WELLS, Maine — With almost no attention, and surely no grand commemoration, Maine this summer marked an important American anniversary that, despite its unheralded nature, provided one of the more vital, and less well-known, turning points in the nation's history.
It was 200 years ago this summer that, by a margin of 9,959 votes, residents of this windswept state agreed to end its status as a far-flung province of Massachusetts and seek statehood of its own. That vote set in motion a struggle in Washington that brought the issue of slavery to its most prominent point yet in the four-decade-old life of the young republic.
kAm~? r2A:E@= w:==[ =2H>2<6CD A2:C65 E96 A6E:E:@? @7 |2:?6[ H9:49 H@F=5 32? D=2G6CJ[ H:E9 E96 A6E:E:@? @7 |:DD@FC:VD[ H9:49 H@F=5 A6C>:E D=2G6CJ[ C6DF=E:?8 :? H92E 3642>6 <?@H? 2D E96 |:DD@FC: r@>AC@>:D6] %9FD |2:?6VD G@E6 @? yF=J ae[ `g`h[ 42? 36 4@?D:56C65 2 =2?5>2C< EFC?:?8 A@:?E]k^Am
kAm{2DE H66<6?5VD 5@F3=6 >2DD >FC56CD AC@>AE65 BF6DE:@?D @G6C H96E96C E96J >:89E AC@G@<6 2 EFC?:?8 A@:?E :? E96 ?2E:@?VD =@?8 5632E6 23@FE 8F? 4@?EC@=] p=C625J @?6 #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6C[ #6A] |:<6 %FC?6C @7 ~9:@[ H9@ 925 2? QpQ C2E:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= #:7=6 pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2??@F?465 96 925 925 2 492?86 @7 962CE[ 6IA=2:?:?8 E92E E96 D9@@E:?8D :? 9:D 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4E H6C6 2 Q42E2=JDE 7@C 2 3C@256C ?2E:@?2= 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE H92E H6 42? 5@ E@ DE@A E96D6 >2DD D9@@E:?8D]Qk^Am
kAm%96C6 92G6 366? D6G6C2= :>A@CE2?E EFC?:?8 A@:?ED :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ[ >2?J @7 E96>[ =:<6 E96 |2:?6 C676C6?5F>[ EC24623=6 E@ 2 DA64:7:4 52E6] w6C6 :D 2 W?646DD2C:=J :?4@>A=6E6X =:DE @7 D@>6 @7 E96>[ @>:EE:?8 E96 @3G:@FD @?6D @7 s64] f[ `hc`[ 2?5 $6AE] ``[ a__`ik^Am
kAm• pF8] a_[ `e`h] %96 2CC:G2= @7 E96 7:CDE D=2G6D :? H92E H@F=5 364@>6 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H@F=5 D92A6 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ 7C@> :ED 4@=@?:2= 52JD E9C@F89 4@?E6>A@C2CJ E:>6D[ AC@G:5:?8 E96 4@F?ECJ H:E9 :ED Q@C:8:?2= D:?Q 2?5 :ED >@DE A6CD:DE6?E 492==6?86]k^Am
kAm• $6AE] `f[ `fgf] %96 D:8?:?8 @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ E96 7@F?5:?8 5@4F>6?E @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 6DE23=:D965 E96 8C62E p>6C:42? A@=:E:42= 6IA6C:>6?E]k^Am
