Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-04-04
From the Hampton FederaIist.F
CONSTITUTION-No. II.

l. " o. j.
By The second article of amendments.
it is proposed to change the political
year from the last Wednesday in Nav.
to the first Wednesday of January, so
that there may not ordinarily be more
than one session of the General Court
IN ayear--and it is provided that all the
elections shall be conformed to it.
= The elections are to take place the
second Monday in November, and Rep.
resentatives to be voted for on the same
Day with Senators. There are two
very obvious reasons for the proposed
Change. The first is very great saving
OF expense, by finishing the business
at one session. The second is. that
the business will be better done. The
members will more constantly attend.
And ordinarily the private business will
be delayed till the pabIick is finished,
instead OF crowding out all pulssick con-
Germs as is now very frequently the case.
This alteration, though opposed by a
few members, was adopted by very
large majority, 4os being in favour Of
1t, and only SIS against it. No impor-
taDt alteration received so general sup.
port IN the Convention. The third and
fourth articles Of amendment NAV
be improvements in the Constitution,
and there is no objection to adopting
them.
The sixth article, which provides for
alterations in regard to the Council and
Senate and House of Representatives,
Is unquestionably the most important.
The number Of Senator'S is proposed
10 be thirty.six, to be proportional on
the several districts 10 the State, &C.
cording to the tax paid, in the same
way with the Constitution as it now
stands.
The Councillors are reduced from
nine to seven, and to be chosen by the
Senate and House of Representatives,
in joint ballot from among the people
at large, excluding both Senators and
Representatives. But the great al,sr-
alton is IN propor;ioning Representa-.
tives. In regard to them, there is a
great and radical change proposed
First, instead of being governed by
the number of rateable polls which was
the basis adopted, probably because o.
riginally poll-tax was the principal
tax, this system is to be governed by
the number of inhabitants, and eyery
town containing 1900 inhabitants is to
have one Representative, and to have
the increase of one for 24oo additional
inhabitants-provided, that if there
shall be more than ATS Representa-.
tlves, the members shall be proportion
ally increased after every census, so
as to- reduce the whole number to as.
No newly incorporated town can send
a Representative, unless it have 24oo
Inhabitants. The towns which have
less than 1900, are TO be classed BY
the Legislature into two classes, the
largest towns into one class, and the
smallest another-,he largest towns are
to send Representative the first year,
and the smaller the second, and SO on
every year except the year valuation
is to be settled, when each town NAV
send one-and if any two towns to be
classed, wish to be united to choose
Representative every year, they are to
be united. If any one of those towns,
now under 1900, shall in future have
more, they are to be entitled to send
one every other year, and any town falling
short OF that number is to be classed
1.-The towns thereby entitled TO send
every other year, are never to lose that
privilege, be their numbers ever so
small, or reduced ever so low. And
the members are to be paid out of the
publick treasury, both for travel and
attendance.
The FIRST inquiry that occurs, is,
whether this alteration is better than
the old system! And second, If 1t
is, whether much better one may not
be proposed!
The ostemsible object is to lessen the
number of Representatives, 10 dimin-
ish the expense, and to facilitate bus
mess by having only such number
that business may be done correctly and.
expeditiously.
BY the proposed system it is to be
calculated upon, that from. $50 to $50
members will attend, and that they will
attend through the whole session as
/ RI