The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-12-19

diaiely to arrive at Ancona, and on the other
hand that considerable corps of Neapolitans
are approaching our frontier"
The accounts from Madrid Of the 10th ult.
state that on the preceding day the proposition
for abolisbing political societies or clubs had
been agreed to in the cories by majority Of
100 TO 43.
The decree 81 the Csrtes for ihesefornation
of the Monks, has not yet been approved by
bis Majesty.
The Csries have voted TO permit the return
Of the 81 ex dtput,es, called Perses. They
are to be allowed tsepairto their respective
places of residence, but not TO interfere in the
election Of deputies 10 the Cortes; and are
deprived Of all enploymeuts, places, pensions;
henors and every other favor obtained since
the Alb Of May. 1914.
Private letters from Madrid state, That the
King Of Spain had, by the advice of bis privy
council, refused his sanction TO the proposition
agreed to by the Corles for the Suppression of
monasiic orders.
During the discussion against the Monks, in
the Cores Of Spain, the pious fattsrs availed
themselves Of the delay, and carried faon the
Monasteries all the moyesble goods upon which
they could lay their hands. Many nilIisns Of
property. it is said, will thus be lost to govern
ment.
CONVENTION OF M.aSS.4C HUnETTG I,
Thokeession of this very interesting assembly,
has u IN protracted in an unexpected manner,
kAt itstommence ment it was conte mplated, that.
the few alterations which change Of crcum..
stances rendered necessary, would be easily and
with unanimity adopted /; but a. they adyance,
reserve and vsneration vanish, and iAsJ seem
anxious, new net only to amend. but to change
the very principles Of the aacient system. For
the last week, the Conveetiea ~ been oecupi-
ed in committee Of the Wick, - the import ant
and difficult subject Of the General Court. Il
was admitted On all hands, that here was the
greatest defect in the present Constitution
the multitudisaps assembly which is now brought
together in the Representative Chamber, 10 90
unweldy for the purpose Of its creation it .vss1
therefore agreed, that some change should be
made, which, shspld reduce the number Of that
body and at.the same time preserve compare
lively equal re toptation in all parts = the1
Commonwealth. A1arge and highly respectable
| committee was. appointed this subject and
they reported 4 81 stem for the Senate and House,
which BY concession aud compromise, securss
the rights and interests Of each part Of the State,
4
the present situation of the State, the House OF
Representatives. will consist Of 255 members a
town containing 1900 Inhabitants, is entitled to
one Representative, and one for every additional
number Of 2400.. The towns under 1900 ,nhab-
itants are divided into two classes, which send
representatives alternately for one year. commsn-
cling with the first class. this gives Beston - or Ia
representatives. instead sf45 or so The report al
so provides that the sxpsuee efthe General Court
hs mai frar he pub ches In IN
the Senate, the committee recommended that
there should be ne alteration in the principle OF
It's fortnntsnn. but that the number should be re
duced To SO distributed in districts according to
the valuation, but that no district should be al
lowed more than s. This whole scheme has been
adopted by large majority in COMMITTEES Of the
whole considerable debate was occasionsd by |
proposition introduced ny General DEARsoRN
81 Roxbury, ts form the Senate upon the basis Of
population instead Of taxation This mode was |
supported by the movsr.& Mr. LIHcoLs, Of Wor- |
sester, at great length aud with ingenuity and |
was opposed by the greatest talent Of the Con-
ventiou, at the head Of which were Mr.. ADAMS,
Mr.. rREscorr, Judge SroRY and nr. WEBSTER;
each ef whom sustaIns the sche me Introduce |
by the committee, with a strength Of logic and |
elegance Of illastratiou, seldom, never, eqaallsd
in this country. Our limits will not allow us 10
give an outline, even Of their argument they |
however relied principally upon the doctrine Of
checks and balances, and Of the right Of property
TO bo represented.
The committee Of the whole, voted 10 abro-
gate the clause in the Consultation which re-
quires pscnniary qualification for electors, 50 |
that all who pay taxes are entitled to vote.
When the venerable JoHs ADAM spoke, the |
most profound attention, prevailed through the |
House, and notwithstanding his great age, hs de-
livered his sentiments, with precision, propriety
and force, which operated powerfully upon eve |
~ member of the Cony sntion.
IN The Senate OF the United States on tbs
I ith ns,.lhe bill for The admission o. Missouri,
amended with proviso against any article in
ihs constitution OF Missouri contrary 10 the
Consultation oil the United States, in regard I
the rights Of ciiIzen-, II the several states, pas.
sed by the following vote -
YEAS.-Messrs. Barbour, Brown
Chandler, Eaton, Edwards, Elliott, Gail
lard, Holmes, OF Maine, Holmes of Mis-
sissippi, Horsey, Johnson, of Kentucky, i
Johnson, of Louisiana, King, OF Alaba-
ma, Lloyd, PARROT, Pinkney, Peasants,
Smith, Talbot, Taylss, TAomas, Van
Dyke, Walker, of Alabama, Walker, OF
Georgia, Williams, of Mississippi, Viii
liams of Tennessee.-26.
NAYS-Messrs. BurrillC pana, DIX
- Y.