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

484 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1786.
with a hatred that grew by what it fed on, and was bitter
and deep-seated. With the revival of the machinery of
the law, which had been to some extent thrust aside during
the struggle for liberty, lawyers became the most prosperous
among the professional classes. Debts had multi-
plied to an enormous extent, everywhere the law was invoked
to enforce payment, and the attorneys were coining
money. The demand had increased the supply much beyond
the ordinary number, and they soon became a shining
mark for the vengeance of the discontented. This jealousy
against lawyers prevailed throughout the state . They
were denounced in the strongest terms of reproach, the
press was used to vilify them and they were regarded as
rogues, rascals, and thieves, and to them was attributed the
largest share of the ills under which the country groaned.
Pointed out as the class to be abolished, the electors were
strongly urged to leave them out of office, and to instruct
their representatives to annihilate them. These sentiments
prevailed to such an extent throughout the state, that law-
yers were very generally omitted from the role of legislators
chosen in 1786. Much seems to have been anticipated from
this onset upon the legal fraternity, but the malcontents were
greatly disappointed in the results of legislative action.
The lower house passed a bill regulating the practice of
the law as well as the fee list, but the Senate refused to
concur, postponing its consideration to the next session.
Then the House refused to act upon a petition from Bristol
County for an emission of paper money, and the popular
plan of making real and personal estate a tender at an appraisement
in discharge of executions, was also defeated.
After having negatived these and some other matters of
legislation demanded by the disaffected, the Legislature
adjourned early in July. ^
Conventions again Failing to Carry out their propositions in
Resorted to. tlic General Court, the reformers or "regulators,"
as they styled themselves, sought
.to compass their ends by means of county conventions.
The rapidity with which these meetings followed each other
points to a preconcerted plan to excite tlie people to the
1 Minot's Insurrections, pp. 20-32.