kAm• }@G] e[ `ge_] %96 6=64E:@? @7 p3C292> {:?4@=? E@ E96 AC6D:56?4J :D H:E9@FE BF6DE:@? @?6 @7 E96 9:?86 6G6?ED :? @FC 9:DE@CJ] %96 7:CDE 2G@H65[ F?2A@=@86E:4 2?E:\D=2G6CJ AC6D:56?E[ 9:D 2D46?D:@? E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 D6E :? >@E:@? E96 r:G:= (2C E92E 925 366? =@@>:?8 7@C 564256D] Q%9:D[Q v6EEJD3FC8 r@==686 r:G:= (2C 9:DE@C:2? p==6? vF6=K@ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H E96 @E96C 52J[ Q:D H96C6 E96 5@@C :D 7:C>=J D=2>>65 @? D=2G6\@H?:?8 AC6D:56?ED @C 5@F89\7246D H9@ H@F=5 5@ E96 3:55:?8 @7 E96 D=2G6 $@FE9]Q (:E9:? 2 92=7\564256[ D=2G6CJ H@F=5 36 23@=:D965]k^Am
kAm• yF=J h[ `geg] %96 A2DD286 @7 E96 `cE9 p>6?5>6?E AC@G:565 7@C Q6BF2= AC@E64E:@?Q F?56C E96 =2H 2?5 6DE23=:D965 CF=6D 7@C 4:E:K6?D9:A E92E 8C2?E65 7F== C:89ED E@ 2== p>6C:42?D] x? 2 ?6H 3@@< @? E96 #64@?DECF4E:@? 2>6?5>6?ED E@ 36 AF3=:D965 ?6IE >@?E9[ E96 5:DE:?8F:D965 9:DE@C:2? tC:4 u@?6C 2C8F6D E92E E96 >62DFC6D 4@?DE:EFE6 2 Q$64@?5 u@F?5:?8Q 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 4@?E6?5D E92E E96 `cE9 p>6?5>6?E :D Q2 A@H6C7F= 7@C46 7@C 2DD:>:=2E:@? @7 E96 49:=5C6? @7 :>>:8C2?ED[ 2?5 2 C6AF5:2E:@? @7 2 =@?8 9:DE@CJ @7 C24:D>]Qk^Am
kAm• u63] `d[ `ghg] %96 42FD6D @7 E96 6IA=@D:@? @7 E96 &$$ |2:?6 92G6 366? 2 4@?EC@G6CDJ 7@C 2 46?EFCJ[ 3FE E96C6 :D ?@ 4@?EC@G6CDJ 23@FE :ED 67764E] xE 5C6H E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :?E@ 2 H2C E92E H@F=5 AC@G:56 :E H:E9 :ED 7:CDE 4@=@?:6D[ >2<6 :>A6C:2=:D> @?6 @7 E96 E96>6D @7 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ[ 2?5 3C:?8 E96 4@F?ECJ :?E@ H@C=5 2772:CD :? 2 ?6H H2J]k^Am
kAm• pF8] `g[ `ha_] %96 6IA2?D:@? @7 E96 7C2?49:D6 E@ H@>6? =2:5 E96 8C@F?5H@C< 7@C :>A@CE2?E 25G2?46D 7@C 92=7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? E92E DE:== 92G6 ?@E 366? 7F==J C62=:K65]k^Am
kAm• }@G] g[ `hba] %96 6=64E:@? @7 uC2?<=:? s6=2?@ #@@D6G6=E 2>:5 E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@? 6?565 2 5@K6? J62CD @7 #6AF3=:42? CF=6[ 82G6 7@C> E@ 2 ?6H 6=64E@C2= 4@2=:E:@? E92E H@F=5 36 @?6 @7 E96 AC:?4:A2= 492C24E6C:DE:4D @7 p>6C:42? A@=:E:4D 7@C ?62C=J 2 92=7\46?EFCJ[ AC@>AE65 >2DD:G6 7656C2= :?E6CG6?E:@? :? E96 64@?@>J[ 2?5 6DE23=:D965 2 ?6H A2C25:8> 7@C E96 C@=6 2?5 4@?5F4E @7 2? p>6C:42? AC6D:56?E]k^Am
kAm• pF8] `c[ `hbd] %96 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ p4E H@F=5 492?86 E96 H2J p>6C:42?D C6E:C65 2?5 H@F=5 :?;64E (2D9:?8E@? :?E@ E96 7:?2?4:2= A=2??:?8 @7 6G6CJ 72>:=J]k^Am
kAm• pF8] e[ `hcd] {2DE H66< >2C<65 E96 fcE9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 2E@>:4 3@>3:?8 @7 w:C@D9:>2[ :?2F8FC2E:?8 2 7C:89E7F= 6C2 @7 ?F4=62C H62A@?CJ 2?5 6DE23=:D9:?8 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2D 2 DFA6CA@H6C[ 2 DE2EFD :E 92D 96=5 7@C E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 2 46?EFCJ]k^Am
