Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-23
TOWN REPRESENTATION.
REMARKS Of
Hon. GEORGE S. BOUTWELL,,
IDELEsATE FROM BERLIN.l

ter for me. My friend, the learned gentleman from
Boston, (Mr Choae,) has taken his seat, a Pro-
gressive,-he win pardon me-a still more unusual
character for him. This morning, the Committee
instructed and deIg hted with the learning and
opiRions which he was pleased to place before them.
But |, sir, speak under the exhaustion which by
Uniform rule Of nature follows pleasure, and is pro-
portionate TO its degree No man is more sensible
than am, that l shall fail to equal the gentleman
from Boston, in all respects but one; and that is de-
votion to the opinions entertain.
| am aware that in the discussion of the subject
before us, the friends Of the majority report, or of
the substance OF that report, must admit what they
can neither reiute deny, that that system, in
whatever form it may be presented, is unequa as re.
CARDS men. In speaking of that report do not
intend TO advocate, as indispensable, any particular
plan But IN what say, | desire TO be under
stood as defending and advocating so far as am
able, general system of town representation against
the report or anything analogous the report bro't
forward and advocated by the minority of the Com
mittee take my position there, and there mean
10 stand.
The inequality Of the system Of representation
proposed by the majority, has attracted the attention
and received the animadversion Of various gentle
men upon this floor. At that | am not surprised
bat beg to ask them in the outset whether they
have examined the existing system of representa-
ton, and whether they have instituted any COMPARE
son between that and the system proposed by the
majority Of the Committee And If in answer TO
such inquiry, they say that both systems are uneaual
as regards men, and that there is any substantial
difference between the two Then beg further to ask
those gentlemen, when they made the discovery in
regard to the inequality OF representation existing IN
Massachusetts! Am | mistaken, or are these moi
the same gentlemen who commended before the people
that there was no necessity for calling a Convention
to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth
think am not mistaken upon that point but that
the existing system of representation, not differing
materially in the matter OF equality, from the enc
recommendation the majority of the Committee, is
the one which they thought SO just that it was not
advisable to call Convention TO change it. Sir,
this system has been in operation more than one
decennlal period, and yet not word Of renonstrance
or indignation, that have heard, has gone up from
the lips OF these men. Two wrongs do not make
right, but the existence Of wrong for series of
years, unrebuked, is reason why gentlemen, should
not be loud in their denunciatons OF a system not
materially different.
Now let me ask, as an inquiry not unimportant TO
this discussion, what is government 2 Is it pro.
position in mathematics, IN arithmetic in geometry?
Is It an exact science! | should think So by the
argument which has been presented, that no lust
government could exist unless it was based upon
arlthmetica equality Of men But even that will
not suffice. MY friend from Boston (Nr Choate)
goes still farther and says that the plan proposed 1y
the minority OF the Committee is not only based upon
men, hut upon women and children: upon the natar-
Ill fi8nl Oh all 10 participate equally the
ment under which they live. | would ask when the
women and children in this Commonwealth have
been consulted, in regard TO any system of Govern
mentl
Government as understand it, is the application
OF the experience, OF history, tie best wisdom and
the highest human reason, to the existing institp-
tons OF a country, or people.
One word more with regard to the equality Of
which the gentleman speaks. The Constitution of
this State, of the United States, and the Declare.
ton OF Independence, all declare, III some form or
other,th equality of the people. None of us stands
here to day to deny the principle Of the equality of
men; but the relations of society such the civ
llizatIon OF this country and OF every country is such
that il very seldom unprecedented | may say il
sver happens-that any government is founded up.
on the single idea Of the equality Of men. And
take it the solution of that great difficulty is to be
found in the very law Of our ptHre l with it an men
are falble They are not perfect, and MIR Chair.
man, when you your fellow citizens succeed in
establishing government that shall be perfect and
equal in all its relations, in all its parts, Iventure TO
say the necessity for any government will have
passed away.
The doctrine of checks and balances comes from
the same principle Of the fallibiIity of man. Gov
eminent, far know, rests upon three eleneuts
or principles and it is the duty of wise statesmen
and Legislators to approximate, as nearly they
can, to these principles. But it also rests upon
usage, and, to xlent, upon fiction; and the
government OF Massachusetts is not an exception in
this last particularly nasmuch it declares that all
Just power is derived from the consent of the gov
erned, when, matter of fact, the consent Of a
great majority Of the governed has not been OBJ
tanned.
Now, one word in regard to the point which has
been much discussed here, that the House of Rep
resentatves, If constituted in "a certain way, would
represent only minority Of the people Of the State.
That admit; but beg The gentleman from Boston
10 bear in mind, and beg the Convention to bear in
mind that the proposition which we made, and
which the Convention will recommend, is 10 be sub
mit;ed to the people of the Commonwealth. Their
judgment is to he taken upon is aud if a majority
of the people opposed to it, il fails to become
part Of the organic law Of the State; but il, on the
other hand, majority of the people adopt it, then
il is Ct the Constitution And if a majority Of the
men in the various towns in the Commonwealth,
adopt the system recommended by the majority OF the
Convention, the House of Representatives will rep
resent majority Of the people Of the State in the
same manner as do your Judges in your Courts. And
if you adopt TIL plan for the House OF Representa-.
tives, it is upon precisely the principle as that
which your Courts now rest.
think further, Mr. CHAIRMAN that government
Of a Slate like ours has some pecuiarites One Of
those deserving Of notice, is the popularity exp
ea IN the word, Commonwealth | maintain that
the organization Of this State is not simply barren
political organization, having reference solely TO the
political rights Of the people who may be within il;
but it has reference TO all the great interests and n
stituons Of the States.
think that history and experience teach three
things. First, that governments do mol est upon
any single principle. Second, that every govern.
ment needs checks; and third, that those have act.
ed well who have accepted the existing institutions
Of the country the basis Of new ones. In regard
to this last point, wish to make reference 10 our
own history. Ii you consider the Constitution Of
the United States il il but declaration Of existing
truths 1t is application Of the principles of gov
eminent TO the existing institutions OF the country
mol the creation of institutions or the applica-
ton Of new principles to old institutions. Aud so
as regards own State. Oar fathers accepted
the Institutions which were among them. II was in
their minds, undoubtedly, from the principles that
they declared TO establish an equal system Of repre-.
senlaiou in Massachusetts. Why did they not do
it4 They we're az thoroughly imbued with the pin.
pies Of liberty as we are at this day. Why did they
not give to The Commonwealth and posterity an
equal system Of representation Because they chose
10 avail themselves Of the existing institutions Of the
land aud apply the principles in which they were
educated, and TO which they chung with fond alpc.