| Endsheet Map: “Massachusetts Towns Vote on the Constitution” |
|
| Half Title Page |
pg.i |
| Title Page |
pg.iii |
| Copyright Page |
pg.iv |
| Dedication |
pg.v |
| Editorial Advisory Committee |
pg.vi |
| Contents |
pg.vii |
| Acknowledgments |
pg.xv |
| Organization |
pg.xvii |
| Editorial Procedures |
pg.xix |
| General Ratification Chronology, 1786-1791 |
pg.xx |
| Calendar for the Years 1787-1788 |
pg.xxiii |
| Introduction |
pg.xxiv |
| Note on Sources |
pg.xlix |
| Symbols |
pg.lxvi |
| Massachusetts Chronology, 1773-1790 |
pg.lxx |
| Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1787-1788 |
pg.lxxiv |
| I. The Debate over the Constitution 5 September-25 October 1787 |
| Introduction |
pg.3 |
| Numa: Political and Moral Entertainment VII, Hampshire Gazette, 5 September |
pg.7 |
| Elbridge Gerry in the Constitutional Convention, 12-17 September |
pg.13 |
| Speech in the Constitutional Convention, Saturday, 15 September |
pg.14 |
| Speech in the Constitutional Convention, Saturday, 17 September |
pg.15 |
| Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, New York, 20 September |
pg.16 |
| Mercy Warren to Abigail Adams, Milton, 22 September |
pg.16 |
| James Sullivan to Rufus King, Boston, 23 September |
pg.16 |
| Thomas Dwight to Nathan Dane, Springfield, 25 September |
pg.17 |
| § Editors' Note: The Publication of the Constitution in Massachusetts 25 September 1787-9 January 1788 |
pg.18 |
| James Sullivan to Rufus King, Boston, 28 September |
pg.21 |
| Mercy Warren to Catherine Macaulay Graham, Milton, 28 September |
pg.22 |
| Jeremy Belknap to Ebenezer Hazard, Boston, 29 September |
pg.23 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 29 September |
pg.24 |
| A True American, Massachusetts Centinel, 29 September |
pg.24 |
| Nathaniel Ames Diary, Dedham, 30 September |
pg.25 |
| Thomas L. Winthrop to Joseph Winthrop, Boston, 30 September |
pg.26 |
| From Henry Knox, New York, September |
pg.26 |
| American Herald, 1 October |
pg.28 |
| Cassius, Massachusetts Gazette, 2 October |
pg.30 |
| William Bentley Diary, Salem, 3 October |
pg.32 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 3 October |
pg.33 |
| Essex Journal, 3, 17, and 24 October |
pg.33 |
| A Correspondent, 3 October |
pg.34 |
| Another, 17 October |
pg.34 |
| A Parody, 24 October |
pg.35 |
| Worcester Magazine, 4 October |
pg.35 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 4 October |
pg.36 |
| David, Independent Chronicle, 4 October |
pg.36 |
| Observator, Independent Chronicle, 4 October |
pg.38 |
| The Boston Press and the Constitution, 4 October-22 December |
pg.41 |
| Independent Chronicle, 4 October |
pg.44 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 10 October |
pg.44 |
| American Herald, 15 October |
pg.45 |
| A Citizen, Massachusetts Gazette, 16 October |
pg.45 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 16 October |
pg.46 |
| Benjamin Russell to Eleazer Oswald Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 4 December |
pg.46 |
| American Herald, 17 December |
pg.48 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 22 December |
pg.49 |
| William Cranch to John Quincy Adams, Boston, 5 October |
pg.50 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 5 October |
pg.52 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 6 October |
pg.52 |
| The Grand Constitution, Massachusetts Centinel, 6 October |
pg.56 |
| Christopher Gore to Rufus King, Boston, 7 October |
pg.57 |
| James Madison to Edmund Randolph, New York, 7 October |
pg.58 |
| Joshua B. Osgood to George Thatcher, Brownfield, 8 October |
pg.58 |
| Hartford American Mercury, 8 October |
pg.59 |
| Chesterfield Town Meeting: Instructions to Representative, 9 October |
pg.59 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 9 October |
pg.61 |
| Nathan Dane to Caleb Strong, New York, 10 October |
pg.62 |
| Henry Van Schaack to Caleb Strong, Pittsfield, 10 October |
pg.63 |
| Jonathan Williams, Sr., to Benjamin Franklin, Boston, 10 October |
pg.65 |
| "A,'' Essex Journal, 10 October |
pg.65 |
| William Heath Diary, Roxbury, 11 October |
pg.67 |
| John Quincy Adams Diary, Newburyport, 12 October |
pg.67 |
| John Quincy Adams Diary, Newburyport, 13 October |
pg.68 |
| Francis Dana to Rufus King, Cambridge, 13 October |
pg.68 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 13 October |
pg.68 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 13 October |
pg.71 |
| John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, Newburyport, 14 October |
pg.72 |
| American Herald, 15 October |
pg.75 |
| Harrington, American Herald, 15 October |
pg.76 |
| Boston Gazette, 15 October |
pg.80 |
| Boston Gazette, 15 October |
pg.80 |
| John Quincy Adams Diary, Haverhill, 17 October |
pg.81 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 17 October |
pg.81 |
| One of the People, Massachusetts Centinel, 17 October |
pg.82 |
| Ship News, 17 October-24 November |
pg.86 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 17 October |
pg.86 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 19 October |
pg.86 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 20 October |
pg.88 |
| Independent Chronicle, 25 October |
pg.89 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 30 October |
pg.89 |
| Independent Chronicle, 1 November |
pg.90 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 9 November |
pg.91 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.92 |
| Elbridge Gerry to James Warren, New York, 18 October |
pg.93 |
| Elbridge Gerry to the General Court, New York, 18 October |
pg.94 |
| Samuel Henshaw to Henry Van Schaack, Northampton, 18 October |
pg.100 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 18 October |
pg.101 |
| Solon, Independent Chronicle, 18 October |
pg.102 |
| The Worcester Speculator V, Worcester Magazine, 18 October |
pg.104 |
| Elisha May to David Daggett, Attleborough, 19 October |
pg.107 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 21 October |
pg.109 |
| John De Witt I, American Herald, 22 October |
pg.109 |
| William Lyman to Joseph Clarke, Boston, 23 October |
pg.113 |
| Lycurgus, Massachusetts Gazette, 23 October |
pg.114 |
| § Editors' Note: The Massachusetts Reprinting of the Address of the Seceding Assemblymen of the Pennsylvania Assembly, 23 October-8 November |
pg.115 |
| Monitor, Hampshire Gazette, 24 October |
pg.116 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 24 October |
pg.119 |
| "W. X.,'' Massachusetts Centinel, 24 October |
pg.120 |
| § Editors' Note: The Massachusetts Reprinting of James Wilson's Speech of 6 October Before a Philadelphia Public Meeting, 24 October-15 November |
pg.120 |
| Ezekiel, Independent Chronicle, 25 October |
pg.122 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 25 October |
pg.123 |
| II. Massachusetts Calls a State Convention 18-25 October 1787 |
| Introduction |
pg.124 |
| Senate Proceedings, Thursday, 18 October |
pg.126 |
| House Proceedings, Thursday, 18 October |
pg.126 |
| Governor John Hancock to the General Court, 18 October |
pg.126 |
| Newspaper Commentaries on Governor John Hancock's Speech of 18 October |
pg.127 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 20 October |
pg.127 |
| American Herald, 22 October |
pg.127 |
| Pennsylvania Herald, 31 October |
pg.128 |
| Examiner, Hampshire Gazette, 21 November |
pg.128 |
| Senate Proceedings, Friday, 19 October |
pg.129 |
| House Proceedings, Friday, 19 October |
pg.130 |
| Report of the Joint Committee with Senate and House Amendments 19-25 October |
pg.130 |
| Senate Proceedings, Saturday, 20 October, Newspaper Reports of the Senate Proceedings of 19-20 October, Boston Gazette, 22 October |
pg.133 |
| American Herald, 22 October |
pg.134 |
| House Proceedings, Wednesday, 24 October |
pg.134 |
| Newspaper Reports of the House Proceedings and Debates of 24 October |
pg.135 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 27 October |
pg.135 |
| Independent Chronicle, 25 October |
pg.139 |
| Private Commentaries on the House Proceedings and Debates of 24 October |
pg.142 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Henry Knox, Boston, 25 October |
pg.142 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 28 October |
pg.142 |
| Senate Proceedings, Thursday, 25 October |
pg.143 |
| House Proceedings, Thursday, 25 October |
pg.143 |
| Senate Proceedings, Thursday, 25 October |
pg.143 |
| Resolutions Calling the State Convention, 25 October |
pg.143 |
| Governor John Hancock: Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving Boston, 25 October |
pg.146 |
| The General Court Receives Elbridge Gerry's Letter, 31 October-2 November |
pg.148 |
| Senate Proceedings, Wednesday, 31 October |
pg.148 |
| House Proceedings, Thursday, 1 November |
pg.148 |
| House Proceedings, Friday, 2 November |
