Radio Script #1314

Little Talks On Common Things
May 16, 1982

Our subject today is how our state capital happens to be in Augusta. It was moved there from Portland in 1832, having been for the previous eleven years in Portland.

I suspect most of our people do not know that the change was not one of permanent capitals. It was never intended that the capital should be forever in Portland, and the decision about its eventual placement was subject to long and heated controyersy.

When Maine became a separate state in 1820. it was decided that the first legislature should meet in Portland. because in that city had been held the Constitutional convention necessitated by the separation from Massachusetts. That first session was in 1820, and it seemed convenient to meet there again in 1821. What followed is a somewhat complicated story. but we shall try to clarify it.

From the very beginning politics played a leading role in the controversy. Most politicians agreed that the permanent capital ought to be near the center of the state’s population, but there were sharp differences between the two leading parties of the time, the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Democrats. The government in Boston was under Federalist control, while the leading sentiment in Maine was for the Democrats, led by our first governor, William King. Yet King lived in Bath, which like other seaport towns, had strong Federalist leanings because of its dependence on trade with Boston. The inland towns of Maine were strong for the Democrats.

Although the decision was made annually, it was expected that Portland would continue to be the seat of government until a permanent site should be voted by the Legislature. But even Portland politicians expected that decision to be made by 1825. As early as 1821 a legislative committee was appointed to investigate and recommend a site. They soon recommended Hallowell, not only because it was Maine’s largest inland town, but also because it was a port accessible to ocean-going vessels and thus a prominent center of trade. But the legislature simply tabled the report.

In 1822 Daniel Rowe of Thomaston, Benjamin Green of Berwick, and John Chamberlain of Monmouth were made a committee to visit all towns that presented a suitable site for the state capital. They were to ascertain the terms on which the land could be obtained, and how long it would take to erect an elegant, suitable building ready for occupancy. Among the sites suggested was Weston Hill in Augusta, the place where our State House now stands. Augusta’s State Street that now passes in front of the State House had not then been built. The road from Augusta to Hallowell was then the road that is now back of the State House complex. Between that road and the river was then all open land. It was indeed a sightly spot, affording a sweeping view to the east and providing plenty of space for the capitol and other buildings.

The committee attended to its duty by visiting six other places that offered sites: Portland, Brunswick, Hallowell, Belfast, Wiscasset, and Waterville. I am sure it will surprise many of our listeners to learn that Waterville was in the contest, but indeed it was. Waterville’s Senator Timothy Boutelle and its representative, Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, pastor of the Universalist Church, got support from other legislators, one as far away as Baring in Washington County.

While the 1822 committee made no firm recommendation, they inclined toward Wiscasset, because it was not too far from the population center and was a seaport, though not directly on the ocean. But the committee said, if an interior location should be preferred, it ought to be Augusta.

The Legislature then rejected Wiscasset, and voted that the capital should be placed in Augusta, provided that the Weston Hill site would be given to the state by Augusta and a building made ready for occupancy by 1830. That vote was taken in 1822.

At once a group of Augusta’s leading business men bought from Judge Weston the large piece of land on the hill that I have previously described. In January 1824 they offered the deed to the state, and the legislature referred it to a committee, which made a favorable report. But, meanwhile the Portland group had built up strong support for keeping the capital there because of the city’s importance. They countered it was just as, logical to have our seat of government in Portland as it was to have that of Massachusetts in Boston, which was nowhere near the center of that state. Although acceptance of the Augusta deed was favored in the Senate, it failed in the House by a close vote of 77 to 65.

When the Legislature convened in 1825, there was revival of interest in Wiscasset, and that town also presented a deed of a suitable site. The controversy between Wiscasset and Augusta became so heated that Rep. Adams of Portland moved to postpone decision until 1826. That set off a hot debate between Reuel Williams of Augusta and Samuel Fessenden of Portland. Williams urged prompt decision in order to give ample time for putting up the building. But the Legislature agreed to the postponement by a vote of 65 to 54 in the House. So no action was taken in 1826.

On January 24, 1827, however, the Legislature, in both houses, did pass the following resolution: “The seat of government shall be in Augusta on and after January 1, 1830.” Until that date the Legislature would continue to meet in Portland. But Adams of Portland would not give up. He asked for reconsideration of the resolution and presented a substitute, fixing the meeting place in 1828 as Portland and making no mention of any future in Augusta. Some legislators insisted that the substitute would defeat the main purpose of the previous vote, which was clearly to make the permenent capital Augusta. Adams contended that it was no time to make a permanent decision. The state treasury was empty, no financing had been provided for the building, and the state boundary with Canada was in such dispute that no one could say where lay the center of population. Ames of Bath accused Adams of placing selfish interests above the cause of justice. He said it was nonsense to talk about any exact center of population because that would change with every census. The Bath man said that, while his own city or either Brunswick or Wiscasset might be more convenient for his own constituency, he felt the convenience of the whole state would be better served by making Augusta the capital.

Adams replied that Ames was prejudiced because his county was adjacent to Kennebec and that prejudice led him to be deaf to the proven claim that Portland was the trade point above all others in Maine.

Adams’ substitute was defeated 69 to 51, but Adams caused further delay by moving that the date of change be set at 1840 instead of 1830. Rep. Vance of Baring said it was clear to him that the capital ought to be in Kennebec County. He favored Waterville, but would settle for Augusta if the Legislature preferred that place.

Swan of Portland came to the defense of his colleague Adams. He said there was no need for a permanent decision at that time. The state was by no means ready for the taxation needed to put up a state house. But his motion for postponement was lost 72 to 41. Then Shaw of Wiscasset made a strong plea for his town, but to no avail. At that juncture the representative from Howland presented a new idea. Let the capital be in Bangor. That wouldn’t do at all said others. The Penobscot had, only a few years earlier, been subjected to enemy attack, and Bangor wasn’t even a safe place for the capital. Sylvanus Cobb then drew a last gasp for Waterville, but his motion to substitute that town for Augusta lost by a heavy vote.

After repeated tossing of the issue between House and Senate, a committee was appointed to examine the claim of all towns that would assure the gift of a suitable site, and if the committee should then still recommend Augusta, th~t should settle the matter. But the latter part of that resolve was overturned in the Senate, so the decision was still stalled.

Then came a surprising move to have the next legislature meet not in Portland, but in Hallowell. The Portland interests jumped on that idea, claiming it was only a political move to get the capital eventually in Augusta. But the prevailing sentiment was to settle the matter definitely before adjournment. By surprising margins of 81 to 38 in the House and 11 to 7 in the Senate, it was voted to accept the Augusta site, as offered by that town, effective January 1, 1832. On February 24, 1827 that act was signed by the governor.

In 1828 the Legislature voted to raise funds for a building by sale of public lands, and former Governor William King was appointed commissioner to arrange for construction. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1829 at the Augusta site. A long procession marched from Palmer’s Hotel to the location. In it were the governor and council, the members of the state supreme court, the leading state officers, distinguished visitors, and a host of citizens.

What seems strange to us today is that, in 1829, the Masonic order was so strong in Maine that the ceremony was actually conducted by the Grand Lodge of Maine. An inscription was placed, reading:

“State of Maine. On the 53rd anniversary of the independence of the United States, this cornerstone is placed by The Grand Lodge in the presence of Enoch Lincoln, governor.”

At a cost of $140,000 the building was not quite finished when, according to the previously passed law, the Legislature first met there in January 1832, but it was soon completed. Since 1852, the State House has seen many alterations and extensive additions, but in 1982, 150 years after its opening, it is still the seat of government in Maine.