Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-21
Gbt 9ailp Spp.
-ATURDAY. FEBRUARY 81. 1854.
Ameaamea,s to the Constitution.


amendments to the Constitution, agreed to by
the REQUISITE majority of the Senate and two
thirds Of the House, Of last year, and now await
ing the action of the present Legislature, Inc
ftst Of these provides thai I" no peisonshaA nave
the right to vote OF held Office who shall not be
able to read the Constitution in the En2lish
sngusve. and write his name unless be shall
be over sixty wears Of age at the time this amend
ment takes effect or be prevented by physical
ability from complying with this requisition; and
exempting also from its provisions all who now
have the right to vote We should oppose this
amendment. as being anti Democratic in prinei-
pie, and uncslled for, yet great harm would re-
suit from its operation, as is would stimulate
those disabled to qualify themselves for citizen
ship.
The second article Of amendment provides for
the reducton Of the House OF Representatives to
two hundred and forty members TO be appointed
By the County Commissioners of the several eoun-
ties. according to the number Of legal voters, to
De- ascertained by census in May next into dis
triets of contiguous territory, no district to con.
sist Of more than thres representatives., and no
town OF ward of a city to be divided therefor =
Granting the number Of legal voters in the State
to be at this time about two hundred thousand
Il would give one representative for about eight
thousandlegal voters, by which Worcester with
about four hundred legal vOters,) would be emit
tied to the same number Of Representatives to the
General Court as at present. Of the merits or
dement's of the basis Of representation proposed
in this amendment, we offer no comment at this
time. The greatest argument in its favor is that
il would reduce the House one-third, or to lit.
tie more than one-hslf its present size.
The third article of amendment provides for the
districting of the State into forty senatorial dis
fricts, each to contain an equal number of legal
voters, to be ascertained BY census in May next,
no town or ward of city to be divided therefor,
and, as far as practicable, without uniting parts
OF two counties. We presume there will not be
much objection to it passage in either branch.
The fourth article of amendment, against as
sent to which by the present Legislature the eff
forts of every liberal and tight minded citizen
should be directed, is as follows -
- No person Of foreign birth shall be entitled to
q vote or shall be eligible to office under the Con
sttution OF this Commonwealth unless he shall
have bean resident within the jurisdiction Of the
United States fourteen wears, and legally natural
lied, or unless at his birth he shall have been the
child of an American citizen provided, that the
adoption Of this amendment shall not affect the
right to vote which any rerson of foreign birth
may possess at the time Of the adoption thereof"
Although this proposition shows great yield
ing Of their former protested principle, on the
part of our American friends, which we are
glad to see them exhibit, in thus retrcating from
twenty-one to f5urteen years, yet its operation
would be unjust, and bear hard upon large class
o our population, who would make worthy and
industrious citizens, If the hand of encourage
ment was held out to them, but who will be in
danger Of degenerating into a mere servile and
troublesome horde. and pest to the rest Of the
community if the avenues to common rank in
humanity, and a common level in political lights
be thus wrongfully withheld.
The impolicy and injustice of extending thu
time requisite to become voters, for the oppressed
= Of The old world, seeking residence and home
in our midst, to nearly thrice the period now es
tablished Qengthening it from five to fourteen
years), is apparent to any liberal-minded person
1t would be denial of the essential right of cit
izenship, for period of residence much beyond
that now required of " aliens to become hold
ers of the highest offices under the national gov
eminent. To be Representative or Senator il
Congress, a residence of only seven and nin'
years, respectively, is now required Of any 8 for
eigner'' coming among us, who may aspire to 81
high distinction. And has this feature of tn
Constitution ever been complained of, or any Sc
rious evil TO the country, either from the Pope 0
anybody else, ever resulted therefrom AM
should We not make a ludicrous spectacle befor
the world, in old Massachusetts, in refusing thos
among US, who are eligible by the Constitution 0
the Union ia the most elevated posts of homo
and renown under it, the common boon and priv
&. irge Of having even voice in the election 0
those who shall fill such offices The PROPOSE
tion is Of almost too absurd nature for seriou
comment thereon. We trust the House, if no
the Senate, will knock this foolish and ridiculous
amendment in the head, by refusing it the requis
its Constitutional sanction.
But the most absurd feature of this last pro
pred amendment. is the flaw therein (similar tc
the one which proved fatal to the twenty on,
ysaTs proposition a year since), the fruit of tn
Know Nothing propensity for legislative bIunder
ing, BY which the present naturalized citizen
who are secured by this amendment in thei
right to vote, will be hereafter excluded fror
the right 10 hold office We wonder tina
His Excellency, with his usual f4r-reaching saga
city and insight into causes and effects, did NO
d scoYer the flaw in season to devote portion Q
his annual message specially thereto and las h
did year ago on the other amendment) in pity
take the life out Of the poor abortive bantlin
before it had chance to reach the Legislator
again. Why, the effect Of It would be, to ex
clude such men as the President Of the Stat
4 Senate, for whom the blueist stauuchest Know
Nothings voted in body, at the late election
and also assisted in eleva,iug to the Presi
dencya of the body, from holding hereafte
Z even the smallest Office in the gilt of the peopl
Of the Commonwealth This is Know Nothin
statesmanship, with vengeance Will tn
present Legislature disgrace itself by Iatifyin
such an absurdityi We trust not for the credi
and honor Of the State.
RBoDs IsLANDs-Tbe Republican State an
District Conventions, held at Providence o.
Thursday, the 18th, made the following nOmina
tions as ssbs
For Governor Elisha Dyer Of Providence.
Lieutenant Governor Thos. G. Tuner O
Bristol.
!. Secretary Of stats-John R. Bartlett of Provi
dence.
Treasnrsr-Samuel A. Pa.ker Of Newport
n attorney Cenerat-Chares Hart Of Prov idence
4a- Representations 10 Congress East District
3 Natal B. Darfee of riSerton; West District
d Wm.D Brayton Of Maverick.
Tha Asneriean Convsnt;cr - A., a. .