The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
III.

After q sharp contest in the LeQislature. where
q motion was made to submit the Federal Con-
%stitution to the people in their town meetings.
which undoubtedly would have rejected II by an
overwhelming vote. o State Convention was
called and the towns were invited TO send de!e-
gates. In spite Of the vital Importance Of the
question at issue. II appears from the journal OF
the Convention that out Of q total OF some 31s
towns entitled to send delegates 40 refused or
failed to do so. OF the delinquents. 81 were In
the District of Maine, and were, for the most
part, the moro recently Incorporated town.
ships. where the pressure Of debt and
the struggle with the wilderness linn
tied political interest chiefly to the cleo
ton Of q Sheriff, Four Of the remaining fifteen
were on the Cape. where the prevailing interests
were almost equally removed from the general
current Of politics. Notwithstanding the re-
maesness of ~forty-six towns. tho Convention
that at Boston. Jan. o, 1888. was the
largest called in any State to pass upon the
Federal Constitution. tho names OF 1874 dele
gates being returned to II. 355 OF whom were
present when the final vote was taken. Accord
ing to the minute. of the proceedings kept by
Jeremy Belknap, 1t was the most complete rep
resentation that ever was made of the Stare
Of Massachusetts. On the Federalist side,
the leaders were mon Of ability and established
reputation, such as Nathaniel Gorham. Caleb
Strong, and Rufus King. all of whom had sat in
the PHILADELPHIA Convention: ex-Gov. Bowdoin.
Gen. Heath, Gen. Lincoln. and the rising states
mon. Theodore SedRwick. Theophilus Parsons.
and Fisher Ames. OF those openly in opposition.
there was scarcely . member who could be COM
pared with these. DR.. Samuel Holten of Dam
vers. who. with Gerry and King. had. In 1855.
refused to present the resolve OF tho Massachu-
sets Legislature recommending q Federal Con-
%vention. was almost the only exception. and he
was present only a portion of the time. Tho
position which Gov. Hancock would eventually
take was uncertain. The old patriot, Samuel
Adams, OF whose secret opposition there can
now DO no doubt, was induced BY various consid-
%erations. including conspicuously . demonstra-
ton by the Boston mechanics. 10 refrain from
openly a~ssailinG the proposed Federal system.
Oliver Phelps. who had served in tho Commits
sary Department during the war. aud had
grown rich as . merchaut-!n Berkshire county.
had been elected to the Convention; but. bo-
coming convinced. apparently. that opposition
would be unsuccessful and unpopular. he had
resi- his seat before the Convention met.
Nathan Dane, who, with Richard Henry Lee,
had taken the lead in Congress In the attempt
to amend tho Constitution before submitting It
TO the States, was mortified on his return to
Massachusetts, to ind all whom he had respected
In favor Of the new system; he had. therefore.
held his peace. Elbridge Gerry. seemingly. had
not been a candidate. Cambridge. where he
lived, was so strongly prejudlced that an cleo
ton seemed to him hopeless. When tho Con-
vention assembled, however. on the motion Of
the opponents of the Constitution, Q motion
which the friends OF the new system dared not
oppose, no was Invited to take q place on the
floor TO answer such questions as might be put
TO him. but within q few days trouble arose be-
cause. unasked. he offered certain information;
. wrangle ensued which. for q time, threat
ened very serious consequences, and. thence
forth. Gerry stayed away from the Con-
vention. Who. then. were the anti
Federalist leaders In the debate2 A half dozen
obscure mon whose names are unknown, oven to
most students Of this period. William widgerly
OF New Gloucester. Me-. was one OF these.
Samuel of Topsham. Me-. was an
other. A third determined enemy Of the pro-
posed Constitution was Samuel Mason or Mason
of Sanford. Me. From Massachusetts, proper
DR.. John Taylor of Douglas, Worcester county,
was the most conspicuous OF the anti Federal
lists. Another delegate from this part of tho
State who was active in opposition was
Capt. Phanuel Bishop Of Rehoboth, Bristol
county. Belknap styles him - noted insur-
gent and he seems to have ridden into
ONCE on tho crest Of tho ShaysitS wave. To the
foregoing list Of anti-Federalis leaders might
be added the name of Charles Turner of Scitu-
ate. Plymouth county. who, during tho first few
days of the convention, was tho ablest and most
dignihed. as well as ono Of the most sincere op-
ponents OF the now plan of Government. Soon
after the opening OF tho session. however, he
was seized with an illness which confined him
to bis bod, thus removing him from the scene
of action At . critical oonjuncture; further
more. his influence was ultimately exerted and
his vote cast in favor OF the Constitution.
Nv.
The evidence collected by Mr.. Harding rem
ders IL certain that, had a vote bean taken as