CONVENTION OF DELEGATES

Assembled at the State House, in Boston, November 15th, 1820, for the purpose of

Revising the Constitution of Massachusetts, in pursuance of the law of June 16th.

Esq.

Esq.

SUFFOLK.

Brighton-Francis Winship.! Boston-His Honor William Phillips, Hon. Wil

Burlington-None. liam Gray, Isaac Parker, Charles Jackson, Thomas

Cambridge-Levi Farwell, Peter Tufts, Jun.,

Hon. Samuel P. P. Fay. Dawes, John Davis, William Prescott, Artemas

Carlisle-Benjamin Barrett. Ward, James Prince, Esq., Rev. James Freeman, Hon. John Phillips, Josiah Quincy, Peter C. Brooks, Thomas Harris, Leonard M. Parker, George Bart

Charlestown-Seth Knowles, William Austin, John Welles, Israel Thorndike, Daniel Davis, John

lett, Timothy Thompson, Jun. athan Hunewell, Rev. Thomas Baldwin, Thomas Melville, Esq., Hon. William Sullivan, Redford

Chelmsford-Amos Whitney, Jonathan Pelham,

Concord-Samuel Hoar, Jun., Esq., John Keyes, Webster, Esq., George Blake, Esq., Hon. Daniel Wesbter, John T. Apthorp, Esq., Benjainin Russell,

Dracut-Hon. Joseph B. Varnum. Esq., Daniel Messinger, Esq., Warren Dutton,

Dunstable-Benjamin Rice. Esq., Joseph Coolidge, Esq., Mr. John Cotton, Lem

East Sudbury-Jacob Reeves, Esq. uel Shaw, Esq., Joseph Tilden, Esq., Doct. John C. Warren, William Harris, Esq., Samuel Hubbard,

Framingham-John Trowbridge, Esq., Josiah AdEsq., Rev. Paul Dean, Mr. Eliphalet Williams, ams, Esq. James T. Austin, Esq., Mr. William Sturgis, James

Groton-Luther Lawrence, Esq., Hon. Samuel

Dana. Savage, Esq., Mr. Henan Lincoln, Rev. Henry

Holliston-Elihu Cutter, Esq. Ware, Nathan Hale, Esq., Mr. Samuel A. Welles,

Hopkinton-Joseph Valentine, Esq., Nathan Mr. Lynde Walter, Mr. Geo. Bond.

Phipps.
Chelsea-Rev. Joseph Tuckerman.

Lexington-Nathan Chandler, Esq.
ESSEX

Lincoin-Samuel Hoar, Esq.

Littleton-Rev. Edmund Foster.
Amesbury-John Morse, Esq., Enoch Bartlett. Malden-Elder Ebenezer Nelson, Phineas
Andover-John Kneeland, Stephen Barker.

Sprague.
Beverly-Rev. N. W. Williams, Deacon John Marlborough-Joel Cranston.
Low, Hon. Nathan Dane,* Hon Robert Rantoul. Medford-Nathaniel Hall, Abner Bartlett.
Boxford–Thomas Perley.

Natick-Jonathan Bacon.
Bradford-Deacon Daniel Stickney, Jesse Kim Newton-Gen. Ebenezer Cheney, Joseph Jackson,
ball, Jun., Esq.
Danvers-Ebenezer Shillaber, Caleb Oakes, John

Pepperell—John Walton, Abel Jewett. Page, Ebenezer King.

Reading-Daniel Flint, Timothy Wakefield. Ësser---Jonathan Story.

Sherburne-Calvin Sanger. Gloucester-Col. William. Pearce, John Kittredge, Shirley-Nathaniel Holden, Esq. Esq., Capt. William W. Parrott, Nehemiah Knowl. South Reading-William Nichols. ton, Col. William Beach, Capt. Elias Davidson.

Stoneham-None.
Hamilton-Jonathan Lamson.

Stow and Boxborough-Joseph Stone.
Haverhill-Hon. Bailey Bartlett, Col. Charles Sudbury-William Hunt, Esq.
White, Moses Wingate, Esq.

Tewksbury-Jesse Trull.

Townsend-Samuel Brooks, Esq. Ipswich-John Heard, Nathaniel Wade.

Batchelder, Tyngsoorough-None. Enoch Mudge, Jun., John Lovejoy, Ezra Mudge.

Waitham-John Clark, David Townsend.

