The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-07
b1assa chusetts Convention.
Correspondence OF the New York Tribune.l

tConefpondence OF The New OK Tribune.
BJsros, Tuesday, August ., 1853
TIE constitutional conventions closed its labors al
errk this morning after session Of 90 Jays. Several
In,'iant changes have been made in the fundamental
laws OF the old Common wealth by The convention Some
OF the changes others are the
The two sessions which occupied the greatest share of
Eae the plurality and the basis Of the house of rep
resentaives, neiher OF which has been determined
The old system of town representation has been al
hered 10 with slight modification. The house OF repre-
sentatives viii not be diminished in numbers under the
nav constitution 1t wall consist oil about 400 members,
which 10 too large by at leas, one half The right o.
representation old right OF the towns and they cling
10 IT with death like per,nacity. The friends Of the dis
tTict system fought long and we'll FOR house based upon
population OF convenient slxe and chosen in single dis
trics, but they voted down. However towards the
cose OF the session, General WisoH forward with
proposition TO have The legislature OF 1855 perfect a
scheme OF district representation based upon legal voters
which was adopted, and forms pau Of the consti-
tuhon.
The senate has been materially changed. Instead OF
being elected by counties based upon population here
toore, the State be carved into forty single senate
rial districts for the election of Senator'S each district TO
be based population. This amendment passed with
great unanimiiy. The senators are TO be elected the
plurality system.
The governors council consisting of eight members,
are 10 be chosen in snge districts by the people, instead
OF by the legislature as heretofore strong effort
made 10 abolish the council altogether but il Jailed OF
success
Nearly all the officers are made elective by the people
instead OF by appointment as in the present cons-
tuition these include secretary OF State treasurer audi
tor and attorney general by the State at large annually
and district attorneys, sher judges, registers OF pro
bate and clerks Of courts. &c. every three years the
several counties and districts Trial justices are 10
elected by the and cities Justices oil the peace
and judges OF the higher courts be appointed
hitherto, by the governor and council The judges Of
the supreme and common pleas courts TO bold their
ohces for ten years. and not during good behavior,
under the present constitution. This provision, how
ever, does not apply to the judges in Office they
hold on for The life tenure strong effort made 10
have the judicial officers made elective by the people for
. seven years term, but it failed by hundred majority
In the present constitution tax qualification is de-
maoded ef voter. This the convention very properly
struck out The qualifications citizenship. one
years residence the State and in The city six
months No distinction il made in regard 10 color or con-
dition. With the exception OF the tax qualifca ion,
there has been change made in the qualification OF
voter.
The constitution will be submitted 10 the people a.
whole NJ The November election for their adoption
lection There eight other distinct propositions be
submitted 10 them st the time, and IL adopted or
either of them, will become parts OF the constitution
One OF these the entire abolition Of imprisonment for
debit another in gard TO sectaran schools third is
in regard To special charters for banks fourth ex
tsed the writ Of habeas corpus, filth permit iuries
in csinina to be judges Of the law well OF the
fact The opponents OF the liquor law will rally strong.
" IN support OF this and u becomes par, OF The con
s,ituon the Maine law will be dead letter. at least in
Suook county These not pu, in the con-
stxsou the other amendments, lest they should
danger its adoption by the people
The above the principal changes that have been
made by the convention. =