Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-03-08
The Democrats Opposed to Constitutional
Reform.

Inc proceedings IN the House or Repre-
sentatives, Monday evening, February 9th,
clearly demonstrate that the Democrats are
opposed to Constitutional Reform, every
member of that party voting against most
liberal bill. giving the people of the State a
right at the next election to vote for or
against Constitutional Convention, the
delegates to be chosen under the apportion-
ment to be made at the present session of
the Legislature, anG since the House is Re
publican and the Senate Democratic it is at
least a fair presumption that an honest ap-
portionment of the State will be made
Such being the case We cannot see any good
reason why the Democrats should oppose
measure which, it is alleged, the people de-
mand. Below we present the full text of
the bill, as prepared by Mr.. Mann, who
urged it to its final passage, and made a
speech OF great ability in favor of its adop-
tion The bill deserves careful perusal by
all who are in favor of Constitutional Re-
form:
An ACT to provide for calling convention
to revise or amend the Constitution Of the
State.
SECTION /. Be 1t enacted by tie Senate
aud House Of Representatives. Of tie Com
monuedlM of Rnnsytrania IN General As
semJly met, and 1t Is hereJy enacted Jy the
authority of the same, That for the purpose
of ascertainiug the sense of the citizens of
this Commonwealth on the propriety G: cal
hing a convention to revise and amend the
Constitution of this State, it shall he the
duty of the inspectors and judges of the
several election districts of this Common
wealth, at the election to be held on the sec
ond Tuesday of October next, to receive
tickets, either written or printed, from the
qualified voters, and deposit such tickets in
proper boxes. to be provided by the proper
officers, which tickets shall be labelled on
the outside convention" and on the inside
''for convention" or against convent ion.
SEC =. At the said election the qualified
electors are hereby authorized to vote for
delegates to attend State convention to re-
wise and amend the Constitution of the State,
the said convention to consist of one
hundred and forty three members, one hun
dred and three of the members &c bo appor-
tich I'd among the several Senatorial districts,
and to be elected in the following manner ::
There shall be :hree delegates elected in
each Senatorial district, formed at the
time of the election, each voter to vote tor
two delegates. and the three persons having
the greatest number of votes to be declared
elected: Procided, That in districts elect
ing two Senators each voter may vote for
four delegates, and the six candidates hav-
ing the greatest number of votes shall be
declared elected: And prooided further,
That in the Philadelphia districts each elec-
tor shall vote for three delegates, and the
four persons having the greatest number
shall be declared elected the other forty
delegates to be apportioned at large to the
State, and to be elected as follows each cleo
tor to vote for twenty persons if he chooses,
and tie forty having the largest number of
votes to be declared elected
SEC. 3. The said elections shall be con-
Quoted in all respects according to the gene.
raj election laws of this Commonwealth; aud
it shall be the duty of the return judges of
the respective counties to make duplicate
returns of the votes given for and against a
convention, and OF the votes given for dele
gates, and to deposit one copy thereof with
the prOthonotary OF the proper county, and
seal and direct the other copy to the Secre-
tary Of the Commonwealth.
SEC. T. That the Secretary of the Com
ronwealth shall, on the second Thursday
after the election, in the presence of the
Governor and attorney General aud such
other citizens as desire to be present, open
and count the returns SO made to him; and
if a majority of the votes in relation TO a
convention shall be ''ior a convention, then
| in that case the Governor shall issue his
proclamation of the fact that a majority
| have voted for a convention, and shall give
in said proclamation the names of the per
| sons duly elected as delegates to the conven-
| ton, which shall entltle such persons to take
their seats and be sworn in as delegates.
| Any person desiring to contest the seat of
guy delegate so sworn in shall proceed as in
the case of contesting the seat of mem ber
of the House of Representatives; but if a
majority of the votes so returned shall be
against a convention" the Governor shall
announce the fact, and no further proceed
ings shall be had under this act.
SEC. 5. That if, at the said election, 9
majority Of the votes shall be ''for con
vention,' it shall be the duty of the dele
gates elected as aforesaid to assemble at the
State Capitol. at Harrisburg, on the frs
| Tuesday of November next. and organize bJ
electing president and such other officer:
as may be needed in the transaction of the
business of the convention; and after th,
said convention have So organized they shal
have power to adjourn to any other place, i
it seem desirable, and to propose to the cit
liens of this Commonwealth, for their ap
proval or rejection. new Constitution, @
amendments to the present one, which shal
be engrossed and signed by the presiden
and chief clerk and delivered to the Secre
tary of the Commonwealth, by whom ant
under his direction it shall be entered of rec
ord in his Office and published once a weel
in at least two newspapers in each count
where two papers are published for six week
next preceding the day of the election tina
shall be held for the adoption or rejection o
the Constitution so submitted
SEC. 6. For the purpose of ascertainin
the sense of the citizens on the expedienc.
of adopting the Constitution as prepared b
the convention, it shall be the duty of tn
said convention to order an election and t
issue a writ of election. directed to the sher
if of each county of this Commonwealth
comm anding notice to be given of the time
of holding an election for SAID purpose an
it shall be the duty of the said sheritfs, re
spectively. to take notice accordingly ; an
it shall be the duty of the inspectors an
judges of elections throughout the State t.
hold an election in obedience to the sal
convention, in each of the election district
of the Commonwealth, at the legally az
pointed place for holding the general elee
ton and it shall be the duty of the sal
election officers to receive tickets, eithe
,rr;,.o, -. ..;,,t a from o;t,,anS nualifie