Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-07-25
CONSTITUTIONAL CoNvExTIoN.
FRIDAY, July 22d-Coniinued.

ReS0l1ed, That II Is eXpedent amend the
Constitutions as to provide that majority Of votes
shall be necessary for the election of Representatives
to the General Court until otherwise provided by
law"
Mr. Couch of Merose, moved to add to Mr. Birds
amendment the words ''provded that no law ON this
subject shall take effect until two years after lis pas
sage and advocated the same in order 10 get
popular expression on the subject.
'fhe debate WAS connuedhy Messrs Hurburt of
Sudbury, Steison of Braintree, and Walker Of No.
Brookfeld, when the previous question ordered,
and the amendment Of Mr. COUCH lost.
The question recurring Mr. Birds amendment,
the yeas and nays oiuered, and it adopted
by 1S9 yeas to l6S nays.
The next question being on MIR Dara's amend
ment, providing for plurality in all elections, the
yeas and nays again called, with the result Of
Ill yeas, 1871 nays. So the amendment was re-
jected
The question recurring the resolves as amend
ed the yeas and nays were again called, with the
result of lS2 yeas, 1l9 nays So the resolves were
finally passed, as follows:
Resolved, That it is expedent to provide in the
Constituiion'Ihat majority of all the votes given
shall be necessary to the election OF Governor
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, Treasurer Auditor
and Attorney General of the Commonwealth; pro.
Vded that il any election Of either Of the above
named officers, no person shall have majority of
the votes given, the House of Representatives shall,
by majority OF viva votes, elect two out of
three persons who had the highest, if so many shall
have been voted for and return the persons elect
ed to the Senate, from HON the Senate shall, by
viva voce vote, elect one who shall be Governor, or
other officer thus TO be elected.
Resolved, That in all the elections OF Senators
and Councillors the person having the highest num-
Der OF votes shall be elected.
Resolved, That il is eXpedient to amend the
Constitution as 10 provide that majority of votes
shall be necessary for the election of Representatives
to the General Court, until otherwise provided by
law.
Resolved, That in the election of all city and
town officers, the rule shall govern as in case
Of representatives TO the General Court
Resolved, That IN the election of all county and
district officers, the person having the highest num-
Der Of votes shall be elected.
Resolved. That in all elections where the person
having the highest number Of votes may be elected,
and there is failure of election because two persons
have equal number Of votes, subsequent trials may
be had at such times as may be prescribed by the
Legislature.
Absence Leave was granted TO Mr. Meader Of
Nantucket, and Mr. Cummings OF Ware, for the re-
mainder Of the session. Adjourned.
Afternoon Session The Calendar beng takennp
the amended resolves the subject Of The Lieut..
Governor. were finally passed without debate.
Specie Pay ments.-Ihe report Inexpedent, &C.,
The subject OF sanconing the suspension OF specie
payments, was accepted without debate.
Unrestricted Represenlatioa.-'f report nfx.
pedent. &C., upon The subject Of an order that towns
and districts may be represented by any citizens of
the Common wealth, was accepted without debate.
Quorum of the House Of Representatives The
resolve ON this subject next taken up, question
substituting 100, instead OF majority 0. the mem
bers, as the number for quorum. The amendment
was adopted, and the resolve as amended, passed
second reading.
Pay of Oficers.-The resolve on the subject of
the compensation of the officers of the Conven-
ton was next taken up, and finally passed with
out debate.
Constitutional Conventions On motion of
Mr.. Cushman, OF Bernardston. debate on the re.
solves on the subject of amendments to the Con-
stitution was limited to one hour in Committee of
the Whole
The Convention then went into Committee,
(dr Griswold, for Erving, in the chair,) on the
resolves, question on substitute proposed by Mr..
Hallet for Wilbraham.
Mr.. Hallett ex planned and advocated his sub
stitute as the essential doctrine of the sovereign
ty of the people and above the Legislature as
recognized in the decision of the Berlin case.
Mr.. Burlingame for Northboro', sustained the
amendment in an animated speech
Messrs. Hale of Bridgewater, and Briggs OF
Pittsfeld, took the opposite side.
Numerous amendments were then proposed to
the resolves as reported, but they were all re-
jected.
The substitute of Mr. Hallett was then adopted
The Committee then rose, and in Convention,
on the question of eoncurring with the action of
the Committee, debate was renewed in which
Messrs, Briggs of Pittsfeld, Upton of Boston,
Butler Of Lowell, Lord of Salem, Parker of Cam
bridge, Bird of Walpole, and Haett for Wibra-
ham, participated
Without, however, taking the question, the
Convention at IA O'clock, adjourned.
SATURDAY, July 49,
judicial Tenure.-Mr Butler of Lowell, submitted
resolve providing that all judicial commissions
which shall issue after the first day Of August next,
1858, shall confer greater Of office than the
term of ten years. 1t was placed in the orders of
the day.
Mr. Cushman for Bernardston, submitted the fol-
lowing:
Ordered, That the Committee on reducing the
amendments to form, be requested TO prepare adj
dress the people, to accompany the revised Const-
tuition. Adopted.
The Calendar being taken up, the first matter
therein the question of concurrence with the ac
ton of the Committee Of the Whole, in adopting the
substitute Of Mr. Hallet for Wilbraham, for period
cal Conventions (once twenty yeais) independent
Of any law Of the gisature-subjecl to an amend
ment proposed by Mr. Briggs Of Pius6eld, requiring
the delegates TO said Conventions 10 SIN the
to be provided for by the Legislature to he
chosen at the same time as the delegates.
After debate, the subject was postponed till Mon
day at 10 O'Clock.
Inc resolve on the sutgect oil quorum OF the
House, making 100 members the number, was final
| " passed.
| Mr. Duncan of Wiliamsiown, offered a resolve ia
the effect thai the Constitution ought TO be amended
TO provide for receiving asserting, and count.
ing the votes uniformly, Of all officers TO be elected
as provided for in the Constitution. Referred to the
| Committee ofthe Whole.
| Mr. llaiIett for Wilbraham, moved a reconsidera.
ton Of the whereby the resolves relating to the
Council were yesterday finally passed. Motion
! placed in the calendar
The Convention resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole Mr. Butler Of Lowell in the Chair, on the
following resolves, the question being on their pas.
sage to second reading:
Resolved That it is eSpedenl 10 insert into the
| Constitution articles providing
l. That the Legislature shall have no power to
pass any granting any special charter for banking
purposes, or any special act to increase the capital
stock of any charter bank; but corporations may be
formed for such purposes, or the capital stock Of
charter banks may be increased, under general laws.
2. That the Legislature shall provide by law for
the registry Of al notes bills authorized by general
laws to be issued put in circulation as money, and
shall require ample security for The redemption oil
such notes, in specie.