The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-01-18

them, the contributions to the support of Govern
mcnt and the measure of influence which each in
divldual citizen may have in the administration Of
1t, will be directly affected.
In the passage of law relating to the election
OF Representatives to Congress, would respect
fully recommend, that the time for the returns Of
votes should be much more restricted than at pres
ent. The period of forty days allowed by the last
statute, is longer than convenience requires. fol
their transmission from the most remote places in
the Commonwealth, and the delay which is thus
occasoned in their official examination, in cases
where no choice has been effected, may so far
postpone renewed balotings to deprive the State
of portion of her representation in the Councils
OF the Nation. To this prejudice she is now in.
deed unfortunately subjected, in an important cr
Sis OF her interests, from failure, upon repeated
trials, to elect members in two of the districts
and should vacancy providentially happen during
session of Congress; its continuance for long
time, under the provisions of the present law
would be unavoidable however desirable it NIGH
be, or ready thsreople were, Immediately to sup
ply 1t. The Executive PIecept for an Election
must necessarily conform to the statute au,hor
ty under which it is issued, and experience ha.
abundantly shewn that all the returns from dis
trct Will rarely be received in anticipation of the
legal requirement. I deem it even worthy of your
inquiry and consideration, whether in special re-
ference to the vacancies which now exist, and the
situation OF the districts TO which have referred
manner as to enjoin the returns in the shortest
reasonable opportunity after casting the votes. is
not expedient. AT no period in our public affairs
has it seemed to me to be more Interesting tina. the
State should be fully represented, and the weight
OF its Influence felt in the measures Of the General
Government.
There is yet another subject of very general ex-
pectation, which will press with weight upon the
responsibility of this Legislature that of an
amendment OF the State Constitution in relation
70 the popular branch of the Government While
1h's measure, in some form which shall effect a
leoucuon Of the number of Representatives has
Deen long called for, with scarce a divided senti-
mem upon Its necessity, among the people, it has
ntnerto tailed, through differences of opinion with.
In these Halls as to the shape in which it should be
presented for their adoption. The unusually full
oeiegatlon at the present time, may be received
as no equivocal evidence of the solicitude with
which your deliberations upon the plan PROMISED
by your Immediate predecessors will be regarded
Without presuming 10 anticipate the result can.
not forbear to express earnest and confidinp
hope that in arriving at It, the great principles d
political justice, and the equal rights of all the eit
zens, may be kept prominently in view, so that
neither the over excited jealousy Of local interests
nor the excluslVeness of personal considerations
shall be permitted to interfere with that form and
extent of modification, which the public good re-
qulres Manifold as are the existing inconve nien-
ces, 1t were far better that they should be longer
suffered, than that, by partial and unsatisfactory
alterations in the frame of Government, induce.
ments should be held out to constant change
The true basis of Republic is in the equal rights
OF the people, and the more nearly system of
Representation shall be made to express this equal
ity, the more perfect it will be. All other ar.
engagements are purely arbitrary, or the result Of
compromise in the formation Of the civil compact.
10 secure to one citizen exercise of the priyi-
lege of suffrage in the election Of public agents.
anflt, IL L.. II
allowed to another, under similarity of political
circumstances, and with other reference in the
discrimination, than to the mere accident of resi-.
dence, may comport with the terms of such CON-
promise, but would practically violate the essential
relation of Representative to Constituent, which
can only exist where trust is reposed by the one and
corresponding obligation and responsf b!eness are
created the part Of the other How far any of the
provisions of the pending amendment are liable to
objections resulting from such considerations or
how effectual the reduction which it proposes,
would be, to remove the inconvenience Of cum
brous representation, is peculiarly your province
10 determine. Tke amendment having passed one
Legislature, in accordance with the mode pre-
scribed in the Constitution, must now be taken or
rejected, as it is. Coming as you do upon a re-
cent election from every part Of the Common
wealth, you bring with you that knowledge of pub.
lie opinion which must be decisive upon the ques-
ton. Should this be adverse to its acceptance it
may still reasonably be expected that the investi-
cation and discussions which the subject must re-
ceive, Will give rise to proposition less imper-
feet, and better conforming to the sentiments
which may be represented here. Relief, univer-
sally demanded, cannot long be denied, and the
appeal should never be made in van to a spirit of
wisdom and cancellation to provide it. The pres
ent constitution of the House is felt to be an op-
Pressive and enormous evil, burthenng the public
revenue, delaying the public business, mpairing
the certainty and safety of legislation, and fruitful
oil dissatisfaction and complaint with the admins
tratioD of the Government.
A Report on the subject of Insolvency and I'm.
prisonment for Debt, with Bill for the relief of
lnsolvent Debtors, and the more equal distribu-
ton of their effects prepared BY an able and learn
ed Commission instituted under the authority of
the Government, was laid before the Legislature
of the last political year. These documents were
published and distributed among the members, and
probably came within the observation of most of
those whom l now have the honor to address
Owing to the short continuance of the session, no
Legislative action was then had upon them. The
original papers doubtless remain on the files of the
General Court, and Deg to be in ulged in calling
them. and the interesting subjects which they re-
spect to your present attention. Ii must surely DO
cause for deep regret, that, while the claims of a
class of unfortunate and distressed fellow citizens to
our strongest sympathies, have so long and Justly
been recognized, no measure of adequate relief has
earlier and harsher age, in unmitigated severity,
still press upon them, and Creditors, yet harder
than the laws hold them in fear of perpetual bond
age. lhe misfortunes of men are, oft times as
far beyond the ken of human foresight, and with
out their control, as are the commissions of nature
The elements, disease. false trust in friends public
caiamltles, overwhelm with sudden ruin, and leave
IRON the wreck eff substance no prospect but hope
less inability and the laws poor mercy for upper
formed engagements. Thousands there are, lost
to their families and to the community, through
peril of the infection of punishment for poverty,
who, could they have been discharged in the ad-
verse times which befe them, starting with new
enterprise in these days of success and general
prosperity, would have been restored to the enjoy
ment OF competency and the usefulness of valuable
members Of society. It is this liability to inprs-
onment for debt, which drags the sinking man to
the bottom, and holds him with mllstone's
weight, from rising. Refinement of sentiment,
humanity, and public policy, alike demand, that
TINS stern feature of ancient code should be
Taxed. 1t reproaches the Jurisprudence of modern
times, casting the dark shadows of barbarous age
when the living flesh and blood were sold to servi.
tude fer the dues Of money over the MONDAY in.
huences of Christian philanthropy.
Various matters, which are the usual and proper
subjects Of annual communication, will be pre-.
scented to you, with the necessary mnuteness Of de-
tail, in Reports from appropriate Departments, ant
Agents OF the government. Among these, it will
not fail to be distinguished as cause for peculiar
qualification, that the condition of the State Prison
has, at length, reached highly satisfactory poin
of improvements Honor to the wisdom the mora
confidence and courage, the determined and per
severing purpose of successive Legislatures il
a few years past, that, by liberal appropriation
from the Treasury to the means Of experiment i
penitentiary regulation and discipline, mer
Prison House, for the physical restraint of tn
body, has been converted into School Of salutar
instruction and reform to the minds Of the mo
vicious and abandoned of our fellow men! Tn
eye of christian hope, may now rest with assuranC