Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-08-13
Amendments Adopted In the MasSaChu-
Sctts Convention.

After session of ninety days the Convcn-
ton adjourned al 2 A. NJ Tuesday morning.
The Convention is charged with dealing in
details rather than principles, and looking more
to party effect than to the benefit of the State.
II will cost the Commonwealth, il is said some
$4,000.
Aiming the present amendments incorpor-
atcd, as condensed in the Boston Advertiser.
are:
lst. One which entirely changes The organ
ization and manner of election of the Senate,
making the members eligible in forty single
districts by plurality Of votes, instead Of be-
ing elected in districts composed of entire
counties, by amajority Of votes, wherever that
can be attained, but in case Of failure, BY Joint
ballot of the two branches from the two can
didates for each seat on the popular ballot
This amendment was concurred in by almost
general consent.
I'd. II is provided that the Council shall
be elected by the people one member in each
Of eight districts each council district TO be
composed of five contiguous senatorial dis
tricts"
Sd A new organization Of the House of Rep
resentatives, which is to consist of 4O7 mem.
bers, elected annually and All elected on the
years of the valuation of estates.
4th There are some important alterations
in regard to the majority, and plurality of
votes to be required in elections, of a some
what complex character.
5th The principal State officers, viz: Sec
retary of State, Auditor and Attorney Gen.
eral, are to be chosen BY the people.
9th. An important change is proposed in
the tenure of judicial appointments-the
terms Of office OF Judges of the Supreme Ju.
dcial. and other Courts, being limited 10 ten
years, ins'ead Of being during good behavior.
9TH. Judge of Probate, Register of Probate
and of Deeds, Sheriffs, District Atornies, and
Trial Justices, are TO be chosen triennialy by
the people.
9Th. The right Of suffrage is opened to every
male citizen 2 years of age and upwards
except paupers and persons under gu1rdin.
ship, who has been resident in the Com
monweallh one year, in the town in which he
may claim right 10 vote six months; the
condition of payment of State or county tax
being dispensed with.
9th. Provision is made for taking the sense
of the people on the questions of the expcdi-
ency of a convention for new revision OF the
constitution, in 1878 and in every goth year
thereafter. 1t is also made the duty of the
Legislature to submit to the people the ques-
ton of a convention for revising .he consli-
tuition whenever they shall be requested SO
10 do by votes of the people in towns and
cities con aiming not less than a third part of
the qualified voters.
These are the principal new provisions en-
braced in proposition No. l. the seven o her
propositions, adopted iu sepcrate resolves by
the convention, relating to the ha5eas corpus
making judges of law in criminal cases Civ
ing to State creditors the right to recover
their claims by suit; abolisong imprisonment
for debt, except in case of fraud prohibiting
the appropriation of school monies TO any re.
ligious sect, "for the maintenance exclusively
OF its own schools;" prohibiting the creating
of corporations by special acts when unneces.
sary; and requiring the adoption in all Banks
to be hereafter esab iished, on the New York
sy stem.