Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-16

ARTICLE OF AMENDMENI.
In all elections Of civil officers, by the peo-
pie Of this Commonwealth, whose election is
provided for by the Constitution, the person
having the highest number of votes shall be
deemed and declared to be elected.
Agreed to by the Senate, ayes 90, noes
none; and by the House, ayes, 226, noes 40.
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
The meeting for the choice of Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Senators and Represen-
tatives, shall be held on the Tuesday next, af-
ter the first Monday in November, annually;
but in case of failure to elect Representatives
on that day, second meeting shall be holden
for that purpose, on the fourth Monday of the
same month of November.
Agreed to by the Senate, ayes %, noes
none; and by the House, ayes IT'S, noes SO
m ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
A census of the inhabitants of each city
and town, on the first day of May, shall be
taken and returned into the Office Of the Sec
rotary of the Commonwealth. on or before the
last day of June, in the year one-thousand
eight hundred and fifty five, and of every
tenth year thereafter. In the census aforesaid
a special enumeration shall be made of the
legal voters, and in each city said enumeration
shall specify the number of such legal voters
aforesaid, residing in each street court, aven-
aforesaid shall determine the apportionment
of Senators and Representatives, for the term
of ten years. M
The Senate shall consist of 40 men.bers.---
The general court shall, at its first session af-
ter each next preceding special enumeration,
divide the Commonwealth into forty districts,
of contiguous territory, each district to contain
as nearly as may be, an equal number of legal
voters, according to the enumeration aforesaid;
proUided, botoeuer, that no town, or ward of a
city shall be divided Therefore and such dis
triets shall be formed, as nearly as may be-
without uniting two counties, or parts of two
or more counties, into one district. Each dis
trict shall elect one Senator, who shall have
been an inhabitant of this Common wealth.
five years at leasyt, immediatel preceding his
election, and at the time ofhis election, shall
be an inhabtant of the district, for which he
is chosen, and he shall cease to represent
such senatorial district when he shall cease
to be an inhabitant of the Common wealth.
Not less than sixteen senators shall consti-
tute a quorum for doing business, but less
number may organize temporarily, adjourn
from day to day, and compel the attendance
of absent members.
The House of Representatives shall consist
of three hundred members, which shall be
apportioned by the legislature at its first ses-
sion after the return of each enumeration, as
aforesaid, to the several counties of the COM
monwealth, equally, as nearly us may be, ac-
cording to their relative numbers of legal vo-
tiers, as ascertained by the next preceding spe-
cial enumeration and the town oil Cohasset,r
in the county of Norfolk, shall, tor this pur-
pose, as well as in the formation of districts,
as hereinafter provided, be considered part of
the county of Plymouth; and it shall be the
~.
to certify, as soon as may be after it is deter
mined by the legislature, the number of rep
resentatiyes to which each county shall be en-
titled to the board authorized to divide each
county into representative districts.
The mayor and aldermen of the city of
Boston, the county commissioners of other
counties than Suffolk, or, in lieu of the county
commissioners in each county other than
Suffolk, such board of special commissioners
in each county, to be elected by the people of
the county, or ofthe towns therein, as may for
that purpose be provided by law, shall, on the
first Tuesday of August next after each as
signment Of representatives to each county,
assemble at shire town Of their respective
counties, and proceed, as soon as may be, to
divide the same into representative districts
Of contiguous territory, so as to apportion the
representation assigned to each county, equal
ly, at nearly as may be, according to the rela-
tive number of legal voters in the several dis
tricts of each county; and such districts shall
be SO formed, that no town, or ward of city,
shall oe divided therefor, nor shall any dis
trict be made, which shall be entitled to elect
more than three representatives. Every rep
resentative, for one year at least next proceed
ing his election, shall have been an inhabi-
tant Of the district for which he is chosen, and
shall cease to represent such district, when he
shall cease to be an inhabitant of the Com
monwealth.
The districts in each county shall be num-
bered by the board creating the same, and
description of each, with the numbers thereof.
and the number of legal voters therein, shall
be returned by the board to the Secretary Of
the Commonwealth, to the county treasurer Of
each county, and to the clerk Of every town
in each district to be filed and kept in their
Offices
The manner of calling and conducting the
nieetngfor the choice of representatives, and
of ascertaining their election, shall be pre-
scribed by law.
Not less than one hundred members Of the
house of Representatives shall constitute quo
rum for doing business, but less number NAV
mporarily lad ourn from day to day.
and compel the attendance Of absent mem
bers. 81
Agreed to by the House, ayes 100, noes 73;
and by the Senate, ayes u, noes 8. q
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
Eight Councillors shall be annually chosenf
by the inhabitants of this Commonwealth.
qualified to vote fofgovernor.
The election of Councillors shall be,leter
mined by the same rule that is REQUIRED in the
election Of governor. The legislature. at its
first session after this amendment shall have
been adopted, and atits first session after the
next State census shall have been taken. and.
at its first session after each decennial State
census thereafterwards, shall divide the Com.
monwealth into eight districts, Of contiguous
territory, each containing number of iIlhah-
itants as nearly equal as practicable. without
dividlng any town or ward OF city, and each
entitled to elect one Councillor. 7a
Provided, however, that If, at any time. tbe
Constitution shall provide for the division If
the Commonwealth into forty senatorial dis
tricts, then the legislature shall SO arrange the
counsellor districts, that each district shall
consist of five CONTIGUOUS senatorial districts
as they shall be, from time to time, established
by the legislature
No person shall be eligible to the Office ofo
Counsellor, who has not been an inhabitant
OF the Common wealth for the term Of i've
years mrnediately preceding his election.
The day aud manner Of the election. tia
return OF the votes, and the declaration Of the
said elections, shall be the same as are e z
CURED IN the election Of governor. a
Whet1e vav ~ are eb-1l r.. . e.s1.z.n. - IA