that a special convention should be called to draw up such an important document; others that it was wiser to wait for more tranquil times; some objected that no bill of rights had been inserted; others that there was not a proper separation of the executive and the legislative functions.[1] Many of the ablest men, too, were away from the State, attending the Continental Congress.
Continuance of the Agitation
On the rejection of this constitution the agitation throughout the colony started anew. There was almost open rebellion, the illegal nature of the existing government being given as a reason. Some of the officers were still royalists and this intensified the feeling against the courts. The Reverend Mr. Allen of Pittsfield was a leader. A petition to the General Court was drawn up, in which objections were made to the debtors' law and the assumption of power by the General Court. The localities wanted to elect their own judges. Courts were repeatedly prevented from sitting. The towns to a great extent ran things themselves. The towns in several cases (Pittsfield, Lenox and Hancock), voted that they were not bound to obey State laws. Threats of separation were made. The State government was practically suspended. In Berkshire they petitioned for a constitutional convention, suggesting that "if this honorable court are for dismembering, there are other States, which
- ↑ "We see also something of the political character of a Hill Town in the suggestions which Warwick makes to its representative. They desire that the Legislature shall consist of one chamber (one of the coast towns was about the same time instructing its members to make sure that there were two chambers) that each town shall have one member, towns of the largest class not more than 4 or 5, the rest in proportion, that suffrage shall be universal, that a town shall have the right to recall its member at any time on evidence of misconduct, and that at no time shall less than 80 members constitute a house." (Jameson, Introduction to the History of the States, p. 25.)
