Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-11-04
[For the Spy.l
mr.. HoaI's Candid Speech at Fitch
burg.
FIrcHBURe, Nov. 2, lsE

BaA6e
FITcHBURG, Nov. 2, 1858.
Messrs Editors:-An address was delivered at
the Town Hall in this place, on Tuesday even
ing last, by the Hon. Samuel Hoar, Of Con-
cord, upon the subject Of the new Constitution.
After stating that he approved of the District
system for the election of Senators, the increase
of the School Fund, the right of the citizen 10
the State, and several other provisions Of the
Constitution, Mr.. HOar spoke al leneth upon
the election Of Representatives, and the term of
office of the Judges,ss proposed by the new Con-
stiiutIon.
He opposed the Representative system, because
Of its inequality in favor Of the small towns. The
present Constitution is unequal, he said, in the
same direction, but the new will be more so.-
For instance, the county Of Franklin will send
Representative for every 400 inhabitants, and
Bristol $500 in round numbers Also, the FIVE
western counties send representative for every
1900, while IN the other counties, 2700 are nee
essary. lie asked what equality there could be
in such representation, where one man in one
part Of the Commonwealth has tvs ice the repre-
sentative power a man in another part. Now,
one question, wish to ask, is, what plan Of rep.
resenation would Mr. Hoar recommend He
did not inform US. Is it the plan under the pre-
sent Constitution ? II so, Is that any more
equal! Let US see. In 1870, if the Consttu-
ton remains unchanged, man in the town of
Paxton, the one instanced by Mr.. H., will have
an opportunity to vote for three representatives in
ten years, while citizen in Boston may vote for
$50 in the same time Here is representative
power in one case SO times greater than in the
oiher,-far greater than anything, according to
Mr.. II under the new Constitution. If, then,
the new Constitution is unequal, as Two or three
to one, the old is, or will be, as nearly t1co hum
dred to one. With Mr.. HIS candor, and neu-
traity, expected he would show us some better
way than the new Constitution, if he could not
approve Of il; but, it is, he has left Us entire
ly in the dark. II we adopt the new Consitu-
ton, II Is, according to him unequal and accord
ing 10 Il Senate document of January IA, 1852,
the.old is incOmparably more unequal.
Exact numerical equality, which Mr. H. SEEM
ed to favor, can only be obtained by the District sys-
tem,and as this, in all human probability, can
ly be obtained by means OF the new Constitution,
| was surprised that MIR H., in his candor, did not
mention this fact.
When speaking of the preponderance Of town
representation IN the House, enabling that branch
of the Legislature 10 enact or repeal Maine laws,
without an equal representation from The people,
his great candor, it seems to me, should have
led him to acknowledge the fact that no law could
be enacted, modified, or repealed, without the
concurrence of the Senate, which would be elect
ed on the district system, according TO population.
If both Senators and Representatives should be
apPorlloned on the district system, according to
population, then the representation in Congress
is unequal; for, IN one House, the people are
represented in States, instead ofpopulalion. Mr.
II. found no fault with this mana cement in Con-
gress, but when applied TO the State, he affected
to be quite indignant at the injustice and inc
quality.
The proposed changes relative to the judiciary,
MIR. ii. said, were far more objectionable 10 him
than the inequality of representation. He want
ed good and efficient judges In our courts, and
thought, consequently, they should hold their of
fee during good behavior Whether the judges,
whose term of office Is ten years, would be less
efficient than those who hold their seats till they
are only fit for the grave, by reason of age, he
failed TO prove.
He objected to the election Of Clerks of the
courtby the people, because the people could not
judge SO well of the candidates. qualifications for
The office, as the judge; but, in his candor, he
failed TO tell US that, on the same principle, the
President should appoint the Governor, the Gov
ernor his Council, and all officers of the State,
while the Senators and Representatives should be
chosen only by such men as read the daily
papers, ln short, this principle is only carried
into practical operation, and its points clearly
Russia Joseph of Austria, &c. Why have the
common people the right 10 vote at all? They
cannot be expected to understand the qualifca-
lions Of the candidates for office, SO we'll as the
practical politicians, and should, therefore, give
up this business to them
For his own sake, Mr.. Hoar's address was
very unfortunate. Heretofore, our citizens have
regarded him as a sound, candid, progressive old
gentleman, speaking only when he had some.
thing importantto say, and then not as poIiti.
clan, but his address, on Yueaday evening, disap-
pointed many, if not all who heard him His
willingness to leave his audience under false i'm.
prsssIons, in regard To the real questions at is
sue, and his monarchlcal tendencies, were unex-
pected, and it is no wonder that his audience, at
first some three humid ed ,dwnded down to about
one hundred, before he closed. Il no stronger
arguments can be presented against the new Con.
stllution, than have appeared yet The vote in its
favor, in Fitchburg, will be nearly unanimous,
provided the citizens vote according TO their con-
victions New CoNsTITIoN.