Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-16
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
AFTERNOON SESSION.


TUESDAY, June l4lh. 81
Reports.-By Mr. Davis Of Worcester, from the
Committee on the Governor, inexpedient SC, on or,
der relative to the pardOnins power, and order
relative 10 amending the 7th article of section l.
chapter ID also the following resolve:
Resolved, That il is expedient to amend the
Constitution by abolishing the title of "Iis Excel
lency."
BY Mr. Oliver Of Lawrence, from the Committee
on The Militia, series of fifteen resolves tor com.
plee arrangement and simplfcaliou of the military
system Of the State.
Severaly placed in the Calendar.
County Oiicers.-Mr Dana for Manchester, moved
reconside, alton Of the vote whereby the third re-
salye Of the Committee State and County Officers
was adopted, (with view to amend to make
Judges Of Probate elected once in six years) Placed
in the Calendar
Basis Of Reprcsenation.-T Convention went
into Committee, Mr. Wilson OF Natick in the Chair,
on the resolves on this subject.
MIR Griswod for Erving, resumed his remarks Of
the morning, and continued his historical reference
TO the views OF the founders OF the State upon the
principle Of town representation. From this he
passed a notice of the innovations made upon this
great and Important principle, especially from 1885
10 1910, ahen the Legislature, in response the
demands Of the people for smaller House, in con-
iorrnty a audable economy, inadvertently surren.
deIed the momentous light of town Representations
This vital principle might have been preserved, and
yet the evils C0tupidNeu Oh fSDeulCu, ana ms DV
cutting down the number OF representatives to which
the cities and larger should be entitled for he
held that il less essential that the large towns
should have diminished representation, so long as
they had representation, than that the small towns
should have This surrender was accomplish.
ed by whom! not the people; no, but by the Legsla.
ture, body which the early founders of the State
had denied possessed the power to make Constitu-
iOnal changes, though il mis- bit present them to the
people for ;beir action.
Mr. Grswold then considered the reasons WHY
the town representation should be maintained as a
dear and cherished principle, aud these were their
sovereigny and independence their being the purest
democraces existing, and on of the perfect
equality Of their people. In eloquent and able
eulogium on the ''t0wn meetings." he set forth the
advantages which flowed from the independent To-
cal assemblies AS promotive OF The highest republic
cansm.
Anticipating some of the objections which would
be made to the majority report Mr.. Griswod next
considered that Of the house being too large. He
was in favor Of large house-t would prevent
bribery, log rolling and corruption, and in this re
spect the lageness Of House oil Representatives
would cause favorable comparison with the assem-.
bies of other States. IL it were said that the State
House not large enough, he trusted we were not
to establish the organic law to accommodate the
State House. II could be enlarged. A large house
would prove political school of education, by which
members would receive enlarged views ofpublic du-
y But it might be said the system proposed is un.
equal. Possibly il is; but exact and mathemat.
cal equality is lmpracticable and the question there.
fore Is, What amount of inequality, what degree of
Vergence from exaCtess can we have? He woud
ask, Can more equal system be divsedl and in
lengthy argument commended such was not the case.
Even if ii so the evils Of the inequality of the
system would not be great would arise from the
surrender OF town representations provided for by
theresOve Of the minority.
Mr. Hale of ROsfou moved IN aunand The
report by striking out all aiterthe word "Resoyed,"
and inserting the report of the minority.
Mr. Hale sustained this motion in reply to the
chiefpoimts Of Mr. Griswold's remarks, occupying
the residue of the time of the session.
Mr. Schouer al Boston, Obtained the floor, on the
same side, but gave way for motion that the Com
mttee rise, when the Convention adjourned.
WEDNESDAY,, June Is.
Mr. Whitney of Boyston, submitted an order for
iuquiriDg into the expedIency of abolishing the mill
Ia and substituting therefor the enrolment of all
male citizens over Fl years Of age standing po-
lice for the preservation of the public peace Adopt.
ed
petition was presented by Mr.. Greene Of Brook.
field, from Mary c. Higginson and Al other women
Of Worcester, asking that female adult citizens be
allowed to vote on the amended Constitution Re-
ierred 10 the Committee the Qualifications of
Voters.
The Convention then resolved itself into Commit.
tee of the Whole. Mr.. Wilson of Natck, in the
Chair, and took up the consideration of the reports
on the subject of representation
Mr. Schouer of Boston, having the floor, yielded
II TO MIR. RantOu of Beverly, who sustained the mi.
norl;y report and conlroverted the positions taken
by The gentlemen from Erving (Mr. Griswold).
At the close of Mr.. Rantou's remarks, Mr.
Schouer resumed the floor.
| Mr. Wood Of Mddleboro' followed in favor Of the
minority report and at the close OF his remarks, on
motion Of Mr.. Sargent OF Cambridge, the Commit