Secretary's Office
Augusta, Feb 27, 1850

Dr Sir,
Enclosed please find the copy of an act setting
off Bear Island to the town of Cranberry Isles, as requested
by yours of the 25th. inst.

Mr. French is not in town to answer the
enquiry suggested by you.

It would seem to me however, that no time was
necessary, for a legal voter having residence on Bear
Island to vote in the town of Cranberry Isles, after the
act took effect, which was on the 13th. day of June
A.D. 1849 -- from after which time the residents of Bear
Island were entitled to all the privileges and subject
to all the duties and liabilities of other citizens of Cranberry
Isles. -- Suppose for instance your town had been divided
at that time, and the act took immediate effect,
would the legal voters of the new town have been disfranchised

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in consequence? Because the act took effect and the town was
organized within three months of an election? Certianly not.

The constitution guarantees the right of voting and the
Legislature does not possess the power of depriving a citizen of
that right by any change of geographical lines.

Yours respectfully,
J.G. Lauyer
Depy Secy


W. P. Preble
Cranberry Isles