Watertown-Walter Hunnewell.
Lynnfield-Asa T. Newhall.
Manchester-Col. David Colby.

West Cambridge-Hon. William Whittemore. Marblehead-Nathan Hooper, Joshua Prentiss,

Westford-John Abbott.

Weston-Isaac Fiske, Esq.
Jun., Benjamin Knight, Nathan Martin, John H.
Gregory.

Wilmington-William Blanchard, Jun.
Methuen-Stephen Barker.

Woburn-John Wade, Marshall Fowle.
Middleton-Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard.
Newbury-Josiah Little, Esq., Richard Pike, Esq.

WORCESTER.
Moses Little, Esq.

Newburyport-Rev. John Andrews, Hon. Samuel Ashburnham-Silas Willard. s. Wilde, William Bartlett, William B. Bannister,

Athol-Joseph Eastabrook. James Prince, Dr. Nathan Noyes.

Barre-Nathaniel Jones, Nathaniel Houghton. Rowley-Parker Cleveland, Joshua Jewett.

Berlin-Amos Sawyer. Salem-Hon. Benjamin Pickman, Joseph Story,

Bolton-Nathaniel Longley.
Leverett Saltonstall, Gideon Barstow, Esq., David

Boylston-Jonathan Bond.
Cummings, Esq., Stephen White, Esq., John G. Brookfield-Simeon Draper, Seth Field.
King, Michael Shepherd, John Derby, Jun.

Charlton-John Spurr, Isaac Rider.
Salisbury-Samuel March, Benjamin Evans. Dara-Ephraim Whipple.
Saugus-Jonathan Makepeace.

Douglas-Welcome Whipple.
Tops field-Cyrus Cummings.

Dudley-William Windsor. Wenham-John Dodge.

Fitchburg-John Shepley, Calvin Willard. West Newbury-Thomas Hills.

Gardner William Whitney.

Grafton-Pardon Aldrich.
MIDDLESEX.

Hardwick, Timothy Page, Joseph Stone.

Harvard-Thomas Hersey, Rev. Abisha Samson. Acton-Joseph Noyes, Esq.

Holden-William Drury. Ashby-John Locke.

Hubbardston-Ephraim Allen. Billerica_Joseph Locke.

Lancaster-Jacob Fisher, Davis Whitman. Bedford-William Webber.

Leicester-Henry Sargent. * Did not attend.

Leominster-Bezaleel Lawrence, Joseph G. Ken Deerfield-Hon. Ephraim Williams, Hon. Elihu dall.

Hoyt. Lunenburg-Josiah Stearns, Esq.

Gill-Seth S. Howland. Mendon-Hon. Jonathan Russell, Dr. Daniel Greenfield-Elijah Alvord, Thurber.

Hawley-Zenas Banks. Milford-Esek Greene.

Heath-Jesse Gale. Millbury-Aaron Pierce.

Leverett-Roswell Field. New Braintree-Joseph Bowman.

Leyden-Elisha Chapin. Northborough-James Keyes.

Montague--Rev. Aaron Gates. Northbridge-Rev. John Crane.

New Salem-Varney Pierce. North Brookfield-Daniel Gilbert.

Northfield-Rev. Thomas Mason. Oakhan-William Crawford, Jun.

Orange-Josiah Cobb. Oxford-Richard Olney.

Rowe-None. Paxton-Jonathan P. Grosvenor.

Shelburne-Benoni Pratt. Petersham-Hutchins Hapgood, Israel Houghton. Shutesbury John Conkey, Jun. Phillipston-John Doane.

Sunderland-Nathaniel Smith. Princeton-Ward N. Boylston,

Warwick Jonathan Blake, Jun, Royalston-Rufus Bullock.

Wendell-Hon. Joshua Green.
Rutland-Zadock Gates.

Whately-Thomas Saunderson.
Shrewsbury-Nathan Pratt.
Southborough-Rev. Jeroboam Parker.

BERKSHIRE.
Southbridge-Nathan H. Harding.
Spencer-James Draper, Jun.

Adams-Jolin Waterman, James Mason.
Sterling, Thomas H. Blood, John Robbins, Jun. Alford-Elihu Lester, Esq.
Sturbridge-Rev. Zenas L. Leonard.

Becket-George Conant.
Sutton-Hon. Jonas Sibley, Darius Russell.

