The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-05-30

Ing provisions, is to speak NOT only without
evidence, but, considering the nature Of the
proposed amendment, against evidence; for
stranger might reasonably conclude, from
The mere appearance of the vote on the sub
ject, that vast majority of the people are
averse to any change. Those, however, who
are well acquainted with the causes which
led to the result, win hardly feel warranted
in drawing any conclusion from it.
As to the fifth Article, it is far from being
true that it was opposed chiefly on account
of its recognizing the existing principle Of rep
resentation In the Senate. 1t was the propos-
ed system of representation in the popular
branch of the Legislature, which probably
occasioned its rejection. A portion Of the.
people, indeed, acting, as there is reason to
think, under the Influence of party, expressed
their hostility to the principle of apportioning
Senators; but we have yet seen no cause to
believe that the majority are DESTROYS Of plac-
ing the Senate upon any new basis. A large
majority, however, were opposed to the plan
OF representation in the other House. With
all its defects the existing system is better suit
ed to the feelings of the people than that
proposed. The greatest evil attending It
would not have been efectually remedied by
the new one. Indeed, the proposed system
would have ensured a more na,sltitatdiraOaGs
House, than is now ordinarily assembled.
The second Article, which went to change
The commencement of the political year, from
May to January, has met with fate hardly
anticipated. The superintendent majority,
by which it passed the Convention, is no.
table example of a deliberative assembly's
being misled by the representations Of men
protesting to understand the wishes of the
people. The Convention were told that the
people of the country were almost universally
in favour of the change; and, so positive and
strenuous were the advocates of the measure.
that Mr.. Quincy stood almost alone in his OPP
position toit. The County of Worcester, espe-
cially, was represented as being very desirous
of the alteration. The result, however, shows
That the people wished for no such change.
and least Of all the people Of Worcester Coun-
ty, who have given the largest majority of
votes against it.
The provisions of the ninth Article were
such as we hoped to see engrafted into the
Constitution. One was, that judicial officers
should not be removed by Address of both
Houses of the Legislature, without first being
heard in their defence. the other, that the
Supreme Court should not be required by the
other departments of the government to an
swer questions of law.
The tenth, which related TO Harvard COZ
lege, has been rejected by the largest ma
iorty.
The fourteenth Article having been ratified,
there is now much danger that the time of
the Legislature and the money of the people
win be wasted in the discussion of useless or
unimportant amendments to the Constitution
Theorists will always have something new to
propose, and restless men will ever find some
thing old to be repaired. If the people ex-
pect to preserve their Constitution, they must
now discountenance frequent attempts to
tfnsend it.