UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONBiblio.com
Debates Resolutions and other Proceedings of the Convention
1788ref. 69689Boston: Adams and Nourse 1788. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. First edition of the proceedings leading to the Massachusetts Compromise being the ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the sixth of the needed nine States. Octavo in fours 7 1/8 x 4 1/2 inches; 180 x 115 mm. 219 1 blank pp. An early printing of the proposed Constitution appears on pages 3-19. Contemporary full speckled sheep. Boards scuffed and worn. Front outer hinge is cracked but holding firm. Without front free endpaper. Leaf U2 with one-inch closed tear no loss. Leaves are foxed and toned as usual for American paper of this time. Still overall a very good copy. Housed in a custom brown quarter calf clamshell. "Getting approval for the new Constitution was no small feat. Anti-federalists feared that the Constitution would over-centralize government and restrict individual liberties. They demanded changes and a Bill of Rights to guarantee personal freedoms. Federalists on the other hand argued that states should accept the proposed Constitution without further changes. When these opposing views clashed in Massachusetts an agreement- known as the Massachusetts Compromise- was brokered by two famous local statesmen John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Under it Massachusetts ratified the Constitution becoming the sixth U.S. state while also proposing future amendments including a Bill of Rights. The Massachusetts Compromise was used as a model by other states to reach similar agreements. Without it the U.S. Constitution may never have been ratified at all." from Bridgewater State University "Although the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia finished their work in September 1787 a ratification process of many months remained ahead before the Constitution could become the system of government for the new country. For this to happen at least 9 of the 13 states had to approve the document and Massachusetts was at the crux of that lineup. In January 1788 the Massachusetts convention met in the Old State House to address the matter; at that time Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey Georgia and Connecticut had already ratified the Constitution. The remaining states watched the proceedings in Boston closely anticipating a close vote that could fall either way. Massachusetts had the largest convention of any state and a fundamental disagreement divided the 364 delegates: Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution as written; Anti-Federalists held that a centralized government would concentrate power in the hands of the elite and lead to the dissolution of the democratic ideals espoused during the Revolution. The turning point in the debate in Boston came when Gov. John Hancock proposed that Massachusetts recommend several amendments to the Constitution including a Bill of Rights. This proposal effectively gave voice to many of the Anti-Federalist concerns and after Revolutionary leader Samuel Adams spoke in favor of Hancock's "conciliatory proposition" a sufficient number of delegates shifted their positions to approve ratification. Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution on February 6 1788 by a vote of 187 to 168. In June when New Hampshire came on board as the ninth state to ratify adoption of the Constitution was guaranteed. Its formal enactment on April 30 1789 coincided with George Washington's inauguration as the first president of the United States." Massachusetts Historical Society "In Massachusetts anti-federalist opposition to the Constitution was significant. In order to mollify their concerns convention delegate Theophilus Parsons added nine amendments which were presented by John Hancock. 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 the 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." Freemans Evans 21242. Sabin 45702. HBS 69689. $5000. Adams and Nourse unknown
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