Eastern times., 1856-02-28
Constitutional Amendments.

The Committee TO whom was referred the
Message of the late Governor and the Report
of the Council on the amendments of the Con-
stitution relating to the Elentive Franchise,
| together with the returns of votes from the
several cities, towns and plantations on SAID
amendments, have made their report 10 the
Legislature accompanied by the following Re
solves =
Whereas, it appears upon the examination
| of the returns of votes in relation TO certain
amendments of the constitution, provided for
| bv resolves passed on the seventeenth day Uf
March, in the year Of our Lard one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-fve, and OF the report
of the executive council thereon, that the in
habitants of the several cities, towns and plan
tations of this State, at the annual meeting in
September last, gave in their votes on the fol-
lowing questions submitted to them by virtue
of said resolves, viz:
Shall the judges of probate, registers Of
probate, judges Of municipal and police courts,
and sheriffs, be elected by the people,
Shall the land agent. attorney general, and
adjutant and quartermaster general, be chosen
by the legislature, as the secretary of state,
state treasurer, and councillors now aret
And it now appearing by examination of
said returns, that majority of the inhabitants
voting on said questions were in favor of said
amendments, therefore,
ResolUed, That the constitution of this State
is amended as follows In the sixth article it
is amended by adding the following sections
at the end of said article:
"SEcT. Z. Judges and registers Of Probate
shall be elected by the people Of their respec-
tive counties, by plurality of the votes given
at the annual election, on the second Monday
of September, and shall hold their offices for
four years, commencing the first day of
January next after their election. Vacancies
occurring in said Offices by death, resignation
or otherwise, shall be filled by election in man
ner aforesaid, at the September election next
after their occurrence and in the meantime,
the governor, with the advice and consent of
the council may fill said vacancies by appoint
ment, and the persons so appointed shall hold
their offices until the first day of January
thereafter. T
Sect. 8. Judges of municipal and police
courts shall be elected by the people of their
respective cities and towns, by plurality of
the votes given in at the annual meeting in
March or April, and shall hold their offices for
four years from the Monday following the day
Of their election. Vacancies in said offices
shall he filed by election at the next annual
meeting in March or April and in the mean
time, the governor, with the advice and con-
sent of the council, may fill said vacancies by
appointment, until the Monday following said
annual meeting.'
In the third section of the seventh article, il
Is amended so that said section shall read
"SEcT. 8. The major generals shall be
elected by the senate and house of representa-
tives, each having negative on the other
The adjntant general and quartermaster gener-
al shall be chosen annually by joint ballot Of
the senators and representatives in convention.
But the adjutant general shall perform the du-
ties Of quartermaster general, until otherwise
directed by law. The major generals and
brigader generals, and the commanding Off
GERS of regiments and battalions, shall appoint
their respective staff officers; and all military
officers shall be commissioned by the gov
ernor."
The ninth article is amended by inserting at
the end thereof the following sections:
"SEcr. 9. Sheriffs shall be chosen by the
people Of their respective counties, by plu-
rality of the votes given in on the second Mon
day of September, and shall hold their offices
for two years, from the first day of January
next after their election. Vacancies shall be
filled in the same manner as is provided in
the case of judges and registers of probate.
SECT. 10. The land agent and attorney
general shall be chosen annually by joint bal
lot of the senators and representatives in con-
vention. Vacancies in said offices occurring
when the legislature is not in session, may be
filled by appointment by the governor, with
the advice and consent of the council"
And in all cases of election provided for by
the foregoing amendments of the constitution,
the first election shall take place on the days
and times thereby prescribed occurring next
after the passage os this resolve, and until said
offices shall be filled by elections under and
by virtue of said amendments, the power of
the governor and council in relation thereto,
will remain unchanged.