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]
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.
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:
