1642. CONSTITUTION (The Federal) Action by the States. mdash; [further continued].
The conduct of Massachusetts
has been noble. She accepted the
Constitution, but voted that it should stand
as a perpetual instruction to her delegates, to
endeavor to obtain such and such reformations;
and the minority, though very strong
both in numