Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-01

vention. More than hundred and twenty speech
es were made, occupying more than seventy hours,
upon the basis Of the Honse Of Representatives
Not speaker-no, not one-uttered a single word
in favor of retaining the present system. Men OF all
parties freely admitted ills evils. By that system the
small towns are in process of disfranchisement.-
Every year, every census, dmInishes the power and
influence OF the towns of the country. The power
and influence Of the large towns and cities, through
the centralizng force Of the general ticket system,
augmented at fearful rate. While the general
tIcketsystem is increasing the power and influence
OF the cities and large towns far beyond what they
are legHmately entitled to, by the increase of their
popuauon-It dimInshes the control of the people
OF those places over the selection and election Of
Their representatives, and gives TO the tew-to the
representatives OF great inlerests-the leaders and
managers of palties, omnpoten sway.
Now, one hundred aud thirty eight of the smaller
towns are partially DISTINGUISHED At the next de-
cennial census, large number more OF will
be added e the list. During the past thirteen years
7S towns have, on the average, been unrepresented
each year The inevitable tendency Of The present
system Is TO impair he legitimate power OF the peo-
pie OF the townsto increase far beyond the increase of
population, the power Of the cites-to diminish the
influence OF the people in the cites, and TO
trate IN the haads of few leaders, who combine
great interests, the power of these cities.
For more than two centuries, town representation,
modified by population, has prevailed in This Com
monmeaIth. large House and degree OF inc
quality must ever exist under any system of town
Representations Yet the people. are welded to The
corporate representative system, by the IDEAS habits,
associations, and prejudices of six generations. lie
Is not a wise man, who UNDERWRITERS the power Of
more than two centuries Of corporate representation
upon the people.
On this subject the Convention was divided into
two partles-the advocates Of "A district system, aud
/ the advocates OF a mixed system, of town represen-
taton and population. The advocates OF town rep
| resentation able To command more than one
red in tha
| propositions were made. The minority Of the com
| mittee to whom the matter referred, submitted
| by Mr. Hale of Boston, plan for district SYSTEM
which was rejected by vote Of 244 to 1872, many
Wings voting against it. The plan finally agreed
upon, by vote OF 235 to l3l as Of the 235 being
| Whigs) amendment 10 the report Of the House
committee, was proposed by Col. Butler, OF Lowell
! IhIs plan, originally prepared by Mr. " hte, of
! Quincy, was by far the most just, equal, and salts
factory, OF all the plans proposed, combining
porale Representation and population 1t provides
| that
EVERY corporate town, containing less than one
thousand Inhabitants, may elect one Represen-
atve in the year when the valuation of estates shall
be settled, and IN addition thereto, one Representa-
| tive five years in every ten years Every town con,
tanning one thousand inhabitants and les than four
! thousand, may elect one representative. Every town
! town containing four thousand nhabadts and less
than eight thousand, may elect two representatives.
| Every town containing eight Thousand inhabitants
and less than twelve thousand, may elect three rep
resenatlves. Every city or town containing twelve
thousand inhabitants, may elect four representa-
| tlves. Every city or town containing over twelve
| thousand inhabitants, may elect additional rep
resentatve for every Tour thousand inhabitants
Towns oiess than one thousand Inhabitants may
! form themselves into Representative districts Each
city shall be divided into districts OF contiguous ter.
rltory, as nearly equal in population as may he, for
the election OF Representatives-'no enc district to
elect more than three Representatives.
This system, il ratified by the people, secures the
| following results, TO wit 1t secures permanently
10 81 small towns Of less than 1000 inhaFitans that
have on an average only Representatives each in
III years, Representatives each in 10 years; it Sc.
cures to % towns partially DISTINGUISHED, that
have only on the average Representatives each IN
III years, iul representation every year forever,
unless any OF these towns fall below 1000 inhabitants
II secures a permanent representation to large
number oil towns which would he DISTINGUISHED at
the decennlal census IN 1860 in 1870 1t secures
district system to the Cities thereby destroying the
general ticket system, md the controlling power and
influence Of the few. and places the power where il
belongs, in the hands Of the people. 1t thus arrests
the vanishing representation Of the towns-gves to
them permanent representation, and breaks up the
centrallzlng system in the cities.
Many members Of the Convention were ia favor
Of district system, based upon population polls or
legal voters. These members believed the people
were prepared 10 accept district system EheY
wished to take the of the people upon an alter
native proposition for district system. Fearing that
such proposition would tend TO complicate the cues
ton, to distract divide, or embarrass the friends of
Constitutional reform, and DESTROYS to give the advo
Gates oil the district system an opportunity 10 take
the sense Of the people, submitted 10 the Convens
'ion the following proposition, to wit:
''The Legislature which shall be chosen at the
general election the Tuesday next after the first
! Monday IN November, in the year 1855, shall divide
| the State INTO LOFTY single districts for the choice of
Senators, such districts to be Of contiguous territory
| and as nearly equal as may be in the number Of
qualified voters resident in each land shall also divide
the State into single double districts, TO be of
contiguous territory, and nearly equal as may be
IN the number Of qualified voters resident in each
Tor the choice OF not less than 240, nor more than
$40 Representatives, with proper provisions for
dlsrictlng theCommonwealth aiore aid in the year
1866, and every tenth year theTeaiter aud with all
other provisions necessary for carrying such system
OF districts into operation; and shall submit the same
to the people al he general election to be held in the
! year 1856, for their ratification; and If the same
shall be ratified and adopted by the people, il shall
become part OF this Constitution in plare Of the
provisions contained in this Constitution for the APP
! purtionment Of Senators and Representatives
| This plan was Incorporated into the amended
| Constitution by vote of 209 TO 1888 Ii imposes
upon the Legislature of 1885, the duty to divide the
Commonwealth into districts for the election OF Sen.
alors and Representatives based upon legal voters
and to submit this district system 10 the people for
ratification at The annual election in 1856 Then ic
the people are in favor OF town Representations they
| VIII tetami-ii they are 10 favor Of the district
system they will accept it. The sincere opponents
OF the present system, who cannot support the plan
adopted by The Convention, who are in favor Of a
district SYSTEM safely rlhe amended Con.
sIiluiion II is the only mode by which they can
hope to obtain their lavorie system of represente-
| ton. They cannot reasonably expec! 20 obtain for