kAm• s64] `[ `hdd] #@D2 !2C<DV C67FD2= E@ >@G6 E@ E96 324< @7 2 AF3=:4 3FD AC@>AE65 E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 |@?E8@>6CJ 3FD 3@J4@EE[ H9:49[ 2>@?8 @E96C :?4:56?ED[ D6E E96 DE286 7@C E96 >@56C? 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E 2?5 E96 A2DD286 @7 E96 `he_D r:G:= #:89ED 2?5 '@E:?8 #:89ED {2HD]k^Am
kAm• u63] h[ `hec] %96 2AA62C2?46 @7 E96 qC:E:D9 C@4< 8C@FA %96 q62E=6D 367@C6 f_ >:==:@? G:6H6CD @7 E96 t5 $F==:G2? E6=6G:D:@? D9@H H2D E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 A@DE\t=G:D C@4< 6C2[ E96 :>A6EFD 7@C 2 5C2>2E:4 492?86 :? >6?VD 92:CDEJ=6D[ 2?5[ :? E:>6[ @?6 @7 E96 C@@ED @7 2 4@F?E6C4F=EFC6 E92E :?4=F565 J@FE9 C636==:@?[ H:56 5CF8 FD6 2?5 >2DD AC@E6DED @7 p>6C:42? ':6E?2> A@=:4J]k^Am
kAm• yF?6 ag[ `heh] p A@=:46 C2:5 2E vC66?H:49 ':==286VD $E@?6H2== x?? d_ J62CD 28@ E9:D DF>>6C 3682? E96 >@56C? 82J C:89ED >@G6>6?E E92E EC2?D7@C>65 p>6C:42? G:6HD @7 A@=:46 3CFE2=:EJ[ D6IF2=:EJ 2?5 >2CC:286]k^Am
kAm• yF?6 `f[ `hfa] %96 (2E6C82E6 3C62<\:? EC:886C65 2 8C62E (9:E6 w@FD6 D42?52=[ E96 7:CDE C6D:8?2E:@? @7 2 AC6D:56?E 2?5 ?6H 42>A2:8?\7:?2?46 =2HD]k^Am
kAm• }@G] c[ `hg_] %96 6=64E:@? @7 #@?2=5 #6282?[ 2 @?6E:>6 us# DFAA@CE6C[ D:8?2=65 E96 56>:D6 @7 E96 }6H s62= 4@2=:E:@?[ 3682? E96 286 @7 E2I 4FED[ 2?5 6?565 E96 #@@D6G6=E\6C2 ?@E:@? E92E 8@G6C?>6?E H2D E96 2?DH6C E@ E96 ?2E:@?VD 64@?@>:4[ D@4:2= 2?5 4F=EFC2= :==D]k^Am
kAm• yF?6 ah[ a__f] %96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 E96 :!9@?6 EC2?D7@C>65 8=@32= 4F=EFC6 2?5 2DDFC65 E92E >@C6 A6@A=6 H@F=5 C625 E9:D 6DD2J @? E96:C A9@?6D E92? :? AC:?E]k^Am
kAm• }@G] g[ a_`e] p=C625J :E :D 4=62C E92E E96 6=64E:@? @7 s@?2=5 y] %CF>A H2D 2 >2;@C EFC?:?8 A@:?E :? &]$] 9:DE@CJ[ 2? :?5:42E:@? E92E E96 5:DCFAE:@? E92E 925 42FD65 FA962G2= :? E96 64@?@>J 2?5 4F=EFC6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ 925 4@>6 E@ E96 A@=:E:4D @7 E96 ?2E:@?[ 6?52?86C:?8 564256D\@=5 ?@DECF>D 23@FE EC256[ ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 2?5 AC6D:56?E:2= 4@>A@CE>6?E]k^Am
kAm• pF8] b\c[ a_`h] %9@F89 EC28:4 6A:D@56D :? r@=@C25@[ }6G252[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 2?5 u=@C:52 ?F>365 E96 ?2E:@? E@ >2DD >FC56CD[ E96 EH:? D9@@E:?8D =2DE H66<6?5 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= @7 36:?8 2 EFC?:?8 A@:?E]k^Am
kAmr2G62Ei %96 qC:E:D9 9:DE@C:2? p]y]!] %2J=@C HC@E6 E92E :? `gcg Qv6C>2?J 925 C624965 :ED EFC?:?8 A@:?E 2?5 72:=65 E@ EFC?]Q q67@C6 E96 J62C :D @FE[ H6 >2J <?@H H96E96C E96 D2>6 >:89E 36 D2:5 96C6]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.