Legislation: The Maine Statehood Act of 1791 (Defeated)

[Lumine]

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From the Sponsor:

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[terp40hitch]

Mr. Speaker,

I have very little knowledge of whether or not the people of Maine want statehood. I am here to represent southern values, so I have decided to abstain from the vote.

I yield

[Donerail]

Mr. Speaker,

I see no reason to object to this legislation.

I yield.

[YPestis25]

Mr. Speaker,

Echoing the sentiments of the delegate from Kentucky, I will support this act.

I yield.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Mr. Speaker,

I may commend the gentleman from Westchester on one point, Mr. Speaker, and one point alone: that for all his previous ill designs, and evil he has heretofore raised in his honorable house, I would have not, 'til evidence of my senses forced me to iot, suspect from him so brazen and so foul a measure as this bill here proposed. I may pronounce myself so utterly appalled, that such a measure has received the uncritical support of so many among the deputies of this Assembly, without any one seeming to consider the foundation it is, or is not, raised upon.

I raise, Mr. Speaker, no principled objection to the expansion of our federal Union. It has been my policy from the seating of this Assembly, to receive every petition for the admission of a state to this Union with a generous heart. Yet I object to the measure brought for the gentleman from Westchester, and for that very reason: that no petition has yet been received by the inhabitants of Maine requesting their admission as a separate state. There is no reason this Assembly ought construe, from their words or actions, a desire by the inhabitants of Maine to be separated from the greater Commonwealth of Massachusetts, except that the gentleman from Westchester pronounces so. Further note, that the measure as proposed does not design to consult the inhabitants of Maine on the question of their separation. It is proposed, as such, that the county of Maine be forcibly and coercively seceded from her present government, and established as a separate state of this Union, without any word from the inhabitants of that county as would indicate their inclination to such a secession, or indeed without any consideration for the rights of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When the counties of Westsylvania were considered for statehood, it was only after the inhabitants of that country had applied for such consideration. No such application has been received from the people of Maine.

Gentlemen, if this Assembly may make states from counties at will without consideration either for the will of their inhabitants or the sovereignty of the states of which they form part, then the federal character of this Union is at an end, and each state must take upon itself the duty of preserving its integrity against a tyrannical central authority.

I vote that the measure proposed by the gentleman from Westchester be tabled immediately; or failing that, defeated by a vote of this Assembly; and advise all Whigs to follow so.

I yield my time to the chair.

[YPestis25]

Mr. Speaker,

After discussing the matter with the gentleman from Massachusetts, and hearing his convincing argument against the adoption of this act, I will support his move for this act to be either tabled or defeated in a full vote of this house.

I yield.

[Donerail]

Mr. Speaker,

My colleague from Massachusetts raises an important point, and one that should direct our consideration as a body. Does the gentleman from New York have any evidence that this legislation is desirable to the people of Maine? If he does not, it would be difficult to support this separation.

I yield to the gentleman from New York, to present such evidence as he may have to this body.

[Galaxie]

Mr. Speaker,

I concur with the Gentleman from Kentucky. This legislation appears to be a solution for a problem that in all possibility does not exist. I believe it important to hear from the people of the region of Maine on this issue, and if they are unwilling or unable to become a state, then I anticipate voting down this Act.

I yield.

[wxtransit]

Mr. Speaker,

My honorable colleague from Massachusetts's comments have also spurred a change of heart from me; I would need to see an unequivocal movement of independence in Maine for me to be convinced of this bill's standing. For this reason, I instruct my Deputies to oppose.

I yield.

[Lumine]

Debate having been closed, the Speaker called for a vote:

National Assembly Vote:

Moving into the final vote, the result was 2 in favor, 13 abstentions, 41 against. The measure is defeated.