pg.148 |
| III. The Debate over the Constitution in Massachusetts 28 October 1787-12 February 1788 |
| Introduction |
pg.149 |
| Rufus King to Henry Knox, Boston, 28 October |
pg.155 |
| From Theodore Sedgwick, Boston, 28 October |
pg.156 |
| John De Witt II, American Herald, 29 October |
pg.156 |
| Lycurgus, American Herald, 29 October |
pg.161 |
| A Dialogue Between Mr. Schism and Mr. Cutbrush, Boston Gazette, 29 October |
pg.162 |
| Boston Gazette, 29 October |
pg.166 |
| William Frost to George Thatcher, York, 30 October |
pg.167 |
| § Editors' Note: Nathaniel Gorham to Benjamin Franklin, Boston, 30 October |
pg.168 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Henry Knox, Boston, 30 October |
pg.168 |
| Vox Populi, Massachusetts Gazette, 30 October |
pg.168 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 30 October |
pg.171 |
| Salem Mercury, 30 October |
pg.173 |
| Henry Gibbs to Simeon Baldwin, Salem, 31 October |
pg.174 |
| Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, Boston, 31 October |
pg.174 |
| Essex Journal, 31 October |
pg.175 |
| Hampshire Gazette, 31 October |
pg.175 |
| A Dialogue Between Mr. Z and Mr. &, Massachusetts Centinel, 31 October |
pg.176 |
| Responses to An Old Whig I, Massachusetts Centinel, 31 October |
pg.179 |
| Poplicola |
pg.180 |
| Examiner |
pg.182 |
| A Correspondent |
pg.183 |
| Response to a Late Writer |
pg.183 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 31 October |
pg.184 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 31 October |
pg.184 |
| Henry Van Schaack to David Van Schaack, Pittsfield, c. 31 October |
pg.185 |
| Rufus King and Nathaniel Gorham: Response to Elbridge Gerry's Objections post-31 October |
pg.186 |
| Isaiah, Independent Chronicle, 1 November |
pg.190 |
| Henry Warren to Henry Van Schaack, Plymouth, 2 November |
pg.191 |
| Examiner, Massachusetts Gazette, 2 November |
pg.192 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 3 November |
pg.192 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 5 November |
pg.193 |
| John De Witt III, American Herald, 5 November |
pg.194 |
| A Federalist, Boston Gazette, 5 November |
pg.199 |
| Vox Populi, Massachusetts Gazette, 6 November |
pg.200 |
| Essex Journal, 7 November |
pg.202 |
| A Dialogue Between Mr. Z and Mr. &, Massachusetts Centinel, 7 November |
pg.202 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 7 November |
pg.204 |
| "A. B.,'' Massachusetts Centinel, 7 November |
pg.205 |
| Observator, Independent Chronicle, 8 November |
pg.206 |
| Independent Chronicle, 8 November |
pg.208 |
| Independent Chronicle, 8 November |
pg.208 |
| Worcester Magazine, 8 November |
pg.209 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 9 November |
pg.210 |
| Examiner, Massachusetts Gazette, 9 November |
pg.211 |
| John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, London, 10 November |
pg.212 |
| Thomas a Kempis, Massachusetts Centinel, 10 November |
pg.212 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 10 November |
pg.212 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 10 November |
pg.213 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 10 November |
pg.214 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 11 November |
pg.215 |
| Portius, American Herald, 12 November |
pg.216 |
| Union, Boston Gazette, 12 November |
pg.220 |
| Boston Gazette, 12 November |
pg.221 |
| Vox Populi, Massachusetts Gazette, 13 November |
pg.222 |
| Hanno, Massachusetts Gazette, 13 November |
pg.225 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 13 November |
pg.227 |
| "A. B.'' to Elbridge Gerry, Massachusetts Centinel, 14 November |
pg.227 |
| A Friend for Liberty, Massachusetts Centinel, 14 November |
pg.231 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 14 November |
pg.231 |
| Truth: Disadvantages of Federalism, Upon the New Plan, Boston, 14-24 November |
pg.232 |
| Truth, Boston, 14 November |
pg.233 |
| Thomas a Kempis, Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.233 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.233 |
| A Bostonian, Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.234 |
| Truth, Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.234 |
| Thomas Smith to John Dolbeare, 15 November |
pg.235 |
| William Symmes, Jr., to Peter Osgood, Jr., Andover, 15 November |
pg.236 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 15 November |
pg.245 |
