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

486 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [irSB.
midable list of grievances paraded before the public. Tliey
proclaimed the sitting of the General Court as one of the
first causes of discontent ; bewailed the want of a circula-
ting medium ; complained of the abuses in the practice of
the law and the exorbitance of the fee table ; arraigned
the existence of the Court of Common Pleas ; denounced
the appropriating of revenues derived from the impost and
excise to the payment of the interest on the securities ;
found fault with the number of state officials and their sal-
aries ; objected to the payment of money to Congress while
our public accounts remained unsettled ; and begged the
people not to resort to unconstitutional or unlawful methods
of redress. Correspondence with other counties was
arranged for and similar gatherings rapidly followed
throughout the State. The earliest response to this appeal
came within a week, when another gathering was had at
Hatfield.
Hatfield Conven- Fifty towus in Hampshire County were rep-
*'°°- resented by delegates at this convention,
held on the 22'' of August. This assembly
was convened in consequence of circular letters from cer-
tain persons in Pelham, who had been in all probability,
members of the Worcester convention. The meeting in
Hatfield was three days in session, and the leading ques-
tions of the day were fully discussed. Upon its action as
upon that of the previous convention held at the same
place four years before, the regulators based their authority
for open rebellion, which speedily followed. Undoubtedly
Northampton was represented in this convention, though
nD'TTames of delegates have come to lightV Having first
voted themselves a constitutional body, they adopted a list
of seventeen grievances.^ First among their heavy burdens
was the Senate, then followed the mode of representation,
the fee table, the method of appropriating the impost
and excise duties, and the existence of courts was not
forgotten. Annexed were several recommendations to the
towns, suggesting that they should instruct their repre-
sentatives to endeavor to have the conclusions of this convention
enacted by the Legislature. Among the recom-
1 For list of grievances and votes, see Minot's Insurrections, pp. 34, 35.