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

by the Legislature Of 1882 to Buperntend the publ
cation Of the journal Of the convention undertook
from elsewhere, however necessary to the usefulness
Of their undertaking, until the body Of their work
had gone to press It is sufficient for the present
lures and in most Of its language, the plan OF Mr.
Adams 10 preserved in the report. Even the most
marked changes, which, in later life, his recollec-
appear, by the report, not to have been made by
them, but by the convention ITSELF Considering
these facts, Mr. c. F. Adams, think, acted properly
in placing the constitution of 1850 among his grand
The constitution of 1850, though destined to
endure not for some years popular, and appears
to have been adopted rather from belief that
nothing better could be had than from regard for
itself. Mr. Charles F. Adams observes:-"The con-
sttution adopted by the State Of Massachusetts, ia
l7sO did not go. into operation without meet
ing serious obstacles in the nrst few years. me
executive head, and double legislative department,
had shown itself very decidedly in the convention,
and it rather gained than lost strength, from the
disturbed condition of things and the distress among
the people Immediately after the Revolution Com
plants Of the arstocraic character Of the Senate,
Of the Governors salary, and Of the courts, grew
took the shape Of armed resistance to the public au
thorities, threatening the entire overthrow of the
government" Yet, in 1875, when an opportunity
was afforded for revision Of this constitution, the
people refused to touch it. The material prosperity
Of the country, consequent on the adoption Of the
federal constitution and the great European wars,
had much to do with this change Of sentiment
1856, were poverty stricken and discontinued. The
pocket and the belly are the places whence come
most revolutions and social disorders.
l. was not until 1920, and after the original con-
another constitutional convention was called.
! The cause of that convention being called
was the separation that had been effected between
Massachusetts, and Maine These two States, until
1919, had formed but one community; but in that
| year they were separated Maine had then about
230 600 people, and Massachusetts, 400 900. 1t was
thought expedient to have constitutional conven-
tion, some action with reference to the consti-
tuition was inevitable in consequence of the sepa-
ration. Otherwise, it is by no means certain, that
there would have been convention called until this
! day. On the 10th Of June, 1920, law was passed,
in consequence of which, delegates, equalling in
number the House Of Representatives, were chosen
in the ensuing October. The convention met at the
State House, in Boston, on the 10th OF November,
assembling in the representatives chamber, where
| the members who were upwards of i've hundred in
number, found themselves much Strengthened for
room. This convention perhaps one of the
ablest deliberative bodies that assembled in
the United States. Among its members were Isaac
Parker, (Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court,)
Daniel Webster, LemueI Shaw, (now Chief Justice
dent Of the United States) Joseph Story, Qate JUS
tice of the United States Supreme Court,) Josiah
| Quincy, Nathan Dane, ]. T. Austin, 3. s. Wilde,
! Qate Justice Of he Supreme Court,) Leverett Sal
tonstall, Samuel Hoar, Iof Concord )Joseph B. Var
mum, Levi Lincoln, Benjamin Russell, George
Bliss, and number Of others, gentlemen of
local reputation, but not so well koown
out of the State, as those have named. When
the convention met, it almost unanimously made
choice of John Adams, then eighty-six years old,
to preside over it's deliberations Mr. Adams, after
conferred upon him, declined the place of President,
the ground that his age would not permit of his
dischareing it's duties. The convention then chose
Chief Justice Parker to the place A special seat
/ wa RI Mr. Adams rIrh nf ha pra.
sident, and when he assn ned it, the second day
Of the session, all the members rose and stood I'M
covered. The convention sat for ffty-sx days, adj
journing on the Och of January, 1921 There was
considerable discussion during its sittings, partiu
larry on the principles OF government for but few
changes OF consequence were made in the constitu-
ti0n The most important change ma de was that
by which our present suffrage system was adopted,
whereby all property qualifications were abolished
for electors. The judiciary was made more indie
pendent Of the Legislature and the people The for
nation of the House Of Representatives gave the
vsntien. 1. the oonvsnticn's addre.. to the Poo
inequalities Of representation that had been
unavoidably left, it is said 1--WE believe
that the p5oE,s Of population a., will con,
may now exist" It is toierabiy forcibls COM
mentary on the " wisdom Of the WISE" that the
inequalities referred to have constantly increased
with the progress of popustion and form the chief
cause of q convention having been called to meet
next year. A proposition to change the basis Of
the Senate from property to population was lost.
Mr. Webster was IN favor OF the property basis,
that he said, 1t would to be the part Of poll
tical wisdom to found government on property"
words destined to be often quoted against him in
after years Some other gentle men also made use
Of language calculated TO iDjure them in the popular
estimation, and in common parlanoe, they were
"laid OUT accordingly.
The vote on the acce ptauce Of the amendments Of
1920 was very small, another proof that the people
cared Int little ahOut the SincA that TINA
there have been several amendments made, accord
ing to the provision contained In the constitution it.
self for that purpose-the Legislature has twice in
succession to make certain snges, which the people
have to accept All these amendments, no viewer, so
far as they have related to- representation, and
matter what their intent, have tended to the in
creaee of these inequalities which have always
existed here. The consequence has been, that the
power of the government is fast accumulating itself
in few places, most Of which always Of whig
politics, and the remainder generally So or late
sumed almost q pure party character and it. has
been found utterly impossible to get any changes
effected that have the chance Of decreasing the
power OF the VII for it requires the votes Of two
thirds of the House Of Representatives, two years
in succession, to make alteration in the constitu-
ton Even the coalition Legislature, when it con-
tanned fifty antiwbig majority, could not carry an
amendment implying certain degree of political
change Every year and decennial census sees the
power of the State falling decidedly into the
hands of the few men who control great centres of
Wedisu as all hMusluR luSthuCo VI tuo teuuClby
with which the dominant class hold on to power
and will not furnish even the most innocent prece-
dent for change. il may be mentioned, that, when
few years since Congress passed Law making the
election Of Presidential electors to come in all the
States on the same day, our Senate stubborny re-
led to concur with the House in change of the
constitution necessary to alter our State election
day from the second Monday to the first Monday Of
November; the consequence Of which has been,
that We have, every fourth year, two elections in
the course of seven days Yet Yankees are thought
to be shrewd, and above all things, economical in
the matter Of time.
All attemps to effect changes by legislative ac-
on having of late years failed, bill passed by
the legislature of 1851 calling q convention When
submitted to the people, 1t was defeated by some
Eve thousand majority similar bill was passed
supporting it At the recent State election, the po-