Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-11-12
A Great Outrage

There is reason to believe that deep laid and
thoroughly arranged plot was entered into by
the Wings, 10 defeat the acceptance of the Re-
vised Constitution, BY preventing the people from
having the means of voting legally thereon. The
Wing Secretary of State omitted TO give notice,
before the first day Of October, 10 the Town
Clerks of the several towns ia the State, that he
was prepared to furnish them with envelopes The
consequence was, that very few Town Clerks
have sent orders for any. Ga application TO him,
by individuals from several towns, either to sell
them sufficient number for their towns, or to
forward them under the provisions of law, as the
former Secretary did, he absolutely refused to do
either, and declared his unalterable intention TO
allow no envelopes TO be sent out, but upon a
written or personal application from the Town
Clerk for that purpose.
The probability was, that, under this rue,a large
number of towns where they had supposed the
envelopes would be sent as heretofore, would re-
main destitute of the necessary supply for the
ballots on the Constitutional revision. Some were
so distant that information could not be got to them
in season for the Town Clerks to send heir orders,
and get return, while, in other towns, the
Clerks were Wings and would not send.
1t is reparted that in one town having a ma
majority of something like four hundred votes
in favor of the revised Constitution, with
Wing Town Clerk, the Clerk refused to send
an order for envelopes, and the Secretary refused
10 send them without. Various other towns
were in la similar situation.
Under these circumstances, it was Determined
to make a last appeal to the Wing Secretary of
State, and two eminent Democrats waited upon
him for that purpose on Thursday.
We understand that finally, from fear of the
public indignation, or some other cause, the Sec
rotary concluded to reverse his decision, and, at
this late day. to forward the necessary supply of
envelopes to all the towns that had not already
been supplied. Whether they will, in all cases,
reach their destination seasonaby, remains to be
SEEN
Thus has this measure, which was calculated,
whether intended or not, to PROSTATE the rights
of the people, been defeated "a measure
calculated 10 rob them Of their right of suf-
frage, on the most important question ever sub
united to ireemen-the change of the fundamen-
tai law. 1t is, we hope, the last of the series
with which the inscriptions and unpuncipIed
leaders of factious minority have sought to de-
feat the majority. 1t is of the same character
with the attempt of the legislature to set aside the
action ofthe people in the call of the Convention,
and, like thai, will be remembered only to be
execrated.
R Since the foregoing was written;Sa gentle
man iu whose integrity we have great confidence,
has assured as that the Secretary of State has
acted 10 conformity with what he believed, and
still believes TO be bis duty, but that he has yield
ed TO The opinion Of others, as TO to the course
most proper to be pursued under all the crcum-
stances of the case. We cheerfuly give hun
the benefit, Whatever it may be, of this state
ment