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

1780.] MAJOR JOSEPH HAWLEY. 541
him when they would pass through Springfiekl, and he
woukl endeavor to meet them there, although he should be
compelled to "wait two or three days for it." Failing to
meet the delegates, as they did not pass through Spring-
field, he wrote again to Mr. Adams about the position of
affairs, offering for the consideration of himself and colleagues
certain propositions, which he denominated " Broken
Hints." This document was placed before the delegation,
and by them presented to the prominent men from
other colonies. When the contents of that paper were
made known to Patrick Henry, and he heard the sentiment,
"Fight we must finally unless Britain retreats,'' he
exclaimed, " By G—d, I am of that man's mind."
Major Hawiey De- The services of Major Hawley in the halls
ciines all Office. of legislation closed with his duties in the
Provincial Congress. Not again was he a
member of the House, and he steadily declined all further
political honor. In 1780, he was chosen a member of the
Massachusetts Senate. He declined the position, and ad-
dressed a letter to that body stating his reasons therefor.
His principal objection seemed to be an unwillingness to
take the oath of office required of its members. ^ Soon after
he was chosen a member of the Council of Massachusetts,
but he declined that position also.
Impaired Health Re- While Major Hawleyou high moral
sponsible for much ground resolved never to accept any office
of his Effacement i j />
of Self. or emolument from any government, it
may also be believed that the state of his
health had much to do with his unwillingness to burden
himself with official responsibility. In fact, his unfortunate
infirmity seems to have dominated his whole career.
In one of his letters, previously quoted, he alludes to a cer-
tain trouble that unfitted him for active military service.
But during the intervals of freedom from his malady of
mind, he entered heartily into the work of sustaining the
1 "The Massachusetts constitution of 1780 compelled every member of its Legislature
on takinp: his seat to subscribe a declaration that he believed the Christian
religion. This regulation Joseph Hawley, who had been elected to the first Senate
of Massachusetts, in a letter to that body, sternly condemned. * * * He called
to mind that the founders of Massachusetts while church membership was their condition
for granting the privilege of an elector, never suffered a profession of the
Christian religion to be made before a temporal court."— Bancroft, vol. 6, p. 155.