The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-28

oDhilus Wheeler, Register OF Probate LOT inc
county of Worcester, praying an increase oil
salary to himself and the Judge OF frooate'
OF H. G. Otis and others, of the city OF Dos
ton on the subject of the unjust operation OF
the present laws relative to debtor and creditor,
and PRAYING the attention of the legislature
thereto.
Mr.. Phillips Of Salem, from the Committee
appointed at the last session TO CONSIDER ana
report upon the expediency of amending the
Constitution, in sundry particulars, made re-
mort accompanied by Re .Slves, which, 1t was
stated, were unanimously agreed to by the
Committee. The first resolve proposes so lar
to alter and amend tine Constitution, as to pro-
vide that the political year shall commence on
the first Wednesday of January, instead OF the
last Wednesday @ May; that the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Senators, and ltepfesen-
tatives, shall be chosen on the same day. in the
month of November. The second proposes to
provide that the Legislature, at the first ses-
/ sion after every census shall be completed,
shall divide the Commonwealth into districts-
/ for the choice of Representatives, and shall
make an appor tionment OF the Representatives
amongst the several districts on the principle
/ of equality according To population; Pro5taed,
] That the House of Representatives shall con-
s,st Of not more than two hundred, nor less
/ than one hundred and twenty members: that
no city or town shall be divided for creating a
/ district; that no district shall contain mere
J than one county; and that every county shall
| be entitled 10 at least one Representative. The
members Of the House Of Representatives shall
be chosen by ballot, and shall be paid tor their
attendance as well as travel, out OF the Treas
ury of the Commonwealth. The third proposes
that the Senators be elected by the respective
districts in proportion to the number OF lnhab-
! itants in the said districts The term of Office
of the Senators TO be extended: In sucn man.
ner, however, that a portion of the Senators
( shall be elected annually The fourth proposes
that the Council shall be abolished and the
powers and duties of the Council shall be vest
ed in the Senate. or in such officers of the gov
eminent, as may be designated for that pur-
pose. These Resolves were read, and ordered
TO be printed for the use of the members.
On motion of Mr.. Newton of Worcester, Or
dercd, That the Committee on matters of pro-
bate and chancery be directed to inquire wheth-
err the salaries now paid to the Judges and Reg
listers of Probate of the different counties In this
Commonwealth are not disproportionate to !he
services by them respectively rendered, and
whether legislative provision is not proper TO
render the compensation for such services more
equal.
4 On motion of Mr. Eddy of Marlborough. Or
dcred, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to inquire into the expediency Of
providing by law for the bargain and sale of
personal ohattels with conditional deteasa,:ce
or by mortgage, in such manner that the pos
session of the goods and chattels shall accom-
pany and follow the sale, or that the deed or
f bill of sale be recorded inthe Registry of Deeds,
or elsewhere and also to provide for the seiz-
ure aud sale of the equity OF redemption of such
goods and chattes.
The annual Report of the Treasurer, was
received and committed to the Committee on
Finances.
TUESDAY, inn. 90.
CENhTE IL Eou-Ia- tbaC tao
on Banks, to whom was referred the bill to
, regulate Banks and Banking, reported the same
, as taken into draft.
. HOUSE On motion of Mr.. Showers of
, Chelsea, Ordered That the Committee on the
, subject of the Pauper laws, be instructed to
inquire into the expediency Of providing by
law for one or more State establishments, for
maintaining State Paupers.
Mr.. Bigclow of Boston, from the Committee
appointed on the subject, reported bill in rela-
r. tim IN I.nlteries.
Il WEDNESDAY, Jan. 81.
4 SENATE. On motion of Mr.. Duncan Or
2 dered, That the Committee on Education be
:. instructed to consider the expediency of provid-
: ing by general law for the Incorporation of
g associations for Literary purposes under the
name of Lyceums
Mr. Fowler, from the Committee on Banks.
f who were instructed to consider the subject.
reported bill entitled can act restraining
Banks from taking excessive interest and for
other purposes"
E HOUSE. Petitions presented Of the town
! of Shrewsbury, praying that school districts
r may be empowered to occupy land whereon to
build school-houses, by paying therefor rea-
sonable compensation, to be determined by n
! jury. OF the Massachusetts, Agricultural So
ciety, for renewal of the grant of February.
1919.
The Report of the Committee on the Judi
ciary, on the subject Of abolishing capital pun.
ishments in all cases, that it is inexpedient to
, take any further order on the same, was called
! up.
Mr. Kendall of Boston, stated, that he was
somewhat surprised at the report which had
been just now read. He considered that this
country was far behind many nations Of Europe
in its criminal Jurisprudence Russia, Sweden
! and Tuscany had done away with the punish
ment of death, and in each of those countries
the crime of murder was scarcely known.
Mr.. Baylies, Chairman of the Committee on
the Judiciary, agreed that the subject was one of
great magnitude and interest, and Of such
nature, that the ablest lawyer in the State
could scarcely be expected to do Justice TO II
in less than year 1t was not only necessary
to decide whether it was expedient to abolish
capital punishment but TO introduce pradatioo
( oil punishment, which would require the labor
OF the soundest lawyer, the moral philosopher.
and the refined statesman, 10 accomplish.
If the Committee had been of opinion. thai
the changes contemplated by the gentleman
had been expedient. yet they had reason tn be.
! lieve that there were not fifty members of tI;s
House who would be favorable to the attemnt
and that consideration would have induced them
to make Report in accordance with the views
Of so large majority of the House.
Sir, there is kind Of philanthropy and feel.
ing going abroad in our land, such as made lie
appearance in France previous TO the BURSTING
out OF the revolution. He would now enter his
protest against such false philanthropy Is it
necessary TO remind this House that such a