Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-18
OoNsTIruTIoNAL CONVENTION.
AFTEREooE SESSION.
THURsDA K, June Is.

1
Natick, for inquiry into the expedency Of pro-
vidlng that no person shall be deemed TO have lost
his residence by reason Of absence on business for
Inc State or the United States; also that no idiot
or insane person, or person convicted of a crime,
shall be permitted to vote.
The Convention went into Committee OF the
Whole, on the unfinished business Of The morn.
ing.
Mr. Boutwell, of Berlin, advocated the report of
the majority. He expressed surprise at hearing
so much said of the evils of the existing system of
representation by those who opposed the call of
| the Convention and who In power for many
! years without attempting TO remedy those evils
| which are now considered SO grievOus. He adj
mitted the inequality oflhe present and proposed
systems, contendng that government was not an
exact science, and no system could be adopted
which was perfect in this respect; yet these ine-
qualities had not been great as 10 have caused
any complaint. All governments rested upon
some one or all Of three principles-necesslty
usage and fiction--and Massachusetts was not al
together free from the latter. AS, for instance,
it was said, the government derives its power
from The consent of the governed-but in what
manner did the women and children give their
consent? But admit that the proposition under
consideration WAS not equal-it was to be sub
mtted TO the people, aud when so submitted and
approved it becomes the organic law ofthe State
and not until then. Experience and history tausht
three thlngs-that government did not rest on any
single principle; that every government needs
checks; and that those have acted well who
have respect 10 existing institutions basis for
new ones. These points he remarked upon; up.
on the first, stating that it would appear from the
arguments of the other side, that the whole prih-
cipe of free governments consisted in equal rep
resentation But il was not so considered IN the
early days OF the Constitution, and since that
time the importance of the little municipalities
of the State had been insisted bon aud admitted in
allowing them d representation. He denied that
there was any analogy between the representa-
ton of towns and the borough system of England
That system allowed representation to districts
entirely unoccuped. But weaken the towns, by
taking away their tight of representations and
what is there of life remaining? 1t was said, too,
| that with large House there was cheapening
| of ability. In his seven years experience in the
Legislature, he had found only men of intelligence
and honor, in whom the safety of the Common
wealth could freely be trusted. 1t had also been
| SAID that the change to the district system would
| be more economical He did moi apprehend that
the expense would be greater in the ten years 10
come, than II had in years past The people
did not require the saving of small sum of
money at the risk of the integrity of their insu.
TONS The plan ofthe minority was Objectionable
from It's deals, in foming eighty islricts with
three representatives. 10 each.
AS an argument WHY the country should have
larger representation than the city, 1t was con-
tended that Boston had now one third Of the
wealth Of the State, and in 1860 it would proba-
bly, have one half Was that fac; Of no conse-
/ quence! With its we.llh, the influence of its
thirteen daily papers, creatlng the public senti-
ment OF the State the constant drawing of the men
of learning, the lawyers, dyines, and leading
business men to partake of Its greater facilities to
secure the ends fife, is it to be wondered that
even upon basis Of equality of men, these ex-
traneous influences will work out inequalities
Besides these things, there is the reflex influence
OF cItles-lhelr business men making their resi-
dence in neighboring towns, and becoming their
representatives, while in fact and in feeling they
are the representatives. of cities. And this pro-
cess constantly going on, and before many
years Worcester and Lowell, with their $4,000
inhabitants, would exert similar influence to
Boston. With the present ratio of increase aside
IRON the considerations mentioned, the cities of
this Commonwealth would have maturity Of the
| representatives in the House. What then, was
there left to preserve the little democraces
through which the people were politically edu-
Gated With the counties broken up, and the
school districts nearly destroyed, here.wa one
thing only remaining, and that was the represen-
/ tutiOh VI Twins va tbC isldtuI6
| 1t had been said there was no conflict between
the towns and ctes-if so, if their interests are
IDENTICAL then what objection could there be to
allow them 10 retain their representation? If
there was conflict then it was a matter of self
preservation with the towns The independence
of each state had always been contended for as
a counterbalance to Capitalization of all those
principles which are dear to The people. He look
ed upon the measure of the district system as an
experiment, and upon that experiment he would
not enter.
Mr. Walker, of N. Brook6eld, SAID that when
he came to the Convention, it was his desire 10
let every town have a representative-but he
found that it could not be done without making
too Iargea body, or doing injustice 10 those towns
which are allowed more than one representative.
Mr. Walker suggested plan by which he thought
the evils now complained of would be remedied.
That was to take about 100 small towns, 10 be
classed together for the election of representa-.
tIves towns not allowed one representative, an
nually. to relaln the same privilege; towns and
cities entitled to more than representative to
] be divided into districts
Mr. Reyes, Of Abingdon, replied to the argu.
ments OF inequality 10 the present system, that a
far greater inequality had for a long time existed
In this city, where each voter casts his vote for "A
representatives,. The U. 5. Senate, 10 which
more oppressive and unjust than any Inequality in
the representative system of Massachusetts,
Florida, for instance, had power IS times that
Of New York.. Mr. Reyes referred to the incon-
sslenees OF the leading party in this Common
wealth M being for and against certain measures
inyears past; their horror at the call of the Con-
vention, lest the Goths and Vandas of reform
should overturn everything in our institutions that
was held sacred-and the practical result exhibit
ted of those conservatives proposing measures
which were too radical for the most enthusiastic
reiormers.
Mr. French, OF Berkey, advocated the MAORI
ty report, concluding with the remark, that he
should hold on TO his position advocate of the
representation of towns long as there was
plank remaining.
On motion of Mr. Simonds, of Bedford by
vote of 81 to 50, the Committee rose, reported
progress, and had leave to sit again.
Mr. Walker, of North Brookfed, offered pro-
position for basis of the House of Representa-
lives, 10 effect that which he had previously sug-