative, and the oth- ers had hitherto yielded no great revenue to the State. For among other inadvertencies, one of the land committee had un-
mer ; and this grant was to make good the loss. [Sweden was taken from Lovell in 1813.] The present Lovell contains 24,000 acres. Keezer's pond, in it, is 8 miles by one. Here is one meeting-house .- Rev. V. Lit- tle was settled January 22, 1823 .- MS. Letter from Lovell.
* Strong, (127th town,) incorporated January 31, 1801, was previously No. Three, or Readstown, lying north of Farmington. It was first settled in 1784. Its present name was given it in memory of Governor Strong. The first settler was Hon. William Read. The town contains 22,400 acres. Post-office established here in 1819. The title to the lands is derived from the State .- MS. Letter of James Mayhew, Esq.
t Leeds, (128th town,) the plantation of Littleborough, was incorporated February 16, 1801 .- It lies on the east side of the Androscoggin. The first settlement was begun in 1779, by Thomas and Robert Stinchfield. It was claimed by the Pejepscot proprietors, and a township was laid out by them in 1780-1, and called Littleborough, in honor of Col. Moses Little. It contains 22,000 acres. Here are 4 mills and 8 bridges. A Baptist so- ciety was incorporated in 1804, and a meeting-house built in 1806. The Friends also have a meeting-house in the south part of the town. Rev. Thomas Francis was ordained, June 29, 1799. He was the first Repre- sentative to the General Court, from this town, in 1804. Census in 1790, was 263 .- MS. Letter from Leeds.
--
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A. D. 1801. fortunately become a defaulter, and all of them were now dis- charged. The important trust was next committed to two land agents, John Read and Peleg Coffin ;* who were empowered to and P. Cof- complete all the bargains of their predecessors, wherever the faith J. Read of the State was pledged, and none other.
fin appoint- od Land- Agents.
Sales of large tracts to proprie- tors impoli- tic.
The government in its readiness, if not haste, to dispose of the public lands, had, with the best motives, been actuated by an er- roneous policy, and fallen into mistakes prejudicial, in many in- stances, both to the buyers and settlers ;- the purchases of town- ships or large tracts, by individuals, often-times retarding settle- ment. For by grasping at what they were unable to pay for, and buying upon conditions which they could not perform, they were under the necessity of making incessant applications to government for an extension of credit ; deeds in the mean time were withholden ; and settlers were perplexed and discouraged, because of their inability to obtain titles to their lots from the proprietor or speculator, and were therefore induced rather to enter upon the public lands without license. They, in fact, found it safer to risque the severity of a benignant government, than a land-jobber's generosity, or his sense of justice or duty.
As political retrenchment, economy, and reform, were among Retrench- ment. the subjects which had been urged with a success, sufficient to shift the reins into democratic hands, immediate improvements were expected. Therefore, Mr. Jefferson, in his message to Congress, December 8, says, ' we may now safely dispense with ' all the internal taxes, comprehending the excise on stamps, ' licenses, carriages, and refined sugars ; and a salutary reduc- ' tion may be made in the civil list, the army and the navy.' To all the changes and reverses of policy adopted, there was a gen- A. D. 1802. eral opposition ; and when the bill was introduced to repeal the Repeal of the Circuit Court law. law establishing the Circuit Court, the federal members in Con- gress resisted its passage with great spirit and ability :- still it was carried by a considerable majority.t On its repeal, how- ever, an excessive clamor was raised against the new administra- tion, by all the federal newspapers, and every class of political opponents. They insisted that the Constitution was directly vio-
* In 1803, another agent was appointed, with special powers to resist or prosecute trespassers and intruders.
t In the Senate, 16 to 15 ; and in the House, 59 to 32 :- Such being the state of parties, at this time, in both branches of Congress.
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CHAP. XXIII.]
lated, both in its letter and spirit :- For it solemnly ordained, A. D. 1802. (said they,) that "the Judges, both of the Supreme and Inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior ;" whereas such measures, founded in a policy regardless of principle, and in an overweening disposition to court popular applause, would effectually prostrate the honor and prosperity of this rising re- public. But the people, it seems, approved of the course pur- sued ; the country in all its general interests, continued to flour- ish beyond a parallel ; and the democratic politics became trium- phant in the United States, though not immediately in Massa- chusetts, nor in several other of the States.
