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 Amasa Anson Burlingame Artemas Artemas Hale ask leave Bates Benjamin F Boston Boutwell Briggs Butler Chapin Charles G Clark Committee accordingly rose Committee rise Commonwealth Constitution Convention adjourned Convention resolved Court Cushman Daniel Davis debate by Messrs Elbridge Elbridge G election expediency Gardner George Giles governor Griswold Hallett Hapgood Henry Hiram Hooper House of Representatives hundred inexpedient to act inserting James Jason Goulding Joel John Souther Jonathan 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 o'clock officers ordered Osmyn Brewster Otis Perkins Proposition purpose of considering question Report Richardson Robert Rantoul Rufus Bullock Samuel H Samuel Warner Schouler Senate Seth Silas Dean Stevens striking Sumner take the chair thereof Thomas town voters Walker Whitney Willard Wilson Worcester words yeas and nays
Popular passages
Page 308 - 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 or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.
Page 388 - 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 390 - 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 384 - And no subject shall be arrested, imprisoned, despoiled, or deprived of his property immunities, or privileges, put out of the protection of the law, exiled, or deprived of his life, liberty, or estate, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land.
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 388 - In the government of this commonwealth, the legislative department shall never exercise the executive and judicial powers, or either of them : the executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them: the judicial shall never exercise the legislative and executive powers, or either of them : to the end it may be a government of laws and not of men.
Page 384 - IN all controversies concerning property, and in all suits between two or more persons, except in cases in which it has heretofore been otherways used and practised, the parties have a right to a trial by jury ; and this method of procedure shall be held sacred, unless, in causes arising on the high-seas, and such as relate to mariners wages, the legislature shall hereafter find it necessary to alter it.
Page 394 - 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 383 - 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...