tified, because each State must consent by the old Confederation-some benefit will arise if pine States accept, as it will prevent paper money, and save the States, by endorsing them to a citizen of another State.

Mr. GORHAM. His objection to impost goes to the old Confederation as well as to the new-one State has a provision in its Constitution that there shall be no poll tax.

Mr. COOLEY said, he never had advanced that all direct tax was on the polls.

Mr. JONES, of Boston, shows the advantages, to all classes, from the new Constitution.

Mr. JONES, of Bristol, says, power to regulate the trade abroad is enough.

Col. PORTER. To grant only an impost is to invite enemies to attack us, for shutting up our ports is to destroy our

resources.

Col. TAYLOR says, he is now convinced we have no need of granting a direct tax, as the impost is enough for war and peace.

Gen. VARNUM. To say we will not grant a direct tax to Congress, is to say that we will not have the power of a direct tax, for Congress are the people, especially as in war our imposts are destroyed.

Mr. DENCH wishes to go to the next session [section ?].

Mr. KING. If direct taxes can only be collected from polls, a good reason for rejecting the Constitution-but it is not true -the apportionment in the Constitution is only among the States, and not upon the individuals in a State-in the last case, Congress have a discretionary power-as to equal vote of States in the Senate, we could have no union without it.

Mr. PIERCE, of Partridgefield. Powers in Constitution are dangerous; 1. Direct taxes; 2. Duty on imposts include excises, and so a State can, by the tenth section, lay excises.

Mr. SEDGWICK was going to give an answer, but it was said not to be in order, and the ninth section was read.

Mr. DALTON. In favor of first paragraph because we gain a right in time to abolish the slave trade.

Mr. KINSLEY wants to know the reason why vessels from one State to another are not obliged to enter, &c.

Mr. JONES. That no duties should be laid on the exports of a State.

Gen. THOMPSON.

It is contrived to enable them to run.

Dr. JARVIS. It is when a vessel bound to one State makes a harbor in another, he is held to pay duties.

Deacon SEVER and Deacon PHILLIPS give the same.

Mr. GORE the same.

Mr. CABOT explains it fully.

Mr. NEAL talks against the slave trade.

Mr. COOLEY asks, whether negro slaves, emigrating into this State, will not be considered as a poll, to increase our ratio of taxes?

Rev. Mr. BACKUS answers Mr. Neal, and shows we have now gained a check which we had not before, and hopes in time we shall stop the slave trade.

Mr. BODMAN says, those born slaves in the southern States may still continue slaves.

Gen. THOMPSON. If the southern States would not give up the right of slavery, then we should not join with them-Washington's character fell fifty per cent. by keeping slaves—it is all a contrivance, and Washington at the head-our delegates overpowered by Washington and others.

Mr. JONES, of Bristol, objects to Article V., because we can't amend this section for twenty years.

MONDAY, January 28, 1788, 3 P. M.

First section, second article-Executive.

Mr. GORHAM. All governments require an executive-this section fixes the mode of appointment-the people at large could not choose the legislature of Congress could not choose, he would then be their creature

23

23

[Here the Minutes end abruptly.]

ACTION OF THE GENERAL COURT.

[Resolve to print the Address of the Committee appointed by the Convention.] COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IN SENATE, March 29, 1788.

Whereas, a Convention, chosen by the People of this Commonwealth, by their Resolve of the 7th of February, 1788, appointed a Committee to prepare "An Address to the People, stating the principles of the said Constitution, the various objections which were made against it, the answers they received, and explaining the absolute necessity of adopting some energetic system of Federal government for the preservation of the Union, and that the same be published," and whereas, the said Convention, by their said Resolve, recommended to the General Court their making provision for the publication of the same; be it

Resolved, That Messrs. Adams & Nourse, Printers to the General Court, print the said Address, and lay their accounts before the General Court for allowance and payment.

Sent down for concurrence.

S. ADAMS, President.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 29, 1788.

Read and non-concurred.

J. WARREN, Speaker.

[Extract from the Journal of the House of Representatives.]

SATURDAY, March 29, 1788, 9 o'clock, A. M.

The Hon. L. Thompson brought down a Resolve of Senate of this day, directing the Printers to the General Court to print

the Address of the Committee of the late Convention to the people, agreeably to their Resolution of the 7th of February last-sent down for concurrence.

A motion was made and seconded, that the consideration of the said Resolve be referred to the next session of the General Court, and the question being put, passed in the negative. The question of concurrence was then put, and passed in the negative also. 2

[Extract from the Senate Journal.] .

SATURDAY, March 29, 1788.

Resolve directing the Printers to print the Address of the Convention, sent down for concurrence, came up non-concurred.

24 [We find no report of the discussion upon this question, or of the reasons influencing the House in their action, in the newspapers of the day.]

PUBLIC SENTIMENT OF THE DAY.

[Of the good feeling with which the large minority submitted to the decision of the majority, and of the general enthusiasm with which the harmonious conclusion of the Convention was welcomed by the people, some idea may be formed from the subjoined extracts from the columns of the Centinel, of February 9 and 13, 1788:-]

On the ratification being declared, a very large concourse of spectators testified their satisfaction by repeated huzzas; and the whole Convention, having been previously invited, partook, with a number of the respectable citizens, at a decent repast, prepared in the Senate Chamber; where, in mutual congratulations and testimonials of satisfaction, all party ideas were done away, and such a spirit of joy, union and urbanity diffused, as, if continued, must be attended with the most happy consequences through the Commonwealth. The toasts given, were truly conciliatory, and were, we believe, drank with sincerity by every one present. All appeared willing to bury the hatchet of animosity, and to smoke the calumet of union and love.

After this repast, the Convention dissolved. Thus far, the proceedings of the Convention. Now for those of the people.

The citizens of Boston have ever shown themselves advocates for freedom; therefore, when a motion had obtained, one of the greatest objects of which is "to secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity," they could not resist the strong impulse they must have had, publicly to testify their gratitude for the pleasing event. Nor have they. On the decision being declared, the bells in the several public buildings, communicated the happy intelligence to every part of the town, by a peal, which continued for several hours, and which has been continued with short intervals ever since. The discharge of cannon, and other demonstrations of joy, took place