State of Massachusetts-Bay.
In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, February 19, 1779.

WHEREAS the Constitution or Form of Civil Government, which was proposed by the late Convention of this state to the People thereof, hath been disapproved by a Majority of the Inhabitants of said State:

And whereas it is doubtful, from the Representations made to this Court, what are the Sentiments of the major Part of the good People of this state as to the Expediency of now proceeding to form a new Constitution of Government :

Therefore, Resolved, That the Selectmen of the several Towns within this State cause the
Freeholders, and other Inhabitants in their respective Towns duly qualified to vote for Representatives, to be lawfully warned to meet together in some convenient Place therein, on or before the last Wednesday of May next, to consider of and determine upon the following Questions.

First, Whether they chuse at this Time to have a new Constitution or Form of Government made.

Secondly, Whether they will empower their Representatives for the next Year to vote for the calling a State Convention, for the sole Purpose of forming a new Constitution, provided it shall appear to them, on Examination, that a major Part of the People present and voting at the Meetings called in the Manner and for the Purpose aforesaid, shall have answered the first Question in the Affirmative.

And in Order that the Sense of the People may be known thereon : Be it further Resolved that the Selectmen of each Town be and hereby are directed to return into the Secretary's Office, on or before the first Wednesday in June next, the Doings of their respective Towns on the first Question above-mentioned, certifying the Numbers voting in the Affirmative, and the Numbers voting in the Negative, on said Question.

Sent up for Concurrence,
JOHN PICKERING, Speaker

In Council, February 20, 1779.
Read and concurred, JOHN AVERY, Dep. Sec'ry.

Consented to by the Major Part of the Council.
A true Copy, Attest,
JOHN AVERY, Dep. Sec'ry.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This act by the House of Representatives directs the towns to have a town meeting to vote on the question of whether the people want a new Constitution or Form of Government. The votes are to be sent to the Secretary of State's office by June of 1779.

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