Massachusetts | Ratifying the Constitution in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

Debates, Resolutions and other Proceedings, of the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Convened at Boston, on the 9th of January, 1788, and continued until the 7th of February following, for the purpose of assenting to and ratifying the Constitution recommended by the Grand Federal Convention. Together with The Yeas and Nays on the decision of the Grand Question. To which The Federal Constitution is prefixed. Boston: Printed and sold by Adams and Nourse, in Court-Street; and Benjamin Russell, and Edmund Freeman, in State-Street, 1788

12mo (183 x 115 mm). Browning and spotting, a few primarily marginal closed tears, faint dampstaining to a few leaves, long closed tears to F4, H4, I1, J4 with old tape repairs, top of H2 torn costing one letter, top of I2 torn, more extensive tape repairs to X2, Z1 trimmed and with tape repair, paper flaws to a few leaves, shelfmark in ink to a few leaves. Contemporary brown calf; rebacked to style, rubbed. 

The debates of the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention"The Constitution might well be considered the central document of all American political discourse ... An evolving rather than static document, its text has never left a central place in American political discourse" (Federal).

The struggle to ratify the Constitution can be viewed as the first national, grassroots political campaign in the United States. The differences between the Federalists, who advocated for passage of the new frame of government, and the Anti-Federalists, was significant and ratification was by no means assured. When the Confederation Congress resolved to send the Constitution to the states for ratification on recommendation by the Convention and George Washington himself, they intended it to be voted upon on its face. In Massachusetts, however, Anti-Federalist opposition was significant. In order to mollify their concerns, delegate to the convention Theophilus Parsons added nine amendments, which were presented by John Hancock (dramatically arising from his sick bed to deliver them). Thus, the Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts with the amendments added as a recommendation to "remove the fears, and quiet the apprehensions of many of the good people of this Commonwealth, and more effectually guard against an undue administration of the federal government." Three of these recommendations would become the Fifth, Seventh and Tenth Amendments of Constitution. The sixth state to ratify the Constitution, Massachusetts was the first to suggest amendments, which in turn led directly to the passage of the Bill of Rights.

REFERENCE:

Colonists, Citizens, Constitutions 13; ESTC W36221; Evans 21242; Federal Hundred 21; Liberty's Legacy USC-25; Sabin 45702

PROVENANCE:

Lynn Public Library (bookplate to front pastedown)