Cheshire--Rev. Samuel Bloss. Templeton-Lovell Waiker.

Clarksburg-None. Upton-Ezra Wood.

Dalton John Chamberlain. Urbridge--Hon. Bezaleel Taft, Samuel Reed. Egremont-James Baldwin, Esq. Ward-John Clark.

rida-None. Westborough-Nathan Fisher, Esq.

Great Barrington-Moses Hopkins. West Boylston-Robert B. Thomas.

Hancock-Rodman Hazard. Weston-Chester Powers.

Hinsdale--Artemas Thompson. Westminster-Jonas Whitney, Edward Kendall. Lanesborough-William H. Tyler. Winchendon-Samuel Prentiss.

Lee-James Whiton. Worcester-Abraham Lincoln, Esq., Hon. Levi Lenox-Caleb Hyde. Lincoln, Edward D. Bangs, Esq.

Mount Washington-None.

New Ashford-None.
HAMPSHIRE.

New Marlboro'-Gen. Ebenezer Hyde, Salmon Amherst-Hon Ebenezer Mattoon, Israel Scott.

Kasson.

Ois-Col. Samuel Picket.
Belchertown-Eliakim Phelps, Philo Dickinson.
Chesterfield-Barnabas Billings.

Peru-Cyrus Stowell.
Cummington-Nehemiah Richards.

Pittsfield-Nathan Willis, Henry H. Childs, Jon

athan Y. Clark. Easthampton--Thaddeus Clapp. Goshen-- Timothy Lyman.

Richmond-Zechariah Pierson. Granby-Eli Dickinson,

Sandisfield-Church Smith, Eliakim Hull. Greenwich-Laban Marcy.

Southfield-None. Hadley-Moses Porter, Samuel Porter.

Savoy- None. Hatfield-Oliver Smith.

Sheffield-Stephen Dewey, Silas Kellogg. Middlefield-David Mack, Jun., Esq.

Stockbridge-Joseph Woodbridge. Northampton-Hon. Joseph Lyman, Hon. Samuel

Tyringham-John Garfield, Esq. Hinckley, Ebenezer Hunt, Jun.

Washington--Philip Eames. Norwich-Artemas Knight.

West Stockbridge-Col. Joseph B. Hill. Pelham-Rev. Winthrop Bailey.

Williamstown-Allanson Porter, Stephen HosPlain field-James Richards, Esq.

ford.

Windsor Daniel Dana.
South Hadley-Peter Allen.
Southampton-Luther Edwards. -
Ware_William Bowdoin.

NORFOLK.
Westhampton-Rev. Enoch Hale.

Bellingham-Benjamin Hall. Williamsburg-John Wells.

Brainiree-Rev. Richard S. Storrs. Worthington-Hon. Ezra Starkweather.

Brookline-Hon. Richard Sullivan.

Canton-Jonathan Leonard.
HAMPDEN.

Cohasset-James C. Doane,
Blandford-Enos Boyse, Abner Gibbs.

Dedham-Hon. John Endicott, Hon. James RichBrimfield-Israel E. Trask, John Wyles.

ardson, William Ellis, Esq. Chester-Martin Phelps.

Dorchester-Hon. Perez Morton, Henry Gardner, Granville-Amos Foote.

Thomas Crehore. Holland and South Brimfield-Charles Gardner.

Foxborough-Seth Boyden, Esq. Longmeadow-Calvin Burt.

Franklin-Joseph Bacon, Eli Richardson, Jun. Ludlow-Alfred Flower.

Med field and Dover-Rev. Dr. Daniel C. SaunMonson-Ede Whitaker, Deodatus Dutton.

ders, Montgomery-Oren Parks.

Medway-William Felt. Palmer-Amos Hamilton.

Milton-Barney Smith, Jedediah Atherton. Russell-None.

Needham--Aaron Smith. Southwick-Enos Foote, Joseph Forward.

Quincy-Hon. John Adams, Thomas Greenleaf. Springfield--Hon. George Bliss, Hon. Jonathan

Randolph-Thomas French. Dwight. Jun., Moses Chapin, Oliver B. Morris.

Roxbury-Henry A. S. Dearborn, Ebenezer SeaTolland-Henry Hamilton.

ver, Abijah Draper, Sherman Leland. Westfield-Hon. Samuel Fowler, Jedediah Tay

Sharon-Benjamin Reynolds, Esq. lor, Jesse Farnham.