| Consideration, Independent Chronicle, 15 November |
pg.247 |
| Worcester Speculator VII, Worcester Magazine, 15 November |
pg.248 |
| Elbridge Gerry to John Wendell, Cambridge, 16 November |
pg.251 |
| Vox Populi, Massachusetts Gazette, 16 November |
pg.251 |
| Cato's Soliloquy Parodied, Massachusetts Gazette, 16 November |
pg.254 |
| Cassius I, Massachusetts Gazette, 16 November |
pg.256 |
| One of the People, Massachusetts Centinel, 17 November |
pg.259 |
| Federalist, Massachusetts Centinel, 17 November |
pg.262 |
| An American: The Crisis, Massachusetts Centinel, 17 November |
pg.263 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 18 November |
pg.264 |
| John De Witt IV, American Herald, 19 November |
pg.265 |
| George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in the Constitutional Convention Boston, 19-21 November |
pg.271 |
| American Herald, 19 November |
pg.272 |
| American Herald, 19 November |
pg.272 |
| American Herald, 19 November |
pg.273 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.273 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.273 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.273 |
| Boston Gazette, 19 November |
pg.274 |
| Public Creditors and the Constitution, Boston, 19 November |
pg.276 |
| Lycurgus, Boston Gazette, 19 November |
pg.276 |
| American Herald, 19 November |
pg.277 |
| "A. B.'': Lessons from the Book of Samuel, Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.278 |
| Examiner, Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.279 |
| Candor, Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.280 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.281 |
| George Mason and the Constitution, 20 November-3 December |
pg.282 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 20 November |
pg.283 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.284 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.284 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.284 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 28 November |
pg.284 |
| Candor, American Herald, 3 December |
pg.284 |
| Prudental, American Herald, 3 December |
pg.285 |
| George Mason's Objections to the Constitution, 21 November-19 December |
pg.287 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.288 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 19 December |
pg.290 |
| Joseph Savage to Samuel P. Savage, Springfield, 21 November |
pg.291 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 21 November |
pg.291 |
| Essex Journal, 21 November |
pg.292 |
| Monitor, Hampshire Gazette, 21 November |
pg.293 |
| Thomas B. Wait to George Thatcher, Portland, 22 November |
pg.295 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 22 November |
pg.296 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 22 November |
pg.296 |
| Atticus III, Independent Chronicle, 22 November |
pg.296 |
| The Worcester Speculator VIII, Worcester Magazine, 22 November |
pg.300 |
| § Editors' Note: The Massachusetts Reprinting of the Brutus Essays 22 November 1787-8 May 1788 |
pg.301 |
| Agrippa I, Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.303 |
| Cassius II, Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.306 |
| Vox Populi, Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.309 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 23 November |
pg.312 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.315 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.316 |
| Propriety, Massachusetts Centinel, 24 November |
pg.316 |
| Christopher Gore to George Thatcher, Boston, 25 November |
pg.317 |
| Henry Jackson to Henry Knox, Boston, 25 November |
pg.317 |
| William Cranch to John Quincy Adams, Braintree, 26 November |
pg.318 |
| A Federalist, Boston Gazette, 26 November |
pg.320 |
| Agrippa II, Massachusetts Gazette, 27 November |
pg.322 |
| Cassius III, Massachusetts Gazette, 27 November |
pg.325 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 27 November |
pg.326 |
| Cotton Tufts to John Adams, Weymouth, 28 November |
pg.326 |
| Cato, Essex Journal, 28 November |
pg.327 |
| One of the Middling-Interest, Massachusetts Centinel, 28 November |
pg.328 |
| Valerius, Massachusetts Centinel, 28 November |
pg.333 |
| Jonathan Sayward Diary, York, 29 November |
pg.335 |
| Virginia Journal, 29 November |
pg.335 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 30 November |
pg.335 |
