HomeMy WebLinkAbout2674 Resolution of the Massachusetts Senate "for districting the Commonwealth for the purpose of choosing Electors of President and Vice-President," October 21, 1812 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.'
Ix SENATE, October 21, 1814.-
A Resolve for districting the Commonwealth for the purpose of choosing EleQ.
tors of President and Vice-President.
Rerolwd by the Senate and House of Repro. Aad be it farther resolved,that his Lxeel-
sentativas in Gewral Court asembled,and by tht lency the Governor be add he is hereby re.
authority of the same.—That for the purpose quested forthwith to transmit to each person
of choosing Electors of President and Vice. so chosen Elector, a certificate of said
President of the United States,this Com. choice,and that said Electors be and hers•
monwealth shall be divided into Six Dis. a: by are directed to meet on the first Tues.
tricts,as follows: the Counties of Suffolk, day of December next;at the State House
Essex andMiddlesex,shall form oneDistrict in Boston at four o'clock in the afternoon$
and.choose Five Electors—the Counties of and in case of the death or absc0c:of any e
Worcester,IAmpshire;HantpdedrFrankrin& 'w of the Electors,the dekcience shall immedi.
Berkshire,shall form one District&choose ately be supplied from the people by it majo.
Six Electors—the Counties of Plymouth, City of the votes of the Electors prevent:&
Bristol,Norfolk,Barnstable,Dukes County the Electors thereafter;on the first Wednes-
and Nantucket shall form one District and day in December next,shall vote by ballot
choose Four Eleetots—the Counties of for one person for President and for one
York.Cumberland and Orford shall form person for Vice+President of the United
one District,and choose Three Electors-- States: And that for their travel and at..
the Counties of LincolafKennebec.&Sam. tendance they shall receive the same som.
tnerset shall form one District and choose pen4ation as members of the Senate are en-
Three Electon--and the Counties of Han. titled to.
cock and Washington shall form one Dis. Anl brit fruvhee retoAbed that if the;Se.
trict,arrd choose One Elector. lactmen of any Towh or District,or the as-
And be it furtber resolved,that the Select. scisors of any plantation in,the Comason.
men of the several Towns and Districts,& wealth shall neglect to transmit the list of
the Assessors of the several Plantations in votes of said towdi district or plantation in
the respective Electoral Districts before de. manner aforesaid, to the Secretary of the
scribed,shall in manner the law directs for Commonwealth,on'or before the twentieth
holding town meetings, and by five days day of November nett,each of said Seleca.
previous notice (which shall he sufficient men or Assessors so neglecting,shall forfeit
for this purpose, any law or usage to the ti and pay a sum not exceeding fvve hundred,
contrary notwithstanding?cause the inha- nor less than one hundred dollars.—Provi&
bitants thereof duly qualified to vote for re- as
- ed,that if the Selectmen or Assessors afore.
presentatives to the General Covert of this said shall transmit to the Sheriff of the f _.
Commonwealth to assemble on Thurtday, o County,in which said town,distr'ret or plan.
the twelfth day of November next,to give tation shall lie,the votes of such'town,dis.
in their written or printed votes to the Se triet or plantation,on or before the four.
lectmen or Assessors,whose duty it shall lye t;, teeath day of said November,the said Se-
to preside in such mcating,for the number lectmen shall be,excused from the penalty
of persons as Electors,assigned to such Dis- aforesaid, and it shall be the duty of the
tricts respectively, not being Senators or Q Sheriffs of the several Counties in thu Com.
Representatives in the Congress of the U. m'anwealth,to transmit the votes by them
States,or persons holding any ofrceoftrust respectively received from the Selectmen or
or profit under said United States. And Assessors of the several towns,districts and
the said Selectman or Assessors, or the plantations, to the Secretary of the Com-
major part of thorn shall, in open town monwcalth,odor before the said twentieth
meeting,sort and count the votes,and form day of November nett;and any Sheriff
a list of the persons voted for,with the neglecting to return the votes by him re-
number of votes for each person against his ceived as aforesaid.within the time aforesaid,
mama;and shall make a public declaration shall forfeit&pay for any such neglect asum
thereof in said meeting;and shall,in pre- not excee fin
gg one thousand nor less than five
Bence of said inhabitants seal up copies of hundred dollars,and the Sheriff shall be al.
said list and transmit the same to the office lowed and paid out of the Treasury of this
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on Commonwealth the sum ofteneents for each
or before the twentieth day of November miles travel to and from the town of Bor-
next,and on the twenty-first d ty of Nov. ton,in transmitting the votes aforesaid;
next,-the Obvern or and Cotrrcil thea.ia ws- :Aad,¢4 u furth!rresolved,That the penal-
xion,shall examine said returns,and deter. ties herein provided,may be proskcated.for
mine and declare wha are elected from each and recovored by indictment or action on
District by a majority of the votes in said the case,in the Suprem.-judicial Court or
Districts respectively;and in case the num. Circuit Court of Common Pleas,oae moiety
ber of Etectors,hereby appointed to each thereof to the use of the Commonwealth,&
District,shall not be chosen by a majority the other moiety to him or them who may
of votes,it shall be the duty of the Goirer. complain,prosecute or sue for the same.
nor and Council,to ascertain from the re. In senate,Ottoher 233,1812. Rs.d sal
turns of voter the persons or person wha passed—S.nedova fur concurrence.
*hall have the highest number of votes re. SAIIUFL DANA,President.
turned from such District,and to declare
,ns many of such persons having such plu- -In House of Representatives, O.Whar 224,
i•ality of votes,as shall be equal to the de. 3512.,Rs.d and concurred,
ficientnumber,duly elected for such district. r1morur aIOFLO W,Spesimr.
OcWer22d,1812.�-.4pproved.
CALES STRONG.
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ALDRN BILADFORD, Secretary.
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