Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-05-31

Adjourned to O'Clock, afternoon.
Wednesday, May 23-Afernoon.
Report OF committee on Internal improvements
Bill to prevent the making Of forged and spurious
copper coins read. Mr. Sherman read the law OF the
United States providing penalty for this offence
templated by our own laws. He thought il properly
came within the jurisdiction Of Congress- and conse
qusnty that further legislation was unnecessary
Resolution appointing Joel Human Judge of PEo~"
bate for the District Of W Waterbury. Passed.
House took up the order Of the day, being resOlu-
uon reported by the committee OF the Judiciary pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution providing
that Justices Of the Peace shall be appointed annually
by the electors and their number prescribed by law
Mr.. Dixon said he did not rise with the intention of
occupying much Of the time of the House. on this sub
lect,-but nc was in manner pledged by his course
at the last session. to vote for the resolution, and he
wished to give his reasons for doing He consider.
ed tia subject Of equal importance with any which
had come before the House, and one deserving the
most careful consideration.
1t may be well sir, recur briefly to the history of
this amendment. The subject is one which has been
for some time agitated among the people, at their pri.
mary assemblies. AT more than one State Conven-
ton OF each OF the great parties into which the cleo
tors OF the state are divided, resolutions have been
passed in favor of the principle involved in the amefd
ment.
At smaller meetings. without number similar fesoz
iutlons have been passed to such an extent as to
leave no doubt Of the wishes of the people on the sub
Ject AT the last session Of the general assembly,
OF TINS mouse proposed an amendment similar to the
one on your table 1t was advocated, among others.
by the gentleman from Hartford The gentleman from
Manchester the gentleman from tlarwinton, and the
gentleman who introduced it. All these gentlemen
now this floor; but, sir of all those who oppo-
sed IT, n %e one solitary member has seat in this
house VI the S2 members of the last house who vo-
ted tor the amendment 30 members oflhe present
assembly; Of the IFS who voted against II, only five
are now here Does not this show the feelings Of the
ted down by party vote. We were told last year,
sir, that the amendment was proposed by the MINOR.
y, merely because they were in minority. and that
its passage Let us show, sir, that we did not, when
in minority, offer the resolution from restless spirit
OF iactlo9s discomfort Let us have the magnanimity
now, while in power, to turn back the stream of pat
rnonage to its proper sonrce-the people. They are
far more likely to do right than any legislature what
do SeeVe Say in the spirit q
and intelligent enough, to make the appointment Of
all their officers could wish that the whole patron.
w ne Ss c.y taken
body OF legislators, come together yearly to say who
shall exercise the petty office of Justice Of the peace
~ wu g fepGeean Is an experiment and
the power OF the people. The spirit Of the age calls
for this Improvement. There, is besides something
not then hold it with insatiate grasp but return
1t to the people from whom it came, and remove the
greatest source of corruption to which the Legislature
10 exposed.
q
ton at the last session, but he was put down on the
ground that the people would make improper selec-
tons He was one Of those who believed the people
were better qusli6ed to Judge than the Legislaure
He went into history Of the course usually pursued
In making these appointments and noticed instances
where few individuals procured them.
. Mr.. Sanford advocated the resolution. He thought
it rccpubIcan-that the selections would be better
made-that the Business Of the legis hture would be
much lessened. He thought evils of such magnitude
as prevailed under the present system would induce
Mr.. Dutton moved to amend by striking out the
word annually, 30 as to have the term of office pre-
Mr.. Copp was opposed to the amendment. The
people, he said had been in the habit Of elecng their
officers annually ever since the Charter Oak was a
proposed as its escr would be TO lessen tic rreva.
ence Of party spirit in the lee;ea tnre.
Mr.. Button explained the effect of the amendment:
perhaps might be induced s" %s 'H after h. In"
heard all that could be eaid in is favor, but he hoped
il would be the last which would tmariGte from this
Consttuion-he was opposed to cutting and carving
this instrument until had destroyed all vestges Of
its original features He wished to use dsliberation
and caution.
Mr.. Parsons expressed himself in favor Of amend.
ment and the resolution He referred the practice
in Massachusetts,. where they elected Justices for the
Mr.. Halsey said the Constitution should be pemn-
nent in its misunderstanding the people could rely
upon. He thought to elect annually would be produc
IntSCnIeT,
the tern, Of Office fixed by law He was in favor Of
the resolution but he thought the term If Office should
be fixed.
Mr.. Dixon further opposed the amendment--he
thought it would virtually destroy the object of the
solution. Mr.. Dutton replied to his objection.
Mr.. Brockway said he wasin favor of the resolution
for the simple reason that it took the appointing pow
er from the house and gave it to the peope-he was
opposed to the amendment because he thought i.s
tendency was to destroy this great object.
The discussion was further continued by Messrs.
Hooker, Catlin, Kibbe and Townsend, when the a.
en-. was s% by the h meyer
whom there appeared yeas l95, nays 5-Messrs Cal
lup, Mead, Crary, Swift, and P0meroy voting in the
negative. So the resolution prssed.
The house then took up the prop sed amendment
to the Constitution providing that Judges Of Probate
shall be appointed annually by the electors OF the sew
era districts. Passed by acclamaon-
Bank committee, On petition Ct Th1masF. Row.
land, for Bank at Westport, reported a resolution
continuing the to next session.: Laid on table,,
Bill providing that the stock in all toll bridges shall
be put into the list at per cent any law to the con-
and referred to the com on the assessment law
Adjourned to 10 O'Clock Tomorrow morning.
7nsrsday, Nay 24-Morning.
Prayer by the Rev. President Day.
Memorial Of Charles Minor and others, for an aP-
preparation OF 5000 TO erect monument to the mem
motion Of Mr. Seden, referred to joint select com
on the part Of this house.
Mr.. Selden then presented resolution Of the lie.
gsature OF Pennsylvania, instructing the members OF
Wyoming sufferers for remuneration. Read and re-.
fcred the select com. that subject consisting OF
Messrs. selden, barrow, and Penfield.
The judiciary committee, TO whom was referred o
resolution natrucng them inquire into the expedi
ency Of ahoishing the Office Of Assistant Judge ct the
County Courts. reported bill! vesng the powers Of
the several Judges in one officer, to be called the
Judge of the County Conr, and abolshng ths Office
of Assistant. Bill read first and second times.