Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

By the following proceedings in the Legislature of Maine, it would appear that there is something "Rotten in Denmark."

Mr. Williams laid on the table the following preamble and resolutions:

Whereas it appears by a report of a Committee of this House, that Luther Severance, one of the publishers of the "Maine Daily Journal," has refused to answer a question under oath, propounded to him by a Committee of this House, appointed on the 3d of March, 1832, with power to send for persons and papers, and whereas an answer to the question so propounded to him was material in ascertaining the facts which the Committee were directed to inquire,

Wherefore, Resolved, that said Luther Severance, in refusing to answer the question propounded to him by a Committee of this House, has set at defiance the power, and violated the rights of this House, and is liable to be proceeded against for a contempt.

The question upon the passage of this preamble and resolve, was taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the affirmative, yeas 77, nays 22.

The article from the Augusta paper is as follows:-

Messrs Editors.—Suppose the Legislature of Maine, in secret session, (being bound by the solemnity of an oath,) should vote to sell the whole or any part of the State to the British Government, and thereby become British subjects, would that oath be binding on those who do not agree to the bargain or sale? —or ought they to speak and warn the people of their danger before it is too late!

And as this is a time of supposition," as Elder Knowlton said the other day, supposing such a question before the Legislature and under consideration in secret session, would it be proper for the party being the majority to hold a party caucus, and admit gentlemen who are not Members of the Legislature, and then and there discuss the propriety of such questions? —"Suppose," such "gentlemen" to hold the office of Justice of the District Court, or Deputy Sheriff: would his holding either of these dignified offices, and being Jackson to the back bone, entitle him to the right of knowing the subject and business of the secret sessions of the Legislature, when the People are kept in ignorance?

"Suppose," in secret session the whole number of votes to have been 149, 80 of whom were in favor of selling a part of our State to Great Britain, and 69 against it, ought not the 69 to take a bold stand, and make the plot known to their constituents; or are they bound by their oath to be GAGGED on such a momentous question?

These, Messrs. Editors, are questions of deep interest, and I wish you would give one your opinion on them.

I have now done with "suppositions," and will venture a prediction. In the first place, I predict that every Clay member of the House was opposed to selling any part of his country, and opposed the keeping such foul deeds from the People.

In the second place, I predict that my "suppositions" are not far from TRUTH.

From the Maine Daily Journal of Saturday.

THE INJUNCTION REMOVED.

The secret is out, and the territory is lost! It has been virtually given up to the President, to be transferred by him to Great Britain. The fact having leaked out by discussing it in party caucuses, and by various other means, the House, on Thursday evening, referred the secret to the Governor and Council, to be divulged to the public, when they might think proper.

Yesterday, before the adjournment, the Governor sent a message to both Houses that the injunction of secrecy was removed. We were not able, yesterday, to procure a copy of these secret proceedings, but understood generally, that resolutions were passed for the appointment of commissioners, to meet commissioners appointed by the President, to appraise the value of the territory, and agree upon an equivalent, in land or money, the proceedings of the commissioners before the next legislature.

After thus offering to sell that part of our State claimed by the British, we cannot expect the nation to take much interest in sustaining our right of sovereignty and property, from foreign aggression. The territory is gone. We may "get thirty pieces of silver," or possibly a tract of land somewhere on the Arkansas or the Red river, beyond where the President sends the Indians; or we may get nothing at all, just as the General Government shall choose.