Stoughton-Samuel Talbott. West Springfield-Luther Frink, Timothy Hor

Walpole-Josse Boyden. ton, James Kent.

Weymouth-Lemuel Humphrey, Noah Torrey. Wilbraham-Abel Bliss, Jun., Luther Stebbins.

Wrentham-Samuel Day,* Allen Tillinghast,

Samuel Bugbee.
FRANKLIN.
Ashfield-Henry Bassett, Levi Cook.

PLYMOUTH.
Bernardston Jonathan Allen.

Abington-Nathan Gurney, Jared Whitman. Buckland-Enos Pomeroy.

Bridgewater-Daniel Howard, Daniel Mitchell, Charlemont-Asahel Judd.

Howard Cary, Zeph Fobes, Colraine-Robert L. McLellan, George Eels.

Carver-Benjamin Ellis. Conway-John Arms.

Duxbury-Rev. John Alleyne, Samuel A. Frazer. * Did not attend.

Halifax-Zedediah Thompson.

Rehoboth-James Bliss, Jeremiah Wheeler, SamHanover Robert Eells.

uel Bullock. Hanson-Calvin Tilden.

Seekonk-Robert Daggett, Joseph Sisson, Jun. Hingham--Rev. Joseph Richardson, Jotham Lin Somerset-David Gray. coln, Jun., Thomas Fearing.

Swansey-Daniel Hale, John Mason. Hull--- None.

Taunton-Jonas Godfrey, James L. Hodges, Thos. Kingston-George B. Holmes.

Lincoln, Nathan Leonard, Robert Dean. Marsh field-Rev. Martin Parris.

Troy-William B. Cannedy.
Middleborough-Hon. Thomas Weston, John Westport-Abner B. Gifford, Tillinghast Almy,
Tinkam, Samuel Pickens, Levi Pierce, Seth Miller, Nathan C. Brownell.
Jun.

Wellington—Thomas S. Baylies, Esq.
Pembroke-David Oldham, Jun.
Plympton-None.

BARNSTABLE.
Plymouth-Barnabas Hedge, John B, Thomas,
Joseph Bartlett, Jun., Benjamin Bramhall, Nathan- Nailer Crocker.

Barnstable-Nymphas Marston, William Lewis, iel M. Davis.

Brewster-Gen. Elijah Cobb. Rochester-Abraham Holmes, Gideon Barstow,

Chatham — Capt. Salathiel Nickerson, Capt. Jun., Philip Crandon. Scituate-Hon. Charles Turner, Jesse Dunbar,

Joseph Young.

Dennis-Oren Howe. John Collamore.

Eastham-Samuel Freeman. Wareham-Benjamin Bourne, Esq.

Falmouth-Thomas Fisk, Braddock Dimmick.

Harwich-None.
BRISTOL

Orleans-Daniel Cumings.
Attleborough-Jabez Newell, Abiathar Richard-

Provincetown-None. son, Jun., Lemuel May.

Sandwich-Russell Freeman, Elisha Pope, Seth

F. Nye.
Berkley-Jabez Fox.
Dartmouth-Hon. Holder Slocum, Elihu Slocum,

Truro-None.
Caleb Anthony.

Wellfleet-Reuben Arey. Dighton-William Wood.

Yarmouth-Elisha Doane, Hon, John Reed. Easton-Shepherd Leach, Esq., Isaac Lathrop,

DUKES.
Alden Spooner,* Thomas Nye.*
Fairhaven-None.

Chilmark-None.
Freetown-Hon. Nathaniel Morton, Jun., Earl

Edgartown—Thomas Cook, Jun.
Sampson,

Tisbury-Shubael Dunham.,
Mansfield-Solomon Pratt.
New Bedford-John A. Parker, James Howland,

NANTUCKET. 20,* Seth Russell, Silas Kempton.

Nantucket - Josiah Hussey, Hezekiah Barnard, Norton-George Walker, Seth Hodges.

Jethro Mitchell, Gideon Folger, William Mitchell, Raynham-Silas Hall.

Barker Burnell. * Did not attend.

IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO.

