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session, four hundred and twenty-two acts and ninety-nine resolves were passed. Thirty-one new companies were incorporated for manufacturing purposes; sixteen banks were incorporated, with an aggregate capital of four million two hundred thousand dollars; also sixteen insurance companies, six savings banks, and sixteen gas-light companies.

On the 2d of February, the House of Representatives proceeded to the choice, on the part of that body, of a Senator in the Congress of the United States, to succeed the Hon. John Davis, of Worcester. Hon. Edward Everett was chosen. On the following day the Senate voted with the same result. On the 4th of March, Mr. Everett took his seat at the session specially called by President Pierce.

On the 26th of April the House voted to substitute for the report of a committee, that it was inexpedient to legislate on the subject of a ten-hour law, a bill providing that, after October 1, 1853, no person should be employed in laboring in any manufacturing or mechanical employment, by or for any company incorporated by or under the laws of the commonwealth, more than twelve hours; after April 1, 1854, more than eleven hours; and after October 1, 1854, more than ten hours, except in running railroad trains or steamboats, in making the repairs necessary to prevent the stoppage or interruption of the ordinary running of engines, mills, machinery, railroad trains, steamboats, and mail stage coaches, or in doing labor of necessity or charity. On the 17th of May, the bill was passed to be engrossed. In the Senate, three days later, a substitute bill was reported, simply defining a day's labor as ten hours, in the absence of any special agreement, which was passed by that branch. The House refused to concur

in adopting this substitute, and, no committee of conference being appointed, the matter thus dropped.

In 1851, the General Court passed an act calling a third convention to revise the state constitution. The act was submitted to the people, and a majority voted against it. On the 7th of May, 1852, another act was passed, calling upon the people to vote upon the question of calling a constitutional convention. It, too, was submitted to the people, and a majority having yoted in favor of the proposed convention, an election for delegates thereto took place in March, 1853. On the 4th of May, the convention met in the State House in Boston, and organized by choosing Nathaniel P. Banks, Jr., for president, and William S. Robinson and James T. Robinson for secretaries. The convention was composed of men of eminent ability, embracing members of all the leading professions and occupations of life.

On the 19th of May, Henry Wilson, as chairman of the committee to provide the order of business, brought forward a report of this committee in favor of making single senatorial districts on the basis of population, taking the ground that there was no reason why Lowell should be cut down in the basis because of its ten thousand women, or Boston because of its fifty thousand Irishmen and Germans. "Upon political questions," such are the words of the report, "there may be differences of opinion; but upon nineteen twentieths of the questions that come before the legislature, your women, your foreign population, and your persons who cannot vote, have a deep and abiding personal interest." Said Mr. Wilson, in the debate, "I am not one of those who expect to advocate the right of women to vote. But one thing is certain; I could not make an

argument against it, and I would like to see the man who could make such an argument. And I go farther; I believe that, upon most of the questions that concern this commonwealth and this country, they have their influence; and if they had also the right to vote, the country would be none the worse governed. The foreign population is engaged in the business affairs of life, in our churches and our schools, in the various pursuits of social life, and in everything that is consistent with the duties of citizens; and they influence the opinions of their neighbors and friends."

On the 27th of May, there was a long debate on the question of changing elections from the majority system to a plurality; and on the following day, the question of making aliens ineligible to the office of governor came up. Said Mr. Wilson, "I see no necessity of putting these words, 'citizens of the United States,' into the constitution. I am content that a citizen of Massachusetts shall be governor of Massachusetts, if the people choose to make him so. According to my understanding of the constitution, a man who is not a naturalized citizen of the State or the Union could be elected governor of this commonwealth to-day. I care nothing about the place where a man was born; I do not wish to bring the question into this discussion, and I do not like to have such words as foreign born' incorporated in the constitution."

On the 20th, 21st, and 22d of June, there was a long debate on the powers of the state over the militia. At this time there was a strong prejudice against the colored race, which, till now, effectually excluded them from becoming members of the independent military organizations. In opposition to conservative opinions, Mr. Sumner said, "Mas

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