Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS


The Constitutional Convention of Massachusetts,
which has been in session at Boston during the past
three months, adjourned sine die on Tuesday morn
ing The Boston Daily Advertiser mentions, as
follows, some of the principal amendments adopted
by the Convention
The parts of the present constitution retained together
with the most important amendments adopted by the
Convention consisting of fourteen distinct chapters and
occupying hryeght printed pages, submitted to the
people for their ratification rejection in single act
variety Of less important amendments proposed,
the number Of seUa submitted in dstinctpropos
tons for acceptance or rejection by the people by dis
tnct votes
Among the present amendments incorporated in the
proposition No. l are
ls One which entirely changes the organization and
manner Of election of the Senate, making the members eli
gibe in forty single districts by plurality of btes in
stead of being elected in districts composed d entire
counties by majority of votes, wherever thai be
obtained but in of failure, by joint ballt of the
two branches from the two candidates for each seat
the popular ballot.
ID 1t is provided that the Council shall be elected by
the people, member in each of eight districts,
each Council district to be composed Of five Contiguous
Senatorial districts"
3d. new organization of the House Of REPRESENTA-
ves which is to consist of 407 members, ELECTED annu-
ally and 431 elected the years of the valuan of
tates These Representatives are assigned by al appor
tionment entirely
4th There are some important alterations in regard to
the majority and plurality of votes to be required cleo
\
5h. The Secretary Of State Treasurer, Audit&, and
Attorney General are to be chosen by the people.
9th An important change is proposed in the Tenure Of
judicial appontmentsthe term of office Of Judges the
Supreme Judicial and other Courts being limited Il
years, instead Of being during good behavior.
It'll. Judges of Probate, Registers Of Probate and of
Deeds Shers District Attorneys, and Trial Justices
to be chosen trennaly by the people
8th The right OF suffrage is open to every male citizen
years age aud upwards except paupers and
persons under guardianship Who has been resident in
the Commonwealth one yea, and in the town in which
he may claim right to yoe SIX months; the condition
of payment Of State or county tax being dispensed
with.
9th Provision is made taking the Of the peo
pie the question of tn, expediency of Convention for
revision of the Constitution in 1873, and in every
twentieth year thereaftr 1t is also made the duty of
the Legislature to submit the people the question Of
convention for revising the Constitution whenever they
shall be requested to do by votes OF the people in
and cities containing not less than third part of
the qualified voters
These are the prinipal provisions embraced in
proposition No. l. Theseven other propositions adopted
in separate resolves blythe Convention relate to the writ
of habeas corpus max jurors judges of the law in crim
nal cases give Stae creditors the right to recover
their claims by suit ahlish Imprisonment for debt,
cept in of fraud prohibit the appropriation of
school moneys any religious sect, for the manten-
exclusively of its own schools prohibit the
ton Of speialacts when unnecessary and
require the adoption in al banks to be hereafter estab
lished, of the New York system.
vote is to be taken these propositions on the day
of the general election the ID Monday of November
next.