Journal of the Convention for Framing a Constitution of Government for the State of Massachusetts Bay

The Convention then went into a free conversation, upon the connection of the several parts of the report of the General Committee.

Three o'clock.

A motion was made and seconded, That the Convention now adjourn for a recess, which, being put, passed in the affirmative. The Convention accordingly stands adjourned to Wednesday, 5th January, 1780.

Att. SAMUEL BARRETT, Secretary.

Cambridge, 12 Nov. 1779.

Pursuant to the vote of the Convention, the following notification was published in the several newspapers, viz.:

"The gentlemen of the Convention, for forming a Constitution of Government for the State of Massachusetts Bay, are hereby notified, that their meeting stands adjourned to Wednesday, the 5th of January next, at the Representatives' Chamber, in Boston."

"As the good people of this State are impressed with the idea of the necessity of a new and good Constitution of Government, and have a right to expect of the present Convention the exertion of their best abilities to frame such an one; and as the framing it, and its acceptance, when framed, must greatly depend on the collective wisdom of the Convention being had, in the final determination on every part of it, but which cannot be had without a general and constant attendance; I am directed, by a vote of the Convention, to enjoin upon the members, from its necessity and importance, A CONStant and geneRAL ATTENDANCE accordingly."

"Gentlemen do not need to be informed, that they will find it difficult, if not impossible, to explain, to the satisfaction of their constituents, any form of Government the Convention may agree upon, unless they had been present at the debates and entered minutely into the grounds and reasons of every decision. Even the best form may be rejected, for want of such an explanation, and removing objections, which, had they duly attended the Convention, might without difficulty have been removed."

* See Note to page 47.

"A general attendance would moreover save to the public a great expense, arising from the time necessarily spent in reviewing questions for the information of members, who were absent when they were first agitated."

"And, finally, as the business before the Convention is not of a transient but permanent nature, and is designed for the benefit of the remotest ages of this Commonwealth, the presence and assistance of the whole body is expected and required; which will have a tendency to remove those local and temporary prejudices and views which might otherwise endanger the acceptance of the best Constitution the Convention can propose."

"For these, and other reasons, an adjournment to so distant a day was deemed necessary; that, the fall business being finished, and the Session of the General Court, as well as the Circuit of the Superior Court completed, every gentleman might, with the greater convenience to his private affairs and those of the public, be able to give his punctual attendance; and the very interesting object of their convening be attained, in as perfect a manner, and with as little expense, as possible."

JAMES BOWDOIN, President of the Convention.

P. S. The Printers in this State, and those in the neighboring States, who furnish any part of this with Newspapers, are requested to insert the above notification in the same.

A true Copy.

Att. SAML. BARRETT, Secretary.

Boston, 20th, Nov. 1779.

REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER, IN BOSTON, Jan. 5, 1780.

The Convention met according to adjournment.

There being but few members present, and the travelling excessive bad, it was, after some conversation, thought expedient, and accordingly moved and seconded, that the Convention be adjourned to Friday next, at half past two o'clock, P. M.

A motion was then made and seconded, that a letter be wrote to the Selectmen of the town of Braintree, requesting them to convene the inhabitants, in order to the choice of one or more persons to represent them in this Convention, in the room of the Hon. JOHN ADAMS, Esq. who has sailed for Europe; whereupon,

Voted, that the Secretary be directed to write to the Selectmen of Braintree, accordingly.

It being suggested that the small pox had made its appearance in several places in the town: On a motion, made and seconded,

Voted, That Major GOODMAN, Col. HUTCHINSON, and Doct. JARVIS, be a Committee to make strict inquiry into the state of the small pox, and report at the adjournment.

The motion for adjournment being then put, it passed in the affimative. The Convention was accordingly adjourned to Friday, at half past 2 o'clock, P. M.

GENTLEMEN,

Boston, 6 Jan. 1780.

The Honorable Mr. ADAMS, your late Delegate in the Convention, for framing a new Constitution of Government for this State, having sailed for Europe, on an important appointment from Congress, and his seat being thereby vacated, I am directed, by their vote of yesterday, to request of you, gentlemen, to convene the inhabitants of your place, as soon as may be, in order to their electing and deputing one or more persons (as they shall see fit, within the prescribed limitation of numbers,) to represent them in the said Convention.

I am, Gentlemen,

your very humble servant,

To the Selectmen of the town

S. BARRETT, Secy.

of Braintree.

(Copy.)

Met according to adjournment.

FRIDAY, P. M. half past 2.

The Committee on small pox reported the following letter. To the Gentlemen, the Committee of Convention :

The Selectmen of Boston acquaint the Gentlemen, the Committee of Convention, that there are five persons now sick of the small pox, and two others nearly ready to be discharged from the hospital at West Boston. These are the only persons that, upon the strictest enquiry and examination, we can find with that distemper, and the hospital the only house in this town, which is infected with the small pox.

By order of the Selectmen,

WILLIAM COOPER,

Town Clerk.

Boston, 5 Jan. 1780.

(Copy.)

It was then moved, and seconded, that the time to which the Convention shall be adjourned, be Wednesday next, at 3 o'clock, P. M.

It was then moved, and seconded, "that notice be given in the Saturday's and Monday's newspapers, that the Convention for forming a new Constitution have met, and adjourned to Wednesday next, at 3 o'clock, P. M. on account of the difficulty of travelling; and that it is proposed to do business at that time, if a competent number of the members shall be then arrived; if not, to make short adjournments for that purpose, but to proceed upon and finish the business, for which they are chosen, as soon as a sufficient number shall be convened; and that the members be earnestly desired to take notice hereof, and attend as soon as possible. as possible. And that the printers of the several newspapers in Salem, Worcester, Hartford and Providence, be requested to insert in them said notification;" which, being put, passed in the affirmative. The motion for adjournment, being then put, passed in the affirmative.

The Convention was accordingly adjourned to Wednesday, the 12th instant, three o'clock, P. M.

Wednesday, 3 o'clock P. M. 12 Jan.

The Convention met according to adjournment.

Mr. Jacob Eaton produced a certificate from the Selectmen of the town of Bristol, in the County of Lincoln, of his appointment to represent said town in Convention, and took his seat accordingly.