[copyist’s hand]

1818 July 13 3

Parl Ref Bill

Reasons

VI Mode of voting

Voting secret why?

3

3

The whole article is well worth transcrib g. With that combination, of intellectual imbecility and arrogant display of despotick force which betrays itself in every page of English and other Monarchical Legislation the openness and unassuming urbanity which would be seen here impressed form a striking and not uninteresting[?] contrast.

Constitutions of the United States: p.89:

Constitution of New York. Article 12. That the Election of Senators shall be after this manner: that so much of this State as is now parcelled into countries, & divided into 4 districts; the Southern District to comprehend the City and County of New York, Suffolk, West Chester, Kings, Queens, and Richmond Counties; the middle district to comprehend the Counties of Duchess, Ulster and Orange; the Western district, the City and County of Albany and Tyron County; and the eastern District, the counties of Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester. That the Senators shall be elected by the Freeholders of the said Districts in the proportions following: to wit, in the southern district nine; in the middle district six; in the western district six in the eastern District three. And be it ordained, that a census shall be taken, as soon as may be, after the expiration of 7 years from the termination of the present War under the direction of the Legislature; and if on such census, it shall appear that the number of Senators is not justly proportioned to the several Districts that the Legislature adjust the proportion, as near as may be, to the number of Freeholders qualified as aforesaid, in each District. That when the number of Electors, within any of the said Districts, shall have encreased one twenty fourth part of the whole number of Electors, which, by the said Census, shall be found to be in this State, an additional Senator shall be chosen by the Electors of such District. That a majority of the number of Senators to be chosen as aforesaid, shall be necessary to Constitute a Senate, sufficient to proceed upon business; and that the Senate shall in like manner with the Assembly, be the Judges of its own Members. And be it ordained that it shall be in the power of the future Legislature of this State, for the convenience and advantage of the good people thereof, to divide the same into such further and other Countries and districts, as shall to them appear necessary.