Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-10
cONsT1ruT1oNAL ooNvENr1oN.

The orders OF the day were taken up, the question
being 90 the passage Of The resolves concerning the
qlial6catono OF voters. Nt
MIR Lord Of Salem, resumed his speech IA defence
olthe course of the Legislature and in opposition to
the-secfet ballot, reviewing at great length the ar
garments ofthe supporters OF the measure, aud anmad
vertng upon the course OF members OF the maturity
ia the Convention. He was opposed 10 placing
provision OF this nature in the Constitution, and~
| hoped at all events, the resolve would be amend
ed TO make the principle apply generally, without
making a distinction, as it might now be construed
| betw cen city and town elections
| Mr. Schouler, of Boston ,madea humorous speech,
in the course Of which he indicated the Lowell
corporations from the charge d having coerced vo-
tiers. In 10 the charge of RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
the press, inferred from remarks Of Mr. Lordshe said
the most liceuteuS duly to be performed by the po
litical press the defence 81 occupying pub
| lic stations. He was in favor Of abolshmg the tax
qualification, believing that the town would gain pc
,cuniarily by it, and that worthy men, who had
hard struggle To keep hunger from their families,
should not be compelled to pay tax ar be deprived
of the elective franchise He concluded by moving
an amendnent 10 the last resolve, SO thai it Should
only establish the pincple Of the ballot, leaV
ing the details to be decided by law.
The amendment was opposed by Messrs Walker,
OF N. Broukield, and llailett, of Wbraham, as
leaving the pripciple vague and ndisncI. The
amendment was rejected. bm
Me- Briggs, of Pius6eld, had regarded the tax
qualification aid in fixing location, though not
OF much practical consequence. He had, however,
made up his mind to support the amendment provid
ed IT could be made 10 apply in all elections. lie had
| been panied to hear the charge Of dependence and
| servility made against the laburing men. He had
repelled that charge elsewhere than in Massachu-
! setts, and would lepeIit here He did not believe
there independent class Of men in the
! Commonwealth. lie moved TO amend the first re.
solve, as 10 abolish the tax qualification in all
| elections.
Mr. Hood, Of Lynn, opposed the amendment, as
unnecessary and calculated TO prevent the adoption
OF the amendment by the people. He advocated
voting in envelopes, perfect preventative Of dou-
BILE voting, and the most convenient mode that could
| be devised.
Mr. Edwards, of Southampton, moved to amend
the fourth resolve, by striking out municipal and
inserting 'cy,' as It's application TO town office
woUld be nconvenient.
Messrs Wilson, OF Natick and Parker, Of Cam
bridge, favored the amendment of Mr. Briggs and
Messrs Cole, Of Cheshire, aud Boutwell,, Of Berlin,
opposed it, fT aW ~ |EEF
The question was taken on the amendment,
which was declared TO be rejected, and division
was asked.
| Mr. Briggs, of Piltsfed, called for the yeas and
nays. Pending that motion. at 20 minutes past 6,
the Convention adjourned.
THURSDAY, June g.
Ma King of est Bridgewater submitted an
order that the Committee on the Frame of Gov
eminent be instructed 10 inquire into the expedi-
ency Of Incorporating into the Constitution the
| principle that when any person shall be arrested
in, behafofthe Commonwealth on suspicion of
crime, and tried and not found guilty. that such
! person shall be remunerated for loss Of time and
the cost thus subjected TO. Adopted
Mr. Allen, romlhe Committee on the frame of
Government, submitted report as follows,
| Resolved, That the Constitution be amended
by striking out the first article in the first section
| Of the first chapter of part the second and sub
stituting therefor the following article:
ARTICLE l. The department of Legislature
shall be styled the General Court of Massachu-
/ sets. 1t shall consist Of two branches, Senate
and House Of Representatives, each of which
| shall have negative upon The other. The Leg
islature shall assemble every year on the FIST
"Wednesday in January, and shall be dissolved
on the day next preceding The said first Wednes-
day IN January, without any proclamation or 9TH
/ er act The Governor. Every member of the
4 Legislature shall receive TWO dollars and fifty
i cents day ioEhis attendance, and for his travel
from his place of abode once in each session, he
shall be paid two dollars for every ten miles,
! rrn1iaod that in case shall any nieniher re-
ceive more than two hundred and fifty dollars for
attendance upon the Legislature during his Official
term.
Referred to the Committee Of the Whole
Also, from the same gentleman report was
submitted on the subject Of incorporating into the
Constitution provision that Senators in Congress
shall be chosen by joint ballot of both branches
OF the Legislature assembled in convention, that
It Is lnexpedent 10 act thereon. Referred TO the
Committee Of the Whole. ss
| Also, from the same gentlemen, a report was
submitted on the subject Of providing that all acts
or resolves for the appointment Of Commissioners
shall specify the compensation for the services 10
De performed, and that in no case shall any ex-
! ira compensation be allowed after the services
have been performed. Reported inexpedient to
act thereon. -
On motion of Mr.. Allen of Worcester. the
Convention resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole Mr.. Thompson of Charlestewn, in the
chair, and took up the consideration of the report
from the Committee on Frame of Government.
! concerning Especial privileges and immunties.' -
that 1t Is lnexpedient 10 act thereon The report
was accepted, and the Committee then rose and
| reported TO the Convention its acceptance of The
report.
Reports were received in Committee. declarin,
It to be inexpedient 10 act in relation 10 the pur
chase OF books by the legslature-on Biennial
eleclons-and on the subject of requiring a ma
joriiy Of all the votes Of The members of The 90
lslatureeected, in order to pass bills
The report in relation 10 biennial elections was
adopted in convention; the Others were accepted
/ On motion of Mr. Thompson of Charlestown.
the Convention took up the orders of fhe day.
| Mr. Briggs Of Pitts6sld modified his amend
ment Of yesterday TO the tax resolution V.5la
Mr. Weston Of Duxbury moved an amendment
to The previous amendment that the word parish
be inserted after the word town. and the words
parish Affairs aferthe words town affairs
Mr. Boutwell, from Berlin opposed both amend
mems
Mr. Bates Of Plymouth proposed an amend
nent IN substance 10 remove the tax quali6caH
tiOn 10 vote lot all officers whose election is nro
vlded for in the Constitution
Mr. Parker Of Cembrdge took The floor, and
was speaking when the hour of arrived, at
winch time the Convention adjourned. ,...
The MEsILLAVALLEY AFFAIR. A Wash.
ingion correspondent of The Courier saws: I 3