STATE OF MAINE. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 22, 1846. Ordered, That 500 copies of the foregoing communication be printed for the use of the Legislature. SAMUEL BELCHER, Clerk. TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE. No. 15. SENATE. STATE OF MAINE. RESOLVE providing for an amendment of the Constitution, in relation to the choice of Representatives to the Legislature. Resolved, Two thirds of both branches of the Leg2 islature concurring, that the Constitution of this State 3 shall be amended in the fifth section of the first part 4 of the fourth article, by striking out the words "and 5 the same proceedings shall be had at every future 6 meeting until an election shall have been effected," 7 and inserting the words, and the same proceedings 8 shall be had at said meeting, and the person having 9 the largest number of votes shall be elected. But in 10 case the highest candidates have an equal number of 11 votes, the same proceedings shall be had at every fu12 ture meeting until some person shall have been elect13 ed by obtaining the largest number of votes as afore14 said. Wm. T. Johnson, Printer to the State. Resolved, That the aldermen of cities, the selectmen of 2 the several towns, and the assessors of the several plan3 tations in this State, are hereby empowered and direct4 ed to notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, 5 towns and plantations, in manner prescribed by law, at 6 the annual meeting in September next to give in their 7 votes upon the amendment proposed in the foregoing 8 resolve; and the question shall be, shall the Constitu9 tion be amended as proposed in the foregoing resolve, 10 providing that in case no person is elected represent11 ative to the Legislature at the first trial by a majority 12 of votes, that the person having the largest number 13 of votes at the second trial shall be elected. But in 14 case the highest candidates have an equal number of 15 votes, the same proceedings shall be had at every 16 future meeting until some person shall have been 17 elected; and the inhabitants of said cities, towns and 18 plantations, shall vote by ballot on said question, those 19 in favor of said amendment expressing it by the word 20 "yes" upon their ballots, and those opposed to the 21 amendment expressing it by the word "no" upon 22 their ballots; and the ballots shall be received, sorted, 23 counted and declared, in open ward, town and plan24 tation meetings, and lists shall be made out of the 25 votes by the aldermen, selectmen and assessors, and 26 clerks of the several cities, towns and plantations, 27 and returned to the office of the secretary of state, 28 in the same manner as votes for senators, and the 29 governor and council shall count the same and make 30 return thereof to the next Legislature, and if a ma31 jority of the votes are in favor of said amendment, 32 the Constitution shall be amended accordingly. Resolved, That the secretary of state shall prepare 2 and furnish the several cities, towns and plantations 3 blank returns in conformity to the resolves, accom4 panied with a copy of these resolves. |