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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE.

No. 14.]

[HOUSE.

STATE OF MAINE.

RESOLVES relating to the extension of slavery in newly-acquired territory.

Resolved, That Maine, by the action of her state 2 government, and by her representation in congress, 3 should abide honestly and cheerfully by the letter and 4 spirit of the concessions of the constitution of the 5 United States; at the same time resisting firmly all 6 demands for their enlargement or extension.

Resolved, That the sentiment of this state is pro2 found, sincere, and almost universal, that the influ3 ence of slavery upon productive energy is like the 4 blight of mildew; that it is a moral and social evil; 5 that it does violence to the rights of man, as a think6 ing, reasonable, and responsible being. Influenced 7 by such considerations, this state will oppose the

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HOUSE.-No. 14.

8 introduction of slavery into any territory which may 9 be acquired as an indemnity for claims upon Mexico.

Resolved, That, in the acquisition of any free 2 territory, whether by purchase or otherwise, we deem 3 it the duty of the general government to extend over 4 the same the ordinance of seventeen hundred and 5 eighty-seven, with all its rights and privileges, condi6 tions and immunities.

Resolved, That our senators in congress be in2 structed, and our representatives requested, to sup3 port and carry out the principles of the foregoing 4 resolutions.

Resolved, That the governor be requested to trans2 mit a copy of the above resolutions to each of our 3 senators and representatives in congress, and to the 4 governors of the several states.

STATE OF MAINE.

HOUSE OF REPresentatives, June 30, 1847.

Ordered, That 350 copies of the foregoing Resolves, reported from the joint select committee on so much of the Governor's Message as relates to slavery in newly-acquired territory, be printed for the use of the Legislature.

SAMUEL BELCHER, Clerk.

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE.

No. 15.]

[HOUSE.

STATE OF MAINE.

THE joint standing committee on state lands and state roads, having had under consideration that part of the report of the land agent relating to "the lumbering operations on the St. John and Aroostook rivers, for the year 1846, having examined the books, accounts and papers in the land office, touching these matters, having heard the statements and explanations of the land agents of Maine and Massachusetts, and having received the testimony of several of the persons who were concerned in these operations, and of others who had personal knowledge of some of the facts in relation to this business, ask leave to

REPORT:

That prior to the year 1843, the price of stumpage, for ton timber cut upon those waters, had not exceeded one dollar per ton; but in that year it had advanced to about one dollar and twentyfive cents per ton. Early in the season of 1844, numerous applications were made to the land agents of Maine and Massachusetts, to cut timber on the public lands on those rivers, and as the permits heretofore granted, had been at private sale, and in order to give an opportunity to all, to purchase the right to cut timber, and that both states might realize the most money from the operations, the land agents concluded to dispose of the stumpage at an auction

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