Newspaper Report of Massachusetts Convention Proceedings (January 12, 1788)

Massachusetts Centinel January 12, 1788

The Committee appointed to examine the returns of delegates, desired a rule, whereby they might determine, whether the towns had exceeded their privilege to send members.-This being heretofore a subject of dispute in the House of Representatives, produced a long debate, in which a motion was made, that the valuation returned in 1784. should be the rule to determine the number, and if any towns have sent more members than by the said valuation they have a right, they shall produce from the assessors a certificate certifying their right to send the same; but this debate ended in a direction to the committee to report a state of facts, as to such towns as might have chosen more delegates than they were authorised to chuse, by the valuation aforementioned.

The report of the Committee appointed to prepare rules and orders for the regulation of the Convention, was read-and, with amendments, accepted-After which, Mr. Bishop moved an additional rule; which was to this effect-That on every question when_members were in favour of the measure, the yeas and nays should be taken thereon. The motion for adjournment being made, the consideration of the motion was postponed until the afternoon.

An offer having been made by the church in Brattle-street, of that Meeting-House, for the use of the Convention, and a Committee having viewed the accommodations, it was voted, that when the Convention do adjourn, that it adjourn to meet at 3 o'clock, at the Meeting-House in Brattle-Street.