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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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1779] REVOLUTION—CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 427<br />

The Second and At tliG Jauuary sessioii a constitution was<br />

Third Sessions. prepared, which together with an address<br />

to the people, was pr<strong>in</strong>ted and circulated<br />

throughout the state. In March the convention once more<br />

adjourned till June, when it aga<strong>in</strong> assembled to canvass the<br />

verdict <strong>of</strong> the people upon <strong>its</strong> work. This session lasted<br />

about n<strong>in</strong>e days when the convention dissolved, hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

made certa<strong>in</strong> amendments demanded by the people, and<br />

hav<strong>in</strong>g submitted the new constitution to the Legislature.<br />

Hon. Caleb Strong took an important part <strong>in</strong> the conven-<br />

tion. He was a member <strong>of</strong> the committee to draft the constitution<br />

and declaration <strong>of</strong> rights, and he was prom<strong>in</strong>ent<br />

<strong>in</strong> the discussion <strong>of</strong> the many questions under debate.<br />

Expenses <strong>of</strong> the For the session <strong>in</strong> January, each delegate<br />

Delegates. presented an itemized bill <strong>of</strong> expenditures,<br />

which was allowed and paid by the town<br />

treasurer. In both there were charges for lodg<strong>in</strong>g, horse<br />

keep<strong>in</strong>g, shav<strong>in</strong>g, etc., especially the latter item, which<br />

was generally appended to the item for lodg<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />

town voted to pay 'the delegates 48s. ($8) per day for<br />

attendance. Mr. Strong charged that amount for eightytwo<br />

days' attendance, and Mr. Wright the same for fiftyone<br />

days' services. The aggregate bill presented by the<br />

former was £354.7, while that <strong>of</strong> Mr. Wright amounted to<br />

£311.17.1<br />

In June, Mr. Wright received an order on the town<br />

treasurer for '<br />

' four hundred eighty pounds currency to<br />

enable him to attend the approach<strong>in</strong>g convention for mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a constitutional government." On the back <strong>of</strong> this<br />

document is the endorsement, "Mr. Wright returned<br />

£2.16."<br />

The Constitution At the April meet<strong>in</strong>g " The Town then took<br />

comes before the<br />

Town<br />

juto Consideration the Plan <strong>of</strong> the Constitution<br />

and Form <strong>of</strong> Government sent out<br />

by the Convention appo<strong>in</strong>ted for that purpose, and after<br />

hear<strong>in</strong>g the same dist<strong>in</strong>ctly read chose a committee <strong>of</strong> seven<br />

Carefully and Maturely to Consider the s'd Plan & to report<br />

to the Town at this meet<strong>in</strong>g what they Judge proper<br />

1 For copy <strong>of</strong> Mr. Wright's account see Appendix.

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