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE CALLING A CONVENTION OF DELEGATES OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE

CONSTITUTION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assem

bled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : Sect. 1. The inhabitants of the several cities, towns, districts, and places within this Commonwealth, qualified to vote for senators or representatives in the General Court, shall, on the second Monday of November next, at the meetings to be then held in the several cities and towns in the Commonwealth, for the choice of governor, lieutenant-governor, senators and representatives in the General Court, an article for this purpose being inserted in the warrants calling said meetings, give in their votes by ballot on this question:“ Is it expedient that delegates should be chosen to meet in convention for the purpose of revising or altering the constitution of government of this Commonwealth ?” And the vote upon said question shall be in open meeting, and the votes in the several cities and towns in the Commonwealth shall be received, sorted, counted, declared, and transmitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, in the same manner as the votes for governor, lieutenant-governor, and senators are now received, sorted, counted, declared and transmitted by the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth; and all returns not thus made shall be rejected in the counting. And the governor and council shall open and examine the returns, made as aforesaid, and count the votes given on the said question; and the governor shall, by public proclamation, to be made on or before the first Wednesday in January next, make known the result, by declaring the number appearing in favor of choosing delegates for the purpose aforesaid, and the number of votes appearing against the same; and if it shall appear that a majority of the votes given in and returned as aforesaid are in favor of choosing delegates as aforesaid, the same shall be deemed and taken to be the will of the people of the Commonwealth, that a convention should meet accordingly; and in case of such majority, the governor shall call upon the people to elect delegates to meet in convention, in the manner hereinafter provided.

Sect. 2. If it shall be declared by the said proclamation, that the majority of votes, as aforesaid, is in favor of choosing delegates, as above-mentioned, the inhabitants of the several cities and towns within the Commonwealth, now entitled any one year to send one or more representatives to the General Court, shall, on the first Monday of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,

assemble in their several meetings, to be duly notified by warrant from the selectmen of the several towns and the mayor and aldermen of the several cities, and shall elect one or more delegates, not exceeding the number of representatives to which each town or city was entitled last year, it being the year in which the valuation of estates in the Commonwealth was settled, to meet delegates from other towns and cities in convention, for the purposes hereinafter expressed. And at such meetings of the inhabitants, every person entitled to vote for representatives in the General Court, shall have a right to vote in the choice of delegates, and the same officers, in the several cities and towns in the Commonwealth, shall preside at such elections, as now preside in the choice of representatives to the General Court; and the votes for said delegates shall be received, sorted, counted, declared, recorde d, and copies thereof delivered to the delegates chosen, in the same manner as is now provided for in the case of representatives to the General Court. And all laws now in force, regulating the duty and conduct of town and city officers, sheriffs, magistrates, and electors, in the election of governor, lieutenant-governor, senators, and representatives, shall, as far as applicable, apply, and be in full force and operation, as to all meetings holden, and elections and returns made, under this act, or which by this act are required to be holden or made, and upon the like forfeitures and penalties.

Sect. 3. The persons so elected delegates shall meet in convention in the state house, in Boston, on the first Wednesday in May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty three; and they shall be the judges of the returns and elections of their own members, and may adjourn from time to time; and one hundred of the persons elected shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and they shall proceed as soon as may be to organize themselves in convention, by choosing a president and such other officers as they may deem expedient, and by establishing proper rules of proceeding; and when organized, they may take into consideration the propriety and expediency of revising the present constitution of government of this Commonwealth, or the propriety and expediency of making any, and if any, what alterations or amendments, in the present constitution of government of this Commonwealth. And such alterations or amendments, when made and adopted by the said convention, shall be submitted to the people for their ratification and adoption, in such manner as the said convention shall direct; and if ratified by the people in the manner directed by the said convention, the constitution shall be deemed and taken to be altered or amended accordingly; and if not so ratified, the present constitution shall be and remain the constitution of government of this Commonwealth.

Sect. 4. The said convention shall establish the pay or compensation of its officers and members, and the expense of its session; and his excellency the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the council, is authorized to draw his warrant on the treasury therefor.

Sect. 5. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is hereby directed forthwith, after the passage thereof, to transmit printed copies of this act to the selectmen of each town, and the mayor and aldermen of each city within the Commonwealth ; and whenever the governor shall issue his proclamation, calling upon the people to elect delegates, to meet in convention as aforesaid, the said secretary shall also, immediately thereafter, transmit printed copies of said proclamation, attested by himself, to the selectmen of each town, and the mayor and aldermen of each city, in the Commonwealth. (Approved, May 7, 1852.]