The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-24

Or Boston 0uFresp0nGenee.
4npw1 nws = DosroN, Dec. 7, 1852.
The Constitutional Convsmtiow-O Origin Of the Oor-
stitwtion of M1ssaehssssefts- Adanss-IM
Oempsxtioa of 1890 Changes Since Ma2e-Com-
ysxtiom called for I85S-'Stats of Parties on VIC
Question, &c.
An account Of the causes Of the resent decision OF
the people Of Massachusetts,, in favor Of the mest
ing Of convention for the purpose OF revising and
amending the constitution Of the States will, per-
haps, form an appropriate closing chapter to the
sketches that have furnished you for the last two
wears Of Massachusetts, politics say closing chap
ter. for look upon the old parties rs dead and all
arrangements under their names rs effete. The old
names may, for while longer continue to be used,
rs matters of convenience, just as in England they
talk Of wings and tories living things, though
whigism and toryism are as dead and buried as Fox
and Pitt. Out Of the chaos that now exists here
must, at no distant day, como that order which we
call definite political organizations, and which Or
CARNATIONS will be moved and governed respective
IT, by the two great principles of conservatism and
progress, and each having its proper allowance Of
sordid and selfish place seekers.
The constitution Of Massachusetts, is as the world
goes, venerable instrument. It dates its origin
from the year $780, and is, therefore, in its seventy
third year. which is beyond the limits set to the age
Of man. The original government Of the colony
was under what is called the old charter, which
made sort Of aristocraey Of the community. ThiI,
because it left the colony almost entirely indepen'
dent Of the CROWN was taken away by the Stuarts in
the course Of their crusade against the consutiona
nights Of their subjects. When the English revolu
tion took place, the oolonsts thought they should
get back the old charter, especially as they had ac
tualy risen against, and overthrow the Stuart gov
eminent, before it was known to them that the
same thing had been done " at home' as a oonse-
quence of the invasion Of England by William Of
Orange. But the new English dynasty aad no idea
of allowing more feedom than possible to any Of its
colonial dependencies It had, in spite of its having
had its origin in vndieation Of not the abstract,
but the legal rights of British subjects the usual
feelings of imperial governments 1t would not re-
store the colonial charter; but Massachusetts,, and
Plymouth, and Maine, we're granted, as one colony,
what is known in history as the new charter though
sometimes called the charter of William and Mary.
This charter was granted in 1892, and endured
for little more than eighty years. Under it
the executive received his appointment from
the King Of England; and hence Massachusetts,
became what was called royal government, aud her
chief magistrate was known as royal governor.
The home government, to do it justice, appointed
able to the Office of governor, as general rule
Among the royal governors were Sir Wm Phipss,
Burnett Dudley, Shute, Becher, Shirley, Po1nal,
and Others all more or less distinguished for talent,
and with or two exceptions, all most merciless
~ badgered by the people and their representa-
tives. The people Of the Bay Colony seem never to
have got over their anger at the conduct of the Eng
lsh government in not restoring to them the old
charter. They made it q point to worry and fret
the kings representative, pretty much as the Irish
have often served lord lieutenant. Sometimes
governor, who knew human Ature well, and who had
an accurate knowledge Of colonial life and politics.
Joined to an imperturbable temper, contrived, not
only to get along well with the colonists, but be-
come absolutely popular with them. Such wa. the
with Shirley. who occupied the Province House
for many years. He is, believe. the only one
OF the royal governors who gave e a name
town and Bernardstown, be exceptions. He Was
governor during the famous expedition against
Louisbarg, an event quite equal TO any single oc-
currence during tho Of the Revolution, and into
which Shirley entered With great spirit He is still
remembered, and is almost the only OF the royal
governors whose memory is held in respect. Pownal
stands next TO him, yet at great distance but he
was by far the ADLER man-indeed, very superior
man far ahead Of his age and who had the sagacity
TO the future Of the colonies almost precisely as
1t has occurred.
m end in 1774, on the occasion Of the imperial
government attempting to play over the same game
1t the expense Of the colonists that had been par
sued by the Stuarts in the previous century Phe
Of George H., and the people Of Massachusetts,
would not submit to it, They had immediate resort
to what was afterwards called " the sacred right
Of insurection," but in manner the most orderly
and sober. All the violence and irregularity vas
On the side of the party which affected special
reverence, as tyrants and their tools always
d. for law and order Mddls,s. county nna
result was the assembling of the Provincial Con-
gress, which was neither more less tnan the old
General Court, or Legislature, Gen. Gage, then
1>l lad hn NAva al yNv 90
meet at Salem, on the 9th Of October, l774, bat
dissolved it just week before that time. The
members formed themselves into Provincial Con-
gress, which body commanded the public esteem
and confidence. This congress repeatedly applied
to the Continental Congress for advice, The advice
finally given was That representatives be chosen,
~ formerly, who should esct counsellors according
TO the provisions Of their charter, and that this
body act in concert with the House, rs part OF the
legislature. and separ atev as tho executive part
Of government. In givtS this advice, it was as
nd ss ss pa's d'Ps ss
mendation was complieo -tsa. and for some years
the government continu. go again under the
royal charter, except ID ne council was the sole
depository of executive 4er.
Such : government - not very likely to suit
the people Of the new - IL was at Hrst thought
that the Legislature MD form an "instrument
of government but 4 September, l776, tho
House of Representatig. com nended to the peo.
pie to elect deputies t. no noxt General Court,
with power to form q c. itutiOn. Inc next Gene
raj Court did form q .ti5uJi0n, which was
ported in January, I71S rad submitted it TO the
people; but it ;ied 1t WIS, all things
considered, an jnstrum,t quite creditable TO those
who framed it, and .npaoly would have given
satisfaction had it not formed by the Legisa-
lature. The people desired that convention
should be called for the specific purpose Of forming
. constitution The absence Of bill Of rights. aud
alleged inequality in the basis of representation,
were the main charges against it. Ten thousand
votes thrown against it, and but two thousand
fer IL, while not less than hundred and twenty
towns made no returns The State Of Massachu sets
Bsv. AS the commonwealth was then called, in
nd. at that time the territory that forms the
ITS, was, to a large extent, wilderness In Bos-
ton, where the revolutionary sentiment was then as
strong as is now its opposite, the people unsni
nous in their opposition to the new constitution.
They wished for convention, and thought that the