Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Begun and Held in Boston, on the Fourth Day of May, 1853White & Potter, printers, 1853 - 560 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
according to adjournment adopted affirmative Afterwards Allen Alpheus Anson Burlingame Artemas Hale ask leave Bates Benjamin F Boston Boutwell Briggs Butler Chapin Charles G Clark Committee accordingly rose Committee rise Commonwealth Convention adjourned Convention resolved court Cushman Dana Daniel Davis debate by Messrs election expediency Frame of Government Gardner George Giles governor Griswold Hale Hallett Henry Henry W Hiram Hooper House of Representatives hundred inexpedient to act inserting Isaac James Jason Goulding Joel John Jonathan Joseph Josiah Josiah W Knowlton leave to sit legislature Lowell Luther Marcus Morton member for Berlin member for Wilbraham motion was rejected moved to amend Nathaniel Natick negative North Brookfield o'clock officers Ordered Osmyn Brewster Otis Perkins President requested purpose of considering question Report Robert Rantoul Rufus Bullock Samuel H Samuel Warner Schouler Seth Simeon Stevens striking Sumner take the chair thereof Thomas town Walker Whitney Willard Wilson Worcester word yeas and nays
Popular passages
Page 386 - It is essential to the preservation of the rights of every individual, his life, liberty, property, and character that there be an impartial interpretation of the laws, and administration of justice. It is the right of every citizen to be tried by judges as free, impartial, and independent as the lot of humanity will admit.
Page 388 - To which courts and judicatories are hereby given and granted full power and authority, from time to time, to administer oaths or affirmations, for the better discovery of truth in any matter in controversy or depending before them. IV. And further, full power and authority are hereby given and granted to the said general court, from time to time, to make, ordain, and establish, all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws, statutes, and ordinances, directions and instructions, either with...
Page 385 - A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and a constant adherence to those of piety, justice, moderation, temperance, industry and frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the advantages of liberty, and to maintain a free government.
Page 382 - And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession of sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.
Page 408 - And while the public charges of government, or any part thereof, shall be assessed on polls and estates, in the manner that has hitherto been practised, in order that such assessments may be made with equality, there shall be a valuation of estates within the commonwealth, taken anew once in every ten years at least, and as much oftener as the general court shall order.
Page 383 - The privilege and benefit of the writ of habeas corpus shall be enjoyed in this Commonwealth in the most free, easy, cheap, expeditious and ample manner ; and shall not be suspended by the legislature, except upon the most urgent and pressing occasions, and for a limited time, not exceeding twelve months.
Page 385 - The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence : and as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature ; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.
Page 392 - The senate shall be a court with full authority to hear and determine all impeachments made by the house of representatives, against any officer or officers of the commonwealth, for misconduct and mal-administration in their offices.
Page 381 - Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new Constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design...
Page 385 - The people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble to consult upon the common good ; give instructions to their representatives, and to request of the legislative body, by the way of addresses, petitions, or remonstrances, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer.