Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-01-04

~NASAN "a AS"H'''' s'1A-to1~
Census of 1856. ,03S
The Legislature of 1854 initiated several
important amendments to our Constitution,
all but one of which received the necessary
sanction of the Legislature of 1856, and were
latitied by the popular vote on the 23d of May
last. They provide that plurality of votes
shall elect in the popular choice of all civil
officers under the Constitutions that the time
of the State election shall be changed to con.
form to the day fixed by Congress for the
choice of Presidential electors, eight
Executive Councillors, the Secretary, Treas
urer, Auditor, and Attorney General, shall
be chosen by popular vote,-thnt the school
moneys shall not be applied to the support of
sectaran schools, and that the Legislature
ehall prescribe by general law for the choice
of District Attorneys, SherifFs. Registers of
Probate, Commissioners of Insolvency, and
Clerks of Courts, by the people.
1t becomes therefore your duty at the pres
eEt session, to "diyide the Common wealth
into eight districts of contiguous territory,
each containing a number Of inhabitanss as
nearly equal as practicable, without dividing
any town or ward of city, and each entitled
to elect one Councillor - also, go prescribe
by general law for the election of Sheiiffs,
Registers Of Probate, Commissioners of In.
solvency, and Clerks of the Courts, by the
people of the several districts
deem it source of great regret that the
other amendment, relative to a reduction in the
number of the House of Representatives, and
aygon Of the State mtg safnaibaSFHal 6agp d Re-
Der OF legal voters, which passed the Ia,;sla
ture OF 1854 by tho ooHsSIiucoHaI maIof1cies,
should have been defeated at the last session.
Our popular branch is by far the largest DELHI
eratiye body in the Union; too large for
prompt and economical discharge of its du.
tieeI and unwieldly as it has been. the plu-
rality law will probably add hundred mem
bers to its average number.
The experience of nearly every session de-
monstrates that the Senate passes weeks of
comparative idleness, while waiting for the
concurrent action of the House. A simple
calculation shows, that were our popular
branch to approximate in number those of
New York, Ohio or Pennsylvania having
two CT three times the population of Massa-
chusetts, the cost of our legislation would be
diminis he'd one hundred thousand dollars per
annum, even without taking into considera-
ton the reasonable probability that the length
of the sessions would thereby be diminished
The present basis of representation, though
perhaps fair as any which is feasible while the
present system remains, causes much COM
plant OF inequality and I'M Justice among por-
tons OF our citizens; while an equal district
system, where every man has a direct vote
every year for his immediate representative, is
certainly as fair and impartial as can be prac-
tically devised Persuaded that this is simply
question Of time, l submit to your consider
alton whether it is not expedient, at the pre-
sent session, to make another effort to accom-
plish this object.
The Legislature of 1865 initiated also several
constitutional amendments, which necessarily
come before you. The first provides that "no
person owing allegiance to any foreign prince
power or potentate, shall be eligible to any Of
fee under the Constitution of this Common.
wealth. And another intended to provide
that none but e native born shall be allow
ed to vote unless he has been resident with.
in the United States twenty-one years and le-
gally naturalized.
Believing, as ] profundedly do, that the
principles embraced in these amendments are
of the deepest Importance to the preservation
OF republican government. earnestly trust
that they may receive your sanction. The
teaching of history, as well as the uniform
convictions of every enlghtned and ph loso.
pho thinker upon the principles of self gov.
eminent, tend to the conclusion that the un.
shackled freedom of individual opinion and
the education of the individual mind, form
the only true foundation OF national liberty
and uerepubhcanism. The more these truths
are disregarded. the more certain is that
liberty under democratic institutions will de.
generate into anarchical license, or give place
to a slavish and bigoted superstition.
This Republic of ours, of continental di-
mansions, stretching from ocean 10 ocean, from
the extreme verge OF the temperate zone al
most to the tropics, destined within the life
time of some Of the present generation to EN-
brace within its borders a hundred millions Of
people, of diverse origin, Of varied occupa.
tons, and conflicting interests the model and
trust OF the struggling nations of the old
worlds yet an experiment. In its very
grandeur there are elements Of danger, and
its present success gives rise to commensu-
rate feeling OF solcitude.
II is our solemn duty, and one that no true
son OF Massachusetts, or Of America, will
shrink from, to guard against every evil that
threatens the perpetuity of our institutions.
1t demands Of every patriot, by whatever par.
ty name he prefers 10 call himself, to do nll
that in him lies TO protect the sacred privilege
OF the ballot, and the power of making and
enforcing the laws. from the hands Of those
who of necessity cannot comprehend the ma.
ture Of our republican institutions. No man
being deprived OF his present rights constitu-
tionally guaranteed TO him, none prevented
from finally attaining the privilege Of joining
with us In the election of our common rulers.
all who seek our shores may be admitted TO
or franchises, when they shall have passed
through the same period Of probation requir.
ed Of the native born, and have become ia
miliar with the theory, accustomed 10 the
workings, ana been taught by experience, the