Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-01

MONDAY, Nav 30.

A Communication was received from the Secreta.
ny OF the Commonwealth, transmitting certain in.
formation in compliance with request of the
veniion. Laid on the table, and ordered be printed.
George 5. Buutw ell, member elect from Berlin,
appeared ard took his seal, bis credentials having
been presented by Mr. Gourgas of Concord.
The credentials in form, follows:
Commonwealth of Massachusets-Co of
Worcester. Pursuant to request made TO the
Iectmen of Berlin, by order Of the Convention for
vising the Constitution of this Comnonwe allh new
in session Boston, the qualified electors of said
Berlin, in town meeting convened, Friday, the
9th day of May inst, did elect in the manner pre-.
scrihed by the act calling the Convention, adopted
by the people, ON the second Monday of November,
A. ID. 1852, George ). Boutwell,, of Groton,
their delegate to represent them in the convention
aforesaid, in place OF Hon. Henry w son, resigned.
Orders adopted-On motion of Mr. Lothrop of
Boston, upon The eXPedency Of providing that abili-
ty read aud write shall be an Indispensable re-
quise for the exercise of The elective franchise in
all elections held for the choice Of town. city, coun-
y, and Stale officers; also upon the expedency of
regarding the power 10 as a sacred trust AS
well as civil right, and of therefore providing that
the neglect oi this trust, thar is, the neglect to vote
when not caused by sickness or absence from the
State, shall be an offence punishable by fine, and if
persevered in for given term of years, shall work
a forfeiture Of the tight TO vote.
Ga motion Of MIR Wilson, of Natick, that the
Committee on the election Of Secretary, Treasurer,
&c, consider the expedlency Of providing for the
election by the people, OF prison Inspector
Mr. French of Berkeley, offered an order upon the
expediency of aboljshlng the Office OF Lieut.. Gov
ernor. Referred to the Committee of the Whole on
that subject.
The orders Of the day were taken up.
The resolves relating 10 the Office Of Governor,
came up on their passage.
The yeas and nays were order ed, on motion of
Mr. Thompson OF Charlestown.
A utf SLIM WAS raise hy Mr. NJ hpplpr NJ .ncoIn
which was discussed by him, and by Messrs Briggs
Of Pittsfeld, and Tyler OF Pawuckei, relative the
number of constitutional candidates from which Sc
lecons were to he ma e in the non-eecton Of gov
ernor by the people. il was stated that the number
would remain the same, if there were no amendments
to the old provision on the subject.
The resolves passed. by 28S yeas to nays.
On motion OF Mr. Wilson, of Natick, the Conven-
ton INTO Committee ofthe Whoe-Mr Thnmp-
son Of CharIesIown, in the chair, on the report of
the Committee on Frame of Governments that The
name ''The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, -
ought to be retained.
The report was adopted in committee, reported to
the Convention, and in convention the resolve was
passed.
On motion Of Mr. Hall Of HaverhH, the Conven.
ton Went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Butler,
OF Lowell, in the chair, the report OF the Com
mittee on Frame of Government, that the Stale and
County Elections be held on the Tuesday next sue
ceeding the first Monday in November.
The committee reported to the convention that
the resolve ought to pass, and in convention, I'M
der suspension of the rules, the resolve
passed.
whole, Mr. Crowninshield of Boston, in the chair,
on the report from the committee on the subject
of lieutenant governor
Mr. Butler Of Lowell moved to strike out of the
first resolve the title ellis Honor"
Mr. Wilkins of Boston, said the committee had
the matter under consideration, and were nearly
unanimous, with one exception, in favor of re-
tanning it. He thoughtit better to defer the sub
jeet until the title of the governor acted upon
The amendment was advocated by Messrs. But
Ter of Lowell, and Wilson Of Natck.
Mr. Train of birmingham, was in favor of abol-
ishing the office, and proposed at some time to
make motion to that effect The Office would
be useless one, if the council was abolished, as
proposed; and it would be better to allow the
Senate to choose its own presiding officer.
Mr. Wilkins, of Boston, proposed to offer some
amendments after which the question might be
taken on the motion suggested
Mr.. Keyes of Abingdon, did not think there
was any particular objection to the title any more
than there to the title of Captain or'' Ma
jor,' or General He opposed to any def
mite action until it appeared how far it deter
mined to go in measures tending to lessen respect
for the government. His experience had led him
to believe that the executive council was not that
| useless body which some had represented; and if
| that body was retained, itwould be proper that
the lieutenant governor should continue to occu-
Ply the place he has heretofore, chairman of the
committee on pardons. The subject of pardons of
itself was business enough to make it necessary to
retain that branch of the government.
Mr. Eames of Washington, of the committee,
was opposed to any change in this department of
the government.
Messrs rockingham of Charlestow1i, and Will
son of Natick advocated the amendment, believ-
ing that titles were not i'll accordance with the
spirit of the age.
The motion to strike out the title, was carried
by nearly unanimous vote.
Nj Wilkins of Boston. proposed several amend /.
ments, which adopted.
Mr. Wilson of Natck, moved to strike out the
second article, requiring the lieutenant governor
to be the president of the Senate.
NJ Hallett of Wilbraham, opposed the amend
ment, believing that it would be found expedieut
to abolish the executive council, in which event
there would be little else for the lieutenant gov
ernor to do but to preside over the Senate. Che
objection that he might not be good presiding
ofhcer, he did not consider as having any weight
for in looking at the past, it did not appear that
any man would be elected with less qualifications
for that office, than some of those who had acted
presiding officers
Mr.. Sargent of Cambridge, was in favor of the
amendment, even though the council should be
abolished, for in any event, proposed, his Office
/ would be useless one.
! Mr.. Hubbard. of Boston, suggested that il would
be better to leave the subject for the present, I'M
I'll the question relative to elections, and of the
council, should be disposed Of
After some further remarks by Messrs Butler,
of Lowell, rockingham, of Charlestown, Wilson.
of Natick, and Gray of Boston, the committee rose
and reported the first article as amended to the
convention.
The amendments were adopted, and on motion
of Mr.. Butler, of Lowell, the whole subject was
ordered to be referred again to the committee of
the whole, to be considered in connection with
the report on the council.
On motion of Mr.. Bufler, of Lowell, the con-
yention went into committee of the whole, Mr.
Gray, Of Boston, in the chair on the report of
committee en- oaths and subscription &c
Mr. Butler of Lowell, as chairman of the COM
mittee, made some explanations, which induced
the committee to make the report
Mr. Hallett of Wibraham, said there was no
provision in the constitution requiring allegiance
to the constitution of the United States, and he
moved to amend by an oath to that effect.
Mr. Crowninshield of Boston, thought the
amendment was unnecessary, the constitution
OF the United States provides for the same thing,
and that was the supreme law Of the land
Mr Hallett did not expect notification from