If we except the rage of party-spirit, which did not forbear Prosperity even to attack with fury the sanctuary of private character ; the try. Commonwealth was in the enjoyment of great quiet, as well as un- common prosperity. Peace was re-established in Europe. " Our ships visit every part of the world, and bring home the product of every country."* Manufactures, ship-building and other mechanic arts,-agricultural pursuits and the fisheries, were all flourishing ; and even the State debt had been by actual pay- ment greatly reduced. Our woollen fabrics, especially, were in a short period, much improved through the enterprize of Da- vid Humphreys, late ambassador to Spain, who imported into New-England this year, 100 Merino sheep from that country ; Merino whose fleeces greatly exceeded those of our flocks both in weight troduced. sheep in- and fineness.+ This eastern State being a grazing country, the advantages which the inhabitants derived from this source, were readily appreciated and extensively improved. Even the Legis- lature was disposed to notice it. Also, for the first time, an act was passed for preserving deer ; by which it was made penal in the sum of ten dollars, to kill one between December and August. But it could never prevent the mischief.
There were ten towns incorporated in 1802 ;- these were
* Exports of the U. States, A. D. 1792,$20,753,097 ; in 1802, $71,957,144 Revenue, 66 8,771,600 14,995,793 Expenditure,
8,962,920 66 13,270,457 Besides coasters and fishing vessels, there were 900,000 tons of regis- tered and enrolled shipping in the United States.
t The price of a Merino buck, in 1802, was $300. VOL. II. 75
of the coun-
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A. D. 1802. MINOT,* the 18th, CHESTERVILLE, f BROWNFIELD, t and VIEN- Ten towns incorporat- ed. NA, § the 20th, and AvoN|| and NEW-VINEYARD, IT the 22d of February ; DANVILLE, ** [Pegypscot,] March 6, and BALDWIN, tf LINCOLNVILLE, ff and WATERVILLE, US on the 23d of June. · The successes in commercial enterprize, and a correspondent
* Minot, (129th town,) was formed from the northerly part of Poland .- [See A. D. 1795.]-It begins in the S. E. corner of Turner at the Crooked Ripples in the Androscoggin, and extends down the middle of the river, to the Great Falls. Rev. Jonathan Scott was settled in Poland before the division, but the new incorporation of Minot took in the most of his soci- ety. In 1805, two meeting-houses were built in Minot, and he was in- stalled Pastor in the Eastern Parish. In 1806, Rev. William Pidgin was settled in the west part of the town.
1 Chesterville, (130th town,) the plantation of Chester, was first settled in 1782, by Abraham Wyman ; and in 1783, Samuel Linscott and Dummer Sewall settled here, and built mills. The town embraces 19,000 acres. The title to the lands was from the Commonwealth. It was surveyed in 1788. Wilson's stream passes through the town, and empties at the falls in Sandy river. Here is one meeting-house; Rev. Jotham Sewall was settled here ;- also Elder Ward Lock, in 1813. Post-office was establish- ed in 1795 .- MS. Let. of Mr. Lock, 1820.
# Brownfield, (131st town,) was previously a plantation of that name. It lies between the Saco and New-Hampshire. Rev. Jacob Rice was set- tled here in 1806. Its population in 1790, was 120 souls.
§ Vienna, (132d town,) had been called Goshen, or Wyman's plantation.
|| Avon, (133d town,) was plantation Number 2 in Abbot's purchase, lying on both sides of Sandy river in the first range of townships. It contains 22,500 acres, surveyed by Samuel Titcomb, in 1793. The number of in- habitants in 1790, was 130, including the precincts.
T New-Vineyard, (134th town,) was previously called by the same name, and also No. 2, on the west side of Kennebeck river, north of the Ply- mouth patent.
** Danville, (135th town,) was called " Pejepscot," or "Pegypscot," till changed by act of Feb. 1, 1819. It was previously a part of the Pejepscot claim and Little's Gore. It was settled in 1764, by one family, and the Gore, in 1777. It was first represented in the General Court, in 1812, by Mr. Roberts, who was the baptist minister of that town.
tt Baldwin, (136th town,) was called Flintstown plantation. Its census in 1790, was 190 souls.
# Lincolnville, (137th town,) was previously called the plantations of " Ducktrap" and " Canaan." It lies between Northport and Camden. Its census in 1790, was 278 souls.
§§ Waterville, (138th town,) is taken from the town of Winslow .- [See ante, 1771.]-Here is Waterville Seminary, established 1813, and made a COLLEGE, in 1820-1. Though it may be under the particular patronage of the Baptists, it is open equally to students of all denominations, and is flourishing. The situation of the edifices is beautiful.
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CHAP. XXIII.]
demand for money, inspired a passion for banks. Though ' Port- A. D. 1803. land Bank,' incorporated June 15, 1799, was making liberal Banks es- loans ; ' Maine Bank' was established there, June 23, 1802 ;- tablished. ' Lincoln and Kennebeck Bank,' at Wiscasset, on the same day ;- and ' Saco Bank,' at Pepperelborough, March 8, the succeeding year ;- the aggregate of whose capital might be nine hundred thousand dollars. As bank-bills, therefore, became the pecuniary Laws regu- lating them currency, the government found it expedient for the safety of and their holders, occasionally to inspect the funds of the banks, and at bills. length required them to make semi-annual returns, to the Gov- ernor and Council, of the capital stock paid in,-debts due,- specie on hand, and bank notes in circulation. For, next to spu- rious bills, are those of doubtful credit ;- an evil, which in former years had filled the country with so much distress. Incidental to this paper medium, too, arose several inconveniences, which required the repeated interposition of the Legislature, before they were effectually prevented. The community, for instance, was imposed upon by notes similar in form to bank-bills ; which pri- vate associations, and even individuals, sent into circulation, and were unable to redeem. A flood of small bills was spread over the country, because the banks found they did not in amount re- turn so soon as those which were larger; and by consequence, it seems that the Commonwealth was drained of silver change, and the circulation of specie prevented. Both these evils were at- tempted to be removed by a legislative act, of June 22, 1799, which suppressed all private banking institutions, and forbade the banks to issue notes of a less denomination than five dollars. Yet the latter remedy did not fully effect its purpose,-it rather drew into circulation small bills from other States. Hence the Gen- eral Court again interposed, in 1805, and allowed Banks to issue bills of one, two, and three dollars, equal in amount only to one fifth part of their capital stock. Lastly, to prevent another, and the greatest evil of all, namely, counterfeiting, the General Court, the same year, sharpened the penalties against that crime, and afterwards required all the Banks to use Perkins' ingenious stere- otype plate, which had never been successfully counterfeited.
In 1803-4, it was found, by experiment, that the late Judici- Judges of the S. J. ary system of the State, needed revision ;- a subject which was Court, re- under Legislative consideration for several sessions. At last, it three. duced to
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A. D. 1803. was concluded to reduce the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, from seven to five, the original number. Three were then constituted a quorum for deciding cases of law, in the spring One only to sit in Jury trials. Circuit ; and one, alone, authorized to preside in all jury trials. If either party should be dissatisfied with his opinion, or decision of the law, pronounced at the trial, his council might file excep- tions, and bring the points [before the whole Court, for revision at the next term .* Thus, by the introduction of this Nisi prius system, an opportunity was given the Judges to consult authori- ties ; their decisions were more learned and correct ; and the contradictory and hasty interpretations of the law, too often man- ifest, since the Legislature had authorized the sessions of two Courts at the same time, were discrepancies effectually avoided. First Re- porter of law-cases. Previous provision was made, March 8, for a Reporter of decis- ions ; and Ephraim Williams, of Deerfield, was the first officer of that character, in the Commonwealth.
Courts of Common Pleas new modeled
Jurisdiction of the Quarter Sessions abridged.
A law, passed March 9, 1804, prescribed to the Bench of the Common Pleas, a Chief Justice, and two associates, instead of four judges, previously appointed to constitute that Court ; and so extended their jurisdiction as to embrace all matters cognizable by the Quarter Sessions of the Peace, excepting what related to gaols and other county buildings ;- to county taxes and accounts ; -to licenses ;- and highways. It was in this way, that the ses- sions of the two Courts were severed, which had previously both set at the same time and place, in the several counties, from the time they were first established, under the Provincial Charter. The civil causes triable by the Common Pleas and the petty offences of criminals triable by the Sessions, were previously heard alternately ; and every Justice in the county had a right to claim pay for three days' attendance upon the Sessions' bench at each term of the Court. No essential change had been before effect- ed in these subordinate Courts, for more than a century.
Fisheries regulated.
Another subject more exclusively important to this eastern country, was that relating to the fisheries. The object was to prevent fraud in packing pickled fish, and render this article, so plenty with us, prime in a foreign market. Therefore, two acts were passed, in 1803 & 4, which regulated the size and quality
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