Debates in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 1917-1918, Volume 4Wright & Potter Printing Company, state printers, 1920 - Constitution |
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adjourn adopted aforesaid annulled anti-aid amendment anti-aid measure Applause appointed appropriations Article of Amendment Attorney-General ballot believe biennial elections bill Brockton Brookline Chair CHAIRMAN committee on Rules commonwealth compensation compulsory voting constitutional amendment Constitutional Convention council debate delegates district Dukes County duty existing Constitution gentleman from Boston governor Haverhill Holyoke house of representatives initiative and referendum initiative petition judges labor legislative Legislature lieutenant-governor Lomasney LUCE of Waltham majority Massachusetts matter meas ment Middleborough mittee motion move old and rearranged opinion person PILLSBURY point of order present presiding officer previous question proposed amendment proposition query rearranged Constitution reason recess committee reconsideration rejected resolution roll-call Rules and Procedure secretary senate Sergeant-at-Arms session signatures standing laws stitution submitted substitute Supreme Judicial Court taxation thereof tion town vacancies vention vote voters Wednesday in January Whole words
Popular passages
Page 90 - 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 39 - A body politic," as aptly defined in the preamble of the Constitution of Massachusetts, "is a social compact by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good.
Page 11 - The senate shall oe 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. But previous to the trial of every impeachment the members of the senate shall respectively be sworn, truly and impartially to try and determine the charge in question, according to evidence.
Page 41 - All warrants, therefore, are contrary to this right, if the cause or foundation of them be not previously supported by oath or affirmation, and if the order in the warrant to a civil officer, to make search in suspected places, or to arrest one or more suspected persons, or to seize their property, be not accompanied with a special designation of the persons or objects of search, arrest, or seizure : and no warrant ought to be issued hut in cases, and with the formalities prescribed by the laws.
Page 39 - Bay, 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 peacefully, 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, do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each...
Page 88 - All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.
Page 48 - 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 89 - Every subject has a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches, and seizures, of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions. All warrants, therefore, are contrary to this right, if the cause or foundation of them be not previously supported by oath or affirmation...
Page 39 - The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquillity their natural rights, and the blessings of life...
Page 45 - And to remove all doubts concerning the meaning of the word ' 'inhabitant' ' in this Constitution, every person shall be considered as an inhabitant, for the purpose of electing and being elected into any office, or place within this State, in that town, district or plantation, where he dwelleth, or hath his home.