the diffusion of useful knowledge; and to establish and preserve an honorable reputation in literature and morals in this community.

We have, however, thought it proper, with the consent and approbation of the corporation and overseers of the University, to propose to you, that the constitution should be so amended as to make ministers of the gospel, of any denomination, eligible to the. office of overseers.

For further illustration of this interesting subject, we beg leave to refer to the report of the committee, which was read in Convention, and ordered to be published.*

INCORPORATION OF CITIES.

It appeared to us, that it would be convenient, and proper, that towns containing more than twelve thousand inhabitants, should, on application of their qualified voters, by petition to the Legislature, be incorporated with municipal or city powers and privileges. Without such powers and privileges the inhabitants of such towns must continue to vote in one meeting, however numerous they may become. This is already found to be an inconvenience in two towns, for the removal of which, provision ought to be made. Under the limitations and restrictions which we have provided, we can see no reason why the power to incorporate, should not be vested in the Legislature. And we therefore recommend an alteration of the constitution, so as to effect this purpose.

PROVISION FOR FUTURE AMENDMENTS.

It may be necessary, that specific amendments of the constitution should hereafter be made. The preparatory measures in assembling a Convention, and the necessary expense of such an assembly, are obstacles of some magnitude, to obtaining amendments through such means; we propose that whenever two thirds of the house of representatives, and a majority of the senate in two successive Legislatures, shall determine that any specific amendment of the constitution is expedient, such proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people; and if accepted by the people, the constitution shall be amended accordingly. We believe that the constitution will be sufficiently guarded from inexpedient alterations, while all those which are found to be necessary, will be duly considered and may be obtained with comparatively small expense.

MODE OF SUBMITTING AMENDMENTS.

We have determined that it is not expedient to make a new draft of the constitution; we believe it would be more acceptable to you, to see the proposed amendments separately. We therefore send them to you in this manner; and numbered successively; and accompanied by a form, in which assent or dissent may be easily expressed, and made known.

You will perceive that if the amendments are adopted, the amended constitution will go into operation on the fourth day of

*[Pages 527-532 of this volume.]

July, in the present year; and that the first elections will take place on the second Monday of November next; and that the state officers then chosen will commence their official duties on the first Wednesday of January, next following.

After due deliberation, we have decided that it is most expedient and proper that a large Committee of the Convention shall be in session on the fourth Wednesday of May next, to receive the returns from the several towns; and that this committee shall examine the returns, and certify the result to the governor, and to the Legislature, which will be in session on and after the last Wednesday of May next. The Legislature will then declare to the people, in such manner as the Legislature may see fit, the will of the people on the amendments, which we submit to them.

We think this, fellow-citizens, a proper occasion to allude to those grateful sentiments which we feel in common with yourselves for the blessings which have been experienced in this highly favored community.

That pious, virtuous, well-informed men should have been inspired to seek a home on these shores, and should have been supported in all the perils inseparable from their enterprise; that their intelligence, and manly virtues, should have been transmitted through successive generations to descendants, who dared to will and to effect a termination of all political connection with a powerful kingdom; and these descendants should have been able, in the midst of war and of civil dissention, to establish a republic so wisely balanced, as to accomplish every rational and beneficent purpose which they had in view, are subjects which come to our recollection, at this time, with peculiar interest. We do feel, and it becomes us to acknowledge, that we are a favored and a happy people in our national and domestic relations;-and especially that while so much of the civilized world is struggling with serious and fearful difficulties, it is permitted to this community, peaceably to assemble, and to deliberate, and decide on the best means of securing and perpetuating social benefits and unquestioned rights.

Among the duties of gratitude is that of showing, that we are worthy of these blessings, by conscientiously preserving them; among the obligations which are inseparably connected with these blessings, is that of transmitting them, to those who are to come, as faithfully, as they have been guarded for us.

In Convention, Jan. 9, 1821-read and accepted.

A true copy,

ISAAC PARKER, President.

Attest, BENJ. POLLARD, Secretary.

APPENDIX.

amendments submitted to them. The result of the ballotting was as follows: districts, on Monday, April 9th, 1821, and voted upon the fourteen the Convention, the people assembled in their respective towns and In accordance with the second of the resolves finally adopted by

Statement of the Votes For and Against the Articles of Amendment, in the several Counties.

From the towns of Chesterfield, New Ashford, Florida and Randolph, there was no return. The returns from Longmeadow, Saugus and Provincetown, were informal. The returns of these towns, if accepted, would not have varied the result. Longmeadow gave a majority of 28 in favor of the fourth article, Saugus a majority of 25 against it, and Provincetown a majority in favor of it.

In accordance with the third of the resolves, the committee of the Convention met at the State House, on Wednesday, May 24th, 1821, and examined the votes returned for and against each of the articles of amendment. They submitted the following report of their doings:

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

In the Senate Chamber, May 24th, 1821. The committee appointed by the Convention of the Delegates of the people of Massachusetts, held in Boston, on the third Wednesday of November, A. D. 1820, for the purpose of revising and amending the constitution of said Commonwealth, assembled according to a resolution of said Convention, and having opened and examined the returns of votes from the several towns and districts within the Commonwealth, do certify that the number of votes duly returned, for and against each article of amendment submitted to the people by the Convention, is as stated in the following schedule, viz.:

The foregoing report having been submitted to the Legislature, the following action was had:

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

In Senate, May 30th, 1821.

Read and committed to the Hon. Messrs. WILLIAMS, SHAW, and AUSTIN, with such as the honorable house may join, to consider and report in what manner such articles as have been adopted by the people, shall be promulgated and made known.

Sent down for concurrence.

JOHN PHILLIPS, President.

House of Representatives, May 30th, 1821.

Read and concurred, and Messrs. PRESCOTT of Boston, SPRAGUE of Salem, LAWRENCE of Groton, SMEAD of Greenfield, are joined. JOSIAH QUINCY, Speaker.

The first full proceeding of the Legislature was the passage of a resolve, approved June 5th, 1821, as follows:

RESOLVE

For publishing the Amendments to the Constitution. Whereas the Convention of the Delegates of the people, assembled at Boston, on the third Wednesday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, for the purpose of revising and amending the constitution of the Common