Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-11-07


Population of II Districts excluding Lunenburg, and
including towns annexed to MiIdeaex and to lanp-
shire, lS4773i average 2,200
Now, in the formation OF the districts this
scheme unes part Of the city OF Worces-
ter with Paxton, Holden, and Spencer; It
unes Boyslon with Shirley, in the County
OF MddlessX; it uniles HubbaldslOn with Barre
and North Rrook6eld it unes West Brook
field aud Broukfeld with Enfield and Becher,own.
towns 10 Hampshire County; ii unites Grafton, in
this county, with Ashland, in the county OF Middle
sex, as we'll as Berlin, which is IN remote part Of
the county from Grafton. And, gong through with
the whole Inst OF districts, as framed by the friends
OF The district system in the Convention, YOU viii
IND towns thus put together, which have iUle sym.
paihy and hardly any communication with each OH
er. To understand II, let me suppose that the eighth
ward in this city placed in a district with
Douglas, Sutton, and Brookfeld. Judge YOU how
well these towns, and portions Of towns, could come
together aud haImonize in the choice of a Repre.
sentative. They have sy mpahes in common.
II Yon have large section Of the county TO form i'll
10 a district for Senator's il is less difficult to do H.
because men have not been accustomed to have the
Senators from their own Immediate neighborhood. -
But, when You present such system to the people,
who have been accustomed 10 send Representatives
whom they knew, ctizeus of their own town, would
1t not be rejected! And ought it not TO be elected,
at once?
Ht lllCHus VI numerical etlIaiiN IN disregard of
all other considerations ,have paid no attention what
ever to The habits of the people, which are always
to be taken into account, TO their sympathies, to
then associations; but, using mathematical lines
Olely-and the scheme admits OF no other mode Of
presentment-they connect together people having
no sympathy OF feeling and 10 knowledge of each
others positions. This was the plan presented and
voted for in the Convention by the friends Of The DIS
trlct system. let me notice one circumstance which
| think is worthy OF more cons federation Since the
Convention Adjourned, they have come forward with
no other scheme for disricling the Commonwealth
They talk about the district system ia the abstract
and recommend 1t IN the abstract. Why do they moi
present their plan and show its operation? Because
they know, full well, that the people of all parties.
even OF their own party, would reject any plan OF
dlsrlctng the State, which could be proposed and
sent out. Ask the people Of Leicesler-the people
Of Holden-he people Of Rutland to 90 for The Dis
trict system. They do not know where they voud
be put. But, they are asked 10 look at a district
system, simply OF theory. Perhaps, since il looks
so we'll, some may be inclined to iayor IT, as mere
matter of theory but, if you were To present 10 the
people OF Leicester, or Holden, or Rulhnd the dis
trcts as actually made out, they would find them-
selves connected as they do not wish TO be- with
towns with which they have lew sympathies in com.
mon, and would refuse TO adopt il. One OF the tovus
may be Jealous ior the Maine law, and another zeal
Gus in opposition to it. One may be in favor of one
know with what towns they are to beccnnected they
would reject il altogether.
Gentlemen call upon the friends of the district
system, and ask them to show you what disirIcts
they mean to make. Gentlemen, 20 lor the Town
system. (Applause.)
In 1886, there will be an OBJ ortunily TO adopt the
district system, if you please; bur, am free to say,
after much consderaliuu that, h0tmoN aud IN 1896,
shall go for the town system Of representation
(Apphuse) believe il not only illustrates the his-
tory Of the past but, IN a great measure, has made
it; and believe il is sale reltance lor all the iu-
ture. | viii not, nor do | believe the mechanics in
Worcester will allow that large portion Of the ru-
raj population, embracing 20 much VI the Common
wealth. 10 be either deprived Of nspoWer, by losing
its annual representation enney ,ur by being thrown
INTO districts where there will be no sympathy no
community of action, aud where there will be no
interest elt, MS heretofore, ~ the choice Of public
servants, after they have been chosen. ! hone, in
times Of trial, which may come hereafter rs lhey
have come before, when clouds gather deep aud
black around III, as they did in The days Of our IA
hers, that. IN these towns will still be preserved the
right Of representation, that these little incorpor-
aled republics may meet together, having a stake in
political affairs TO instruct their representatives in
political duties, 10 keep each other IN heart by m0.
inal advice, and TO join hands around their homes
IN renewed pledges, under all cifcumslanc TO main
tain the glory and the honor Of the State (Ap.
plause.)
There are other subjecls, upon which / should be
happy TO address you, but / have not time nor
strength, nor 10 it necessary, Upon this question of
representation, The whole matter Is to turn. As men
decide npon this point, apprehend they decide up.
on all others. might have explained to YOU The
necessity which existed for combining the various
propositions IN one, but that has been 50 far eSplan-
ed, before, by another gentleman, that | suppose il is
not necessary can only say, il was the desire of
the Convention 10 present rs many propositions sep
araely Us they could. But, in many instances, they
were joined together, because they were of such .