The Constitutional Ratification Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts votes (YEA, 187; NAY, 168) to ratify the proposed Constitution for the united States—with nine provisions, numbers four and five of which state:
- “That Direct taxation should be tapped only as a last resort; that Indirect taxation revenues should be exhausted first;
- “That Congress lend no special favors or advantages to select businesses at the disadvantage of others.”
This brings to three the number of States still necessary to put the Constitution into force. But only after anti-federalists Samuel Adams and former President of the united States in Congress assembled John Hancock receive assurances that amendments will be added to protect individual rights. And it makes Massachusetts the sixth State to secede from the Confederation.
[updated 12/7/2024]
Delegate Tench Coxe, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, using the pseudonym “A Freeman” writes a pro-federalist essay assuring that the States will retain their sovereignty as long as their legislatures retain their suffrage in the Seante. In paragraphs four he writes,
The construction of the senate affords an absolute certainty, that the states will not lose their present share of separate powers. No state is to lose its voice therein without its own consent. Governor [Edmund J.] Randolph justly observes, that the force of the constitution of any state can only be lessened by the absolute grant of its own citizens. Whatever therefore is now possessed will remain, unless transferred by new grants. The state legislatures too being the immediate representatives and guardians of their respective constituents, and being the powerful creators of the senators, it cannot be apprehended, either that they will give away their own powers, or that they will chuse [sic] men who are unfriendly to them; nor is it at all probable that a senator would hazard the displeasure of the people, or the vengeance of so potent a body as a state legislature, by sacrificing their interests or powers. …
[added 7/25/2026]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Articles of Confederation, Article XIII
ccc-2point0.com/Articles-of-Confederation
References:
“Chronology of Events, 1774-1804,” from The Debate on the Constitution, two volumes, Bernard Bailyn, ed., (New York: Library of America, 1993), 2:1066.
Calvin D. Linton, ed. The Bicentennial Almanac: 200 Years of America, 1776-1976, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1975), 42.
Michael Maharrey, with Michael Boldin, The Other Federalist Papers: Tench Coxe, (Irvine, California: By the author, 16755 Von Karman #200 PMB705, 2024), 69-74.
Irwin A. Schiff, The Great Income Tax Hoax: Why You Can Immediately Stop Paying This Illegally Enforced Tax, (Hamden, Connecticut: Freedom Books, 1985), 437.
Avalon Project – Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Massachusetts; 26th 1788
avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ratma.asp
Current U.s. National Debt:
