The Portland Gazette

GAZETTE.

PORTLAND: THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1821.

The Portland Gazette will publish regularly and correctly the laws and resolves of the State.

The Legislature were in session last evening when our paper went to press and were in hopes of completing their business, so that when they adjourned, they might adjourn without day: But it is apprehended they will be compelled to meet again this morning, to clear away the fragments of a long session.

This is the seventy second day since their meeting.

The House of Representatives continued in session on Tuesday evening, until after 11 o'clock; the subject before it, was the report of the committee of conference on the apportionment of Representatives: the Senate was not satisfied with the apportionment made by the House, and took one from each of the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln and transferred them to the counties of Washington and Penobscot. A very desultory but animated discussion took place on the subject which terminated in favour of the report. Yesterday forenoon the subject was again taken up & the representative was restored to Cumberland from the number formerly apportioned to Kennebec, and a committee was chosen to make the distribution among the several towns.

The poor debtors bill has been referred to the next Legislature.

A committee was raised to sit after the adjournment to examine the Sheriffs, Coroners, Miscellaneous & Pauper accounts in which there had been found some errors, and report the same to the Governor and Council.

The pay roll of the Senate and House of Representatives has been made up including this day: The amount of the Senator's pay for the session is $3875, and that of the House is $22,161.

As the business in the House of Representatives was yesterday afternoon drawing to a close, Mr. Redington, of Vassalborough rose and introduced the following address of thanks to the Speaker, which he begged to lay on the Clerk's table.

"As the period has at length arrived when the members of this House must separate, some perhaps forever. it is their wish, ere mingling with the domestic circle, to tender their heartfelt thanks to the Speaker, for the ability and impartiality he has evinced while presiding over their deliberations. They can never forget that, amid the arduous and perhaps unparalleled duties which have devolved upon the Chair, how greatly he has facilitated the labours of the House: and it is their ardent prayer, that in the bosom of his family he may find every thing that can gladden life, and which his talents and his services so deservedly merit."

On the vote being declared to be unanimous, Mr Speaker Ames rose' and made the following reply.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

This expression of your approbation and thanks will always excite in my bosom the tenderest emotions; and on this occasion I would that my own heart could speak for itself, and express to you all its present feelings, aided by the kind partiality of my worthy friend, the Mover. Then would you hear the genuine language of gratitude, affection, and warm personal attachment; then a full confession of obligations, on my part, for your charitable indulgence, liberal kindness, and uniform support during this long and laborious session :-Then you would hear the language of regret, that my efforts to discharge the duties of the chair have fallen so far short of my own wishes. and of what the public interest required: then too the language of supplication for the pardon of unintentional injury or offence to the feelings of any member of this House, either by thought, word or deed.-And then would you hear the language of devotional prayer, that, as we separate, we may carry with us an inseparable attachment to each other, to our government, our country, and our God ; that we may be useful and happy on the earth, and hereafter forever blessed in heaven.-Gentlemen, I bid you a farewell: and at this parting moment, let our hearts meet. They well understand, and can feel too each other's language.