The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-15
BosroN, NoU. %, 1853.
. National Era

they have been defeated.
The Convention submitted the results Of /
labors to the people, in eight distinct propos
lions The frd proposition contained u
framework OF the Government. Mos. OF Il
changes embraced IN this proposition wei
adopted by the almost unanimous voice OF Il
Convention. The following changes were en-
braced in proposition No. /, TO wit:
!. That the pay Of the members Of the Legl
lature shall be limited 10 one hundred days
2 TAat the compensation Of the members
the Legislature shall be fixed by general lawi
but no act increasing the compensation sha
apply to tho members passing the act.
g. That the members of the Senate an
House Of Representatives shall, in all election
vote UiUa Uoce.
That the Commonwealth shall be divide
int, single districts of contiguous territory, ab
rs equai IN population as may be, for The cholc
Of SENATOR.
5 That tho plurality rule shall apply to tb
election Of Senators
d That 2 majority of the whole Senate sha
be quorum to do public business.
Z. that sixty-lour towns of less than on
thousand inhabitants, shall each have SIX ReI
cescn!ntiVe, il each decennial period Of To
years
( That seventy five towns, now partially d.
tranchiscd, shall each have an annual represent
alton in the House of Representatives.
9 That towns Of four thousand and less than
eight thousand inhabitants shall each be ent'-
tied t. two Representatives
10 That the mean increasing ratio shall be
four thousand Inhabitants
H. That the cities shall be dstricted for the
choice Of representatives. 40 one district to
elect moro than three Representatives"
u That the Legislature of 1856 shall divide
the Commonwealth into forty single districts
lor the choice of Senators and into single or
double districts, for the choice of not less than
24O nor more than 800 Representatives; the
districts 10 Jo Of contiguous territory, and a
nearly cqnal a. may be in the number Of quail
sled yot-r- IN e ,ch district; and submit to tie
people at the annual election in 1856, plan
for district system thus constituted for their
ratification or rejection
10 that one huadrct members of the House
Of Rcpresen arrive. hall constitute a quorum
for dong business
IA Thai jhe ttle' of HIS ExcELLENCYp
and tIrs HoNoR, be expunged irom the Con.
stitutiUn.
Is That the property qualification Of the
NONclubF ana Lieutenant bOFclnbr DC eA Iuii-
ged from the Constitution
10 That the Councillors shall be elected b.
the people in single districts, by a plurality Of
the votes.
Il That the records of the Council shall b.
open to the examination Of the public.
Is. That Councillors snail not he appointed
IN any commission, or to any place, and re
ceivo compensation therefor.
49, That the olth4 of OH @ shall be admin
lstercd to che members If the Council by the
PrerlGeu, of the Senate, "iH presence Of The
Senate
20 That the Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor,
and Attorney General shall be chosen 10y the
psoph annually Mt the general election
81 That Judges Of Probate Registers Of
Probate, ShcrItis, Commissioners OF Insolvency
District Attorneys, and Clerks of the Courts
shall be elected trieGniallv, by the people OF
chez: respective counties and districts, and by
tho plurality rule
% That tbs Register Of Deeds, County
Tressurefs, and County Commissioners, shall
be elected ~ fhc general election for three
years by rloraIity If the votes
30 That the Justices of the Supreme Judi.
OIm Court and She Justices of such infcr!o-
courts ~ are or may I've established by law,
shall hold their commissions for ten gears, sub
Jet 10 re-apPontmont
pa That Triui Justices shall be elected by
che people Of the oltics and towns, for the term
II thlco wears
% That the Justices and ClerkS of Police
Courts shall be chosen by the people of the
cues and towus. for the term of three years
20. That the tax qualification to vote Tor any
National or State t6fhcer shall be abolished
p. That all ballots required 10y law to be
given at ~aag National, State, county, district
or city election including the election of Rep.
reseatatVcs, trial justices Justices and clerk.
Of police courts shall be deposited in sealed en-
gelope,.
%. That the day Of the annual election shal
DO the Tuesday neu after the first Monday o
November.
% That the Legislature shall have powe
10 provide for the election of State officers, RoI
rescnrativcs 80 the General Court and munic
pal officers by plurality of the votes given,
80. That Major Generals shall be elected b
,ha Bripadicr Generals and Field Officers.
81. That the Legislature shall always hay
iuli power and authority to alter, limit a,
nu!, or restrain any Of the powers now vcste
in the President and Fellows of Harvard Co
lege, provided She obligations Of contrac
bo not impaired
81 That the Legislature shall provide f,
the enlargement of the Schoi Fund until
shall amount 10 ilco ,H,iiiOnS Of dollars to
forever kept iariOi0ie Tor "the improuerc
II common Schools"
49, That che people shall vote on the Que
tion Of calling Convention Tor the revision
the Consultation, in 1873, aud in every TWEEN
oJh year thereafter; aud the Legislature sho
submJ The question To the people mt any tim
on the application of one third Of the vote
voting FIR the Same at any annual election.
THIS trd proposition was finally adopted
IA TO o.
The secoai proposition declared that Il
writ OF kCte0s CO pms shall be granted ~
right Ia all ca "a in which discretion is n
especially epu!drreI upon the court by Il
Legislature,
The very important constitutional provsi,
was finally adopted by vote Of 100 tn II.
The htrd proposition declared that in II
trials fjr criminal offences, the jury, after In
lng received the Instructions of the court, sha
have the right in their verdict Of guilty or n
guilty, 20 determine the law and tho facts
tbe case
Thu amendment was adopted by u final yo
OF AZ to So
Fne Jou,th proposition declared, that eve
per,on ravrE d claim against the Comma
wealth ought 10 have Il judicial remedy Their
for
IL Wa adopted on the final vote by 1873 to
The mn proposition declared that no pc
sqn shall bee Imprisoned for any debt hereait
contracted, unless Ia casos Of fraud
1'hi. Amendment was adopted by vote
1873 10 10.
rae ,,Ifh proposition declared that IA
lnoaeys raised l,y taxation or which may
appropriated by The State for the support
sommon schools shall never be appropriate