Massachusetts | How to trigger a constitutional convention

Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In Senate, February 9, 1795. Whereas the General Court, at their present Session, have ordered Precepts to issue to the Selectmen of the several Towns and Districts … requiring them to convene the qualified Voters … on Wednesday, the sixth Day of May next, for the purpose of collecting their sentiments, on the necessity or expediency of revising the Constitution. … [Boston: Printed by Adams and Larkin, 1795]

Printed broadside, folio (390 x 248 mm). Signed in print by Samuel Phillips, Edward H. Robbins, John Avery, and Samuel Adams; old folds, light browning primarily to top margin and central fold, contemporary ink annotation on verso. In custom slipcase and folding chemise.  

The Massachusetts constitution of 1780 made provisions for its own revision in the year 1795, but it also mandated that such action be submitted to a popular vote first. The present broadside outlines the steps necessary in order to gain public approval for a constitutional convention. In the end, the vote was unfavorable, and a convention was not called.

Scarce. 

REFERENCE:

ESTC W10469; Evans 29038; Ford, Broadsides 2747