Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-05-21
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

THURSDAY, May ~,
Mr Walker of North Brookfeld, from the com
mittee on qualifications Of voters, made report
as follows
RESOLVED, l. That the constitution be so amend
ed, that the payment of tax shall not be requir-
ed as qualification to vote in any election OF
Governor, Lieut. Governor, Senators, and REPRE-
sentstiyes of this commonwealth
That the term of residence in town or dis
trict now required a qualification TO vote, shall
be reduced from six to three months.
3. That for the purpose OF voting, no person
shall be deemed to have gained or lost residence
by reason OF his presence OF absence while en-
ployed in the army or navy of the United States,
or on the high seas, nor while student of any
seminary of lelrning.
L. That all the ballots required by law to be
given atany National, State. County, or Munich
pal election. shall be deposited in sealed enve-
iopes, of uniform size and appearance, to be fur
nished by the commonwealth.
Orders adopted-On motion of Mr. bothrop, of
Boston, for inquiry whether there are any reasons
requiring the electiontf the corporation of Har-
ward College by the Legislature, which do not
equally amply to the two other colleges of the
State. Also whether it be expedient or praetica-
bic to provide that all colleges shall be incorpor-
ated with the general system of public instruction
now sustained by the State, and their expenses by
general tax legislative appropriation, and
that every male child between the ages of IA and
q, throughout the Commonwealth, found to be
duly qualified, may enjoy the advantages of the
colleges, free of expense.
On motion of Nh Thompson of Charlestown,
! upon the eXpedency of providing t@at the House
consist of $50 members. based upon ratabe polls,
be elected in single districts composed of con-
tiguous territory, and of as nearly equal number
| of ratable polls as is practicable
On motion of Mr. Hooper of Fall River, upon
! the expedency of providing that whenever va
cancy shall occur on the bench of the Supreme
| Court, each vacancy shall be filled by an election
at large by the qualified voters in the State, for
term of years equal to the whole number of Judges
in said court except in case of two vacancies the
same year, that oneshal be elected every year;
also that the chief justice of the Court of Com
mon Pleas be elected by the voters at large, and
the other judges of the same court by districts,
into which the State shall be divided for that pur
pose, and for the election of counsellors-each
Judge to hold his Office for five years, two to
be elected the same year, except in filling vacan-
cieS.
The orders of the day were taken up.
The report of the committee that the name
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ought
to be retained, was referred TO the committee
of the whole
The convention went into committee of the
whole, Mr. Morton of Taunton, in the Chair.
The first subject for consideration, the re-
port of the Committee on the Senate.
MI Bradbury of Essex, moved to amend, by
providing basis of senatorial representation
upon ratable polls in place of population all le-
Sdl NottIS W oe ellSIuIe DIS DeudIOIS3 IlSIedu VI
being required to have five years residence; that
on each decenial division of the State into Con-
gressional districts. each of said districts shall
be divided into four Senatorial districts.
On the suggestion of Mr. Earle of Worcester,
the first amendment was changed to legal voters
The amendment was advocated by the mover,
Mr. Earle of Worcester Simonds of Bedford,
Gardner of Seekonk, and Hathaway of Free
town and opposed by Messrs Wilson of Natick
Butler Of Lowell, Hillard and Giles, of Boston,
Greene of Brookfeld, Holder of Lynn, and Bates
of Plymouth
Mr. Earle, while he earnestly urged the amend
ment, said he would go with the furthest, in ex-
tending the right of suffrage.
On motion of Mr. Kinsman of Newburyport,
the committee rose, reported progress, and asked
leave to sit again, which report was accepted
The amendments of Mr. Bradbury, IRE ordered
to be printed. At o'clock, the convention ad-
iourned.