Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-02-14
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

Wednesday, Feb. 49,.
SENATE.-The Senate was called to order
at l | O'Clock, by Mr.. Towne of Worcester,
heIPresldent being absent.
Messrs. Raymond of Middlesex, Munroe
of Suffolk, and White of Norfolk, were APP
pointed to collect the votes for President
pro TEN. They reported that the whole num-
Der of votes was l6, viz: Dewey IL, Munroe,
s, Ordiorn and White l each.
Mr.. Dewey was declared elected and was
conducted to the Chair. He returned thanks
for this unexpected honor, and said, during
his brief service he should endeavor to per-
form the duties of the Chair faithfully and
impartialy.
n Mr.. Mills of Berkshire moved a reconsid-
Grafton of the vote by which~ the Senate on
TnesdaSpassed to third rendi..s tho resolve
Tor amendment TO the Constitution relative to
eligibility to Office. Placed in the orders OF
the day.
Qualification Of Voters. The orders of the
day were taken up, the unfinished business
being the resolve for amendment of the Con-
stltutlon providing that no person shall vote
or hold office unless he can write his owl,
name and read the Constitution question on
the amendment offered by Mr.. Dewey of
Worcester, to add the words sin the English
language"
Messrs. 6. W. Warren of Suffolk. Ray
mond of Middlesex, and Pierce of Norfolk,
spoke briefly, generally favoring the resolve
but opposing the amendment as unnecessary.
MI. Taft of Worcester was opposed to the
whole concern, though he might stand alone.
He would like to see every man possessed of
collegiate education, and it would be tortu.
nate II aliwere honest, just, true liberty low
ing men; but Senators would see that such
matters could not safely bemade tests of The
right to vote, The right of suffrage was too
sacred to be governed by such arbitrary, un-
democratic restrictions. This would be but
an entering wedge, leading to other tests, and
the right to vote would rest upon the caprice
OF inspectors at thepolls He could make a
better argument in favor Of property quail
hcatlon than in favor of requiring the voter
to be possessed of given amount of educa-
ton.
Mr.. Pierce of Norfolk defended the re-
solve.
HOUSE, Petitions presented and referyed.-
vi the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, that
the State will subscribe $3.50, 600 to their can.
ltal stock, aud take part in the direction OF
the Company; of the Directors of the Com
mercial Bank of New Bedford for an increase
OF capital stock.
Orders oaopted.-On motion of Mr.. Foster
OF Andover,it was ordered that the Committee
on the Judiciary inquire into the expediency
OF repeating so much of the Act of 1851, en-
utled ian act to secure the equal distribution
oil the property of insolvent corporations
amongst their creditors" as renders said chan.
ter inapplcable to railroad corporations, and
report thereon.
On motion of Mr.. Mixter of Hardwick. II
was ordered that the Committee on Railroads
and Canals consider the expediency of provld-
ing by law that all Railroads within this
Commonwealth, when they have been in on
Grafton over the whole length of the road for
the space of five years, shall close their con.
struction accounts.
Duties and rights of Jurofs.--The orders of
the day were taken from the table. and Mr.
Littlehe'd of Foxboro', took the Goor in ia.
vor OF the amendment which he oiFere yes.
terday, to the bill sin addition to an act con.
corning the duties and rights of Jurors"
Mr.. Meekins Of Williamsburg followed in
opposition to the amendment aud the bill.
Conoenttoa.--Atl IL o'clock the Senate came
in in accordance to special assignmentto choose
TWO Directors of the Western Railroad Cor
poration.
Sylvander johnson of Adams was elected
on the first ballot.
Inc Convention proceeded to ballot for an.
other Director, as follows:
Whole number OF votes, .aoa
Jobn y f W. n.y., ,',...''.. '...,.....152
Wills Phelps Of Springfield, ,...ij8
~ u. CroSnnshieds Boston,.
Henry Chaplin Of Worcester, ......H
90 there was no choice.
The Convention dissolved, aud the Horso
adjourned. ''''1 'l' 'A0uSO