Debates in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 1917-1918, Volume 2Wright & Potter Printing Company, state printers, 1918 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
adopted advocates amending the Constitution answer Applause argument ask the gentleman ballot believe bill body Brockton cent Chairman Choate citizens committee Commonwealth of Massachusetts compact Constitution of Massachusetts constitutional amendment Convention corporations Court debate delegate democracy discussion election exist fact favor feel form of government fourth division fundamental gentleman from Amherst gentleman from Boston gentleman from Brookline George Fred Williams give going Governor individual industrial initiative and referendum initiative petition interest judicial lative lature Laughter lawyer Legis legislation Legislature liberty majority Massachu matter measure ment method mind minority report opponents opposed Oregon organized labor pamphlet party passed petition political popular present principle proposed proposition protection question Railroad reason refer representative government resolution restraints Senate signatures social statement stitution submitted thing tion to-day true unrest vote voters Walker wealth Whipple words
Popular passages
Page 51 - 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 260 - The powers of the legislature are defined and limited, and that those limits may not be mistaken or forgotten the Constitution is written. To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing, if these limits may at any time be passed by those intended to be restrained...
Page 201 - We, therefore, the people of 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...
Page 75 - 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 59 - The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it 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 60 - Government is instituted for the common good, for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people and not for the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men.
Page 501 - To limit the rate of charge for services rendered in a public employment, or for the use of property in which the public has an interest, is only changing a regulation which existed before. It establishes no new principle in the law, but only gives a new effect to an old one.
Page 519 - THIS is true liberty, when freeborn men, Having to advise the public, may speak free ; Which he who can, and will, deserves high praise ; Who neither can, nor will, may hold his peace ; What can be juster in a state than this ? FROM HORACE.
Page 380 - Think, if you can, of a single instance in which a plainly written provision of the Constitution has ever been denied. If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution — certainly would if such a right were a vital one.
Page 559 - The people of this commonwealth have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves, as a free, sovereign, and independent state; and do, and forever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them expressly delegated to the United States of America, in Congress assembled.