The Centennial of the Massachusetts Constitution: Prepared at the Request of the President of the American Antiquarian Society, and Read at the Semi-annual Meeting of the Society, in Boston, April 27, 1881 |
Other editions - View all
The Centennial of the Massachusetts Constitution: Prepared at the Request of ... Alexander Hamilton Bullock No preview available - 2015 |
CENTENNIAL OF THE MASSACHUSETT Alexander H. (Alexander Hamilto Bullock,Ya Pamphlet Collection (Library of Congr No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted adopted advance afterwards alteration annulled articles of amendment authority Bill of Rights body Bowdoin century Charles Francis Adams charter Chief Justice citizens civil colonial committee of thirty commonwealth Congress at Philadelphia consti constitution of Massachusetts constitutional convention Continental Congress convention of 1820 coördinate Court debates Declaration of Rights delegates early election enduring English Constitution established executive and legislative Faneuil Hall five form of government frame-work framed free republic Governor Historical Society house of representatives independence James Bowdoin John Adams judges judiciary king legislature liberty magistrates Magna Charta Massachu MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION ment Nathaniel Ward opinion original party Pennsylvania period persons politics popular practice principle provision public and private puritan question ratified rejected relating religion religious Salem Samuel Adams sect of christians secured sentiment setts slavery in Massachusetts suffrage Supreme third article tion took town ture Virginia vote whilst whole number written constitution
Popular passages
Page 31 - Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty of legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them;...
Page 35 - And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Page 32 - Cambridge, public schools, and grammar schools in the towns; to encourage private societies and public institutions, rewards and immunities, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and a natural history of the country; to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public and private charity, industry and frugality, honesty and punctuality in their dealings; sincerity, good humor, and all social affections, and generous sentiments...
Page 43 - ... able to read the constitution of the state in the English language and to write his name.
Page 56 - Representations instead of collections of the people; a total separation of the executive from the legislative power, and of the judicial from both; and a balance in the legislature by three independent, equal branches are perhaps the only three discoveries in the constitution of a free government since the institution of Lycurgus.
Page 42 - And at such meetings every male inhabitant of twenty-one years of age and upwards, having a freehold estate within the Commonwealth, of the annual income of three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty pounds...
Page 16 - as great a number of men of learning, talents and patriotism as had ever been convened here at any earlier period ;" and I venture to add, that it has not since been equalled by any public body in the state, unless possibly by the next convention which met in 1820. John Adams, Samuel Adams, Hancock, Lowell, Parsons, Cabot, Gorham, Sullivan, Lincoln, Paine, Gushing, Strong, are but a few of the eminent names which appear on its roll.
Page 26 - I knew that every one of my friends, and all those who were the most zealous for assuming governments, had at that time no idea of any other government but a contemptible legislature in one assembly, with committees for executive magistrates and judges.
Page 22 - As the gold-finer will not, out of the dust, threads or shreds of gold let pass the least crumb, in respect of the excellency of the metal, so ought not the learned reader to pass any syllable of this law, in respect of the excellency of the matter.
Page 26 - The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society...