On March 15, 1820, the District of Maine officially became a state when the Act of Separation was passed by Congress and signed by President James Monroe. Now the state had to set about creating its own government and laws.
The first election was held on April 3, 1820. William King ran unopposed for governor. The first legislative session started on May 31, and the inauguration of Governor King on June 2. In his address King outlined his thoughts of how to build on the ideas of the Constitution.
For the month of June 1820 the first legislature debated and passed the first Act and Resolves of the state and confirmed the Constitutional officers: the Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General..
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Map of the State of Maine used by the Board of Commissioners, Moses Greenleaf Esq. surveyor
Moses Greenleaf and Board of Commissioners
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An Act extending the powers of Towns to restrain cattle running at large
Maine State Legislature and William King
Inscription of the text:
An Act extending the powers of Towns to restrain cattle running at large
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That the inhabitants of any town in this State, may at any legal town-meeting, order and direct that any particular description of neat cattle or other commonable beasts shall not go at large within certain particular part of such town, without a keeper, under the penalties now provided by law in similar cases, and to be recovered in the same manner.[This Act passed June 27, 1820.]
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An Act To establish Courts of Sessions
Maine State Legislature and William King
Inscription of the text:
An Act To establish Courts of Sessions.
SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That there shall be a Court of Sessions in the several counties within this State, to consist of one Chief Justice and not exceeding four nor less than two Associate Justices at the discretion of the Governor and Councill, a majority of whom appointed for any county may constitute a quorum for doing business; to be appointed and commissioned by the Governor with advice and consent of Council, as soon as conveniently may be, who are hereby vested with all powers relative to the erection and repair of gaols, and other county buildings, the allowance and settlement of county accounts, the estimate, apportionment and issuing warrants, for assessing county taxes, granting licences, laying out, altering and discontinuing highways, appointing Committees and ordering Juries for that purpose; as well as all other duties appertaining to a Court of Sessions.
SECT. 2. BE it further enacted, That the Courts of Sessions of the shall be holden within and for the several counties in this State, at the times and places following, to wit: within and for the county York at York, on the Tuesday next preceding the third Monday of April, and at Alfred on the Tuesday next preceding the second Monday in September; within and for the county of Oxford, at Paris on the third Tuesday of June and first Tuesday of October; within and for the county of Cumberland, at Portland, on the fourth Tuesday in March, and on the second Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Kennebec, at Augusta, on the last Tuesday in April and on the first Tuesday in August; within and for the county of Somerset, at Norridgewock, on the second Tuesday in March, and on the second Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Lincoln, at Wiscasset, on the Thursday succeeding the fourth Monday in April; at Warren, on the Thursday succeeding the second Monday in January; at Topsham, on the Thursday, succeeding the fourth Monday in August; within and for the county of Hancock, at Castine, on the Thursday next succeeding the third Tuesday of March, and on the Thursday next succeeding the third Tuesday of November; within and for the county of Washington, at Machias, on the first Tuesday in March, and on the first Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Penobscot, at Bangor on the first Tuesday of March, and on the first Tuesday of September.
SECT. 3. BE it further enacted, That all matters, taken for, returnable to, or are now pending in the several Courts of Session, shall be returnable to, have day, be proceeded in, and determined by the respective Courts of Sessions, within and for the same counties, at the term thereof next to be holden as by this Act provided. And the Clerks of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, within the several counties shall be Clerks of the Court of Sessions.
SECT. 4. BE it further enacted, That the Justices of the Court of Sessions, shall receive for their services three dollars for each day, during their attendance in said Court, and one dollar for every ten miles travel, to be paid out of the county Treasury.
SECT. 5. BE it further enacted, That at whenever it shall happen, that there is not a majority of said Justices, assembled at the time for holding the said Court, any one or more of said Justices, shall have power to adjourn said Court, until a quorum shall be assembled.
SECT. 6. Be it jU1'thel' enacted, That all acts heretofore made respecting Courts of Sessions, and which are inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed.[This Act passed June 27, 1820.]
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An Act to modify and limit the terms and conditions of the Act for Separation relative to Bowdoin College and encourage Literature and the arts and sciences
Maine State Legislature and William King
Inscription of the text:
An Act to modify and limit the terms and conditions of the Act for Separation relative to Bowdoin College and encourage Literature and the Arts and Sciences. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That provided the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall agree thereto, the President and Trustees and the Overseers of Bowdoin College, having already assented thereto, the terms and conditions mentioned in the Act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed on the nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, entitled "Inscription of the text:
An Act relating to the Separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts proper, and forming the same into a separate and Independent State," be and they hereby are so far modified, limited or annulled, as that the said President and Trustees and the Overseers of Bowdoin College shall have, hold and enjoy their powers and privileges in all respects, subject, however, to be altered, limited, restrained or extended by the Legislature of the State of Maine, as shall by said Legislature be judged necessary to promote the best interests of said institution.
[This Act passed June 16, 1820.]
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An Act to prevent the introduction of Paupers from foreign ports or places
Maine State Legislature and William King
Inscription of the text:
An Act to prevent the introduction of Paupers from foreign ports or places. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That when any ship or vessel having any passengers on board, who have no settlement within this State, shall arrive at any port or harbor within the State, the master of such ship or vessel shall, before such passengers come on shore, leave a list of their names and places of residence with the Selectmen or Overseers of the poor of the town where such passengers shall arrive. And the master of such ship or vessel shar not land any such persons, without the permission of the Selectmen unless he shall enter into bonds with sufficient sureties, to the satisfaction of said Selectmen, in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each passenger, to indemnify and save harmless such town as well as the State from all manner of charge and expense, which may arise from such passengers, for and during the term of three years; and if the master of any such ship or vessel shall land any such passengers, without entering their names and giving bonds as aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of two hundred dollars for each passenger so landed, to he recovered by action of debt, by any person who shall sue for the same, one moiety thereof to the use of the State, and the other moiety to the prosecutor: Provided, That this act shall not take effect, until the first day of October next, and that nothing in this act shall be construed to extend to the master of any ship or vessel, in any voyage, on which such ship or vessel, may now be employed.
[This Act passed June 27, 1820.]
