The Gazette

Independence of Maine.

[As the subject of our Separation from Massachusetts is again coming forward for discussion, it may not be amiss to lay before my readers the following bill, which was reported during the last session, and referred to the next session of the General Court.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety-nine.

An Act granting the consent of the Legislature this Commonwealth to the inhabitants of the counties of York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock, Washington and Kennebeck, to be formed into a separate State.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,

SEC. I. That the consent of the Legislature of this Commonwealth be, and the same hereby is granted to the inhabitants of the counties of York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock, Washington and Kennebeck, to form and erect themselves into a Separate State, and to be admitted to be, and become one of the United States of America, with all and singular the rights, powers, and immunities, which can or ought to be enjoyed or exercised by any one of the said United States.

Sec 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the male inhabitants of the several towns and plantations within the counties aforesaid, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, be and they hereby are authorized & empowered to assemble in their several towns and plantations to elect a Delegate or Delegates to meet in a convention to be held at Portland, in the county of Cumberland, on the second Wednesday of September next, for the purpose of forming a Constitution for the government of the said inhabitants, and for applying to the Congress of the United States for their consent and admission into the Union: which Delegate or Delegates shall be an inhabitant or inhabitants of the places in and for which they shall be elected, and shall possess the same qualifications which are required by the Constitution for a Representative in the General Court of this Commonwealth. And every town or plantation within the said counties, containing 150 rateable polls may elect one Delegate: every town or plantation containing 375 rateable polls may elect two Delegates, and every town or plantation containing 600 rateable polls may elect three Delegates; and proceeding in that manner making 225 rateable polls the mean increasing number for every additional Delegate. Provided nevertheless, that each town now incorporated, and each plantation which have been assessed by virtue of any tax act, made and passed by the Legislature of this Commonwealth not having one hundred and fifty rateable polls, may elect one Delegate. And, Provided also, that the male inhabitants of any plantation or place within the said counties of the age of twenty one years and upwards, not belonging to any corporate town or plantation which have been assessed as aforesaid, may give in their votes for the Delegate or Delegates aforesaid in the town or plantation next adjoining and which may be authorized to choose a Delegate or Delegates, by virtue of this act.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the first section of this act, shall not be so construed, as to affect or prevent the operation of the Constitution, Laws, or Government of this Commonwealth within the counties aforesaid, until the consent of the Congress of the United States, shall be duly obtained for the admission of the said counties into the Union, as one of the United States, and until the said inhabitants shall have formed, established, and organized a Constitution and Government for themselves.

Sec. 4 And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Secretary of this Commonwealth be, and he is hereby directed to transmit to the several towns and plantations within the said counties, copies of this act seasonably for the election of the Delegates for the Convention aforesaid.