Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-02
@ b { D q lip spy.
.SEE FIRST PAGE.
The ConventIon,

me convention
The Rump Legislature, now in session at Boston,
is exhibiting character as Jacobnica ever char
acterized the National Assembly in the worst days
Of the French Revolution. faction representing
party in minority Of fourteen thousand OF the peo
pie, having, by fortuitous concurrence of crcum-
stances, obtained the asceudancy in that body, are
enactng scenes which entirely repuguant to the
spritsOf our governments and which any single des-
pot, acting on his individual responsibility, would
shrink back from, with shame and disgust,
We say nothing now, of the arbitrary and uupre-
cedented ruling Of the Speaker, by which the House
of Representatives has ceased to be free delibera
tive body, and has become Jacobinical Club, under
the control Of few leaders, acting under no fixed
rules for the protection Of the personal lights Of mem
bers Our present purpose is to speak in reference
to the Constitutional Convention. The Wing fac
tion, finding that they could effect their great OBJ
ject, frepealing the act for calling that convention,
sought next to do whatever they could defeat its
objects. They have, therefore, already passed to be
engressed in both branches, bill 10 repeal the Sc.
crel ballot, and by express provision, made 1t to
apply to the election of delegates TO that body
They have passed another bill in the Senate, and
have it now before the House, with the intention of
pushing it through, il possible, making persons incl
igble to election, unless residents Of the towns they
represent, and providing that plurality of votes
shall elect All these provisions in violation of
the ordinance by which the people have called the
Convention, and, if the people are sovereign, are
void.
This violent assault Ibe sovereignty 0; the PEG.
pie and the rights of the majority should be met in
way that shall bring confusion upon the actors in
it, and teach sanitary lesson TO demagogues in all
time to The people should rise in their might,
and put delegates into that body who will act in de-
ference TO the popular voice, not from fear of its
effects on them personally, but from habual re-
gard to it, matter of principle in all representa-
1--WE organizations. They should see that a strong
and controlling majority of the original friends of the
Convention, and friends of social order and demo-
cratic reform shall be placed there as the conserya-
tors Of the rights of the people.
We trust that our friends, everywhere, will ad-
here to the provisions of the act calling the Conven
ton, in relation TO the secret ballot Let them, in
variably, cast their votes in envelopes, and il the
opponents Of the Convention cast theirs open, see
that separate count is made Of each, if the open
votes are counted at all. A check list, in addition
to that kept by the selectmen, should also be kept
where the town officers Wings, 10 ascertain
whether there is double voting or not, for it is not
to be disguised that principal object of the repeal
of the secret ballot law is, to afford the Wings the
opportunity Of DOUBLE VOTING, as they did in the
election of United States Senator Ic the number
of votes should exceed the number of names check
ed the deduction must be made from the open votes
as the double voting only be effected by open
voting. Our friends will therefore perceive that
aside from the necessity imposed by the act calling
the Convention, policy dictates the using of the Sc.
cre ballot, as, in any contested cases before the Con-
venlion, such votes will stand unquestoned, while
those given open will be subject Of doubt.
In conclusion, we say to friends, go into the
contest with spirit and determination Heed not the
thousand and one ridiculous and unfounded charges
made by the Wings in relation TO the intentions Of
the friends Of the Convention. The friends of Ie-
form wish to make such Constitution as will be ac-
ceptabe to the people, and they will not entanger
substantial and desirable reform, by connecting with
it any ultraism that will be obnoxious Worcester
County should send at least fifty true conservative
reiormers, and we trust she will do it,