Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-05-30
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,

SATURDAY. May IS.
Mr. Davis Of Worcester, moved that the Conven-
ton go into ComIninee Of the Whole upon the Ie-
port OF the Committee in relation to the Governor.
Alter some considerable discussion, the opposition
TO the motion chiefly proceeding the ground that
the plurality question ought first to be settled, the
proposal was carried by IA vote OF I53 to 62.
Accordingly the Convention resolved itself into
Committee OF the Whule-Mr Hooper of Fall River
IN The Chair.
The question before the Committee was on rec
ommending the following resolves TO third read
ing:
Resolves, That it is expedient 10 alter and amend
the Constitution, as TO provided that no person
except a citizen OF the United States shall be elig
BILE to the office of Governor nor sha any person be
eligible to that office who shall not have attained
the age Of thirty years.
Resotted, That it is eXpedient TO alter and amend
The Constitution by aboshing the property qualIfca'
ton for Governor.
Resetped, That it is expedient TO alter and amend
the Constitution as to provide Tor The election OF
Governor on the Tuesday next after the first Mon
day IN the month Of November, annually
ReSOtUed That it is expedienl to alter and amend
the Constitution TO provide that IN case oil the
failure of an election OF Governor by the people, he
shall he elected hy the Senate and House Of Repre-
seniatives by joint ballot.
Mr. Morton of Taunton, moved 10 amend the
the amendment by striking out the words ''cilizen OF
the United States, and inserting "citlzen OF Mas
sachusetts''
Mr. Davis of Plymouth accepted the amendment
of Mr. Morton of Taunton, TO substitute The words
'citzeh of Massachusetts" FOR ''ctizen The United
Staes''-and this amendment to The first resolve
was adopted.
Mr. Sumner of Oils, moved further 10 amend by
striking out the restriction OF age qualification
for the Governorship. Carried
The whole resolves, thus amended, we're
adopted.
On moton of Mr. Butler Of Lowell, the Commit.
tee rose and reported the resolves 10 the Conven.
tion.
10 Convention, the report of the Committee of
the Whole agreed TO and the resolves, Jas anend-
ed, were ordered to a second reading.
MIR HaleIt of Wbraham, from the Committee
on the Council, reported resolve recommending
that the Constitution be amended by striking out
the 81 section OF the I'll chapter relating 10 the Coun
Gill; and substituting therefor distribution of the
powers conferred on the Council between 9TH
er branches and offices of the Government, as fol.
lows:
LIST. The advisory power in pardonng offences, TO
the Governor.
81. The advisory aud confirming power in APP
pointing civil officers, to the Senate.
Sd. The examination Of returns OF votes for SEN
ators, Representatives to Congress, Electors of
President and Vice President and all other cases in
"n'Ih maui ny law are now referred 10 Inc
Governor and Council, shall I've referred to Board
consisting OF the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Secretary of the Commonwealth Treasurer, and
Attorney General, a majority Of them.
4h. The Governors warrant fnr drawing moneys
out of the Treasury shall I've drawn upon the certii.
icate OF the Auditorium in all Of doubt by the
advice and approval Of the Attorney General, or
such other officer as the Legislature may direct.
9TH All other duties required to be performed
by the Governor and Council jony, or by the
Council itself, shall devolve on the Governor alone,
till the Legislature shall Otherwise provide.
9th That it be provided in the Constitution that
whenever the offices of Governor and Lieul. Gov
ernor shall both be vacant, the Legislature, il in
session. shall by joint ballot It'll the vacancy of Gov
ernor; but if the Legislature he not in session the
Speaker OF the House Of Representatives shall act
as Governor TIL the next annual election; and in
case Of the death, disability, or resignation Of the
Speaker, the Legislature shall be convened by proc.
lamaiion OF the Secretary OF the Commonwealth, TO
fill the vacancy by the Joint ballot Of the two houses
This report relere, to the COMMITTEE of the
Whole, and ordered TO be printed
On motion Of Mr. Wilson Of Natck, the Coven-
ton, at hall past |, adjourned till O'Clock OF Mon
day afternoon