| An American, Independent Chronicle, 30 November |
pg.337 |
| Cassius IV, Massachusetts Gazette, 30 November |
pg.338 |
| Cassius V, Massachusetts Gazette, 30 November |
pg.339 |
| Agrippa III, Massachusetts Gazette, 30 November |
pg.342 |
| John Quincy Adams Diary, Newburyport, 1 December |
pg.344 |
| Mentor, Massachusetts Centinel, 1 December |
pg.344 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 1 December |
pg.346 |
| Cincinnatus, Massachusetts Centinel, 1 December |
pg.347 |
| Benjamin Lincoln to Fran;alcois de Fleury, Boston, 2 December |
pg.348 |
| Samuel Adams to Richard Henry Lee, Boston, 3 December |
pg.349 |
| John De Witt V, American Herald, 3 December |
pg.351 |
| The Monitor, American Herald, 3 December |
pg.358 |
| American Herald, 3 December |
pg.359 |
| A Federalist, Boston Gazette, 3 December |
pg.360 |
| Boston Gazette, 3 December |
pg.362 |
| One of the Common People, Boston Gazette, 3 December |
pg.367 |
| The Massachusetts Printing of Benjamin Franklin's Last Speech in the Constitutional Convention, 3-18 December |
pg.369 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Benjamin Franklin, Boston, 30 October |
pg.371 |
| Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Gorham, Philadelphia, 14 November |
pg.371 |
| Benjamin Franklin's Speech, Boston Gazette, 3 December |
pg.372 |
| "Z,'' Independent Chronicle, 6 December |
pg.373 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 6 December |
pg.375 |
| A Federalist, Boston Gazette, 10 December |
pg.375 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 14 December |
pg.376 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Benjamin Franklin, Charlestown, 15 December |
pg.377 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 18 December |
pg.378 |
| Clito, Massachusetts Gazette, 18 December |
pg.378 |
| Boston Gazette, 3 December |
pg.380 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Henry Knox, Charlestown, 4 December |
pg.380 |
| Agrippa IV, Massachusetts Gazette, 4 December |
pg.381 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 4 December |
pg.383 |
| Theodore Sedgwick to Henry Van Schaack, Stockbridge, 5 December |
pg.384 |
| One of the Middle-Interest, Massachusetts Centinel, 5 December |
pg.385 |
| John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, London, 6 December |
pg.389 |
| Oliver Phelps to Elbridge Gerry, Granville, 6 December |
pg.390 |
| Cumberland Gazette, 6 December |
pg.391 |
| Candidus I, Independent Chronicle, 6 December |
pg.392 |
| An American, Independent Chronicle, 6 December |
pg.399 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 7 December |
pg.400 |
| John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, Newburyport, 8 December |
pg.400 |
| Jeremy Belknap to Ebenezer Hazard, Boston, 8 December |
pg.402 |
| Philo Publius, Massachusetts Centinel, 8 December |
pg.403 |
| "O,'' Massachusetts Centinel, 8 December |
pg.404 |
| Thomas a Kempis, Massachusetts Centinel, 8 December |
pg.405 |
| American Herald, 10 December |
pg.405 |
| Definitions |
pg.405 |
| A Correspondent |
pg.406 |
| Question |
pg.406 |
| Legion |
pg.406 |
| Agrippa V, Massachusetts Gazette, 11 December |
pg.406 |
| Massachusetts Gazette, 11 December |
pg.409 |
| Cornelius, Hampshire Chronicle, 11, 18 December |
pg.410 |
| Thomas a Kempis, Massachusetts Centinel, 12 December |
pg.418 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 12 December |
pg.418 |
| § Editors' Note: The Massachusetts Reprinting of James Wilson's 24 November Speech to the Pennsylvania Convention, 12-27 December |
pg.419 |
| Theodore Sedgwick to Henry Van Schaack, Stockbridge, 13 December |
pg.421 |
| James Madison to Archibald Stuart, New York, 14 December |
pg.422 |
| Cassius VI, Massachusetts Gazette, 14 December |
pg.423 |
| Agrippa VI, Massachusetts Gazette, 14 December |
pg.426 |
| Thomas a Kempis, Massachusetts Centinel, 15 December |
pg.428 |
| Massachusetts Centinel, 15 December |
pg.429 |
| Nathaniel Gorham to Henry Knox, Charlestown, 16 December |
pg.429 |
| American Herald, 17 December |
pg.430 |
| "B,'' Boston Gazette, 17 December |
pg.431 |
| Biographical Gazetteer |
pg.432 |
| Appendices |
| I. The Massachusetts Constitution: Preamble and Declaration of Rights |
pg.440 |
| II. Massachusetts Appoints Delegates to the Constitutional Convention 2 October 1786-9 April 1787 |
pg.446 |
| III. The Constitution of the United States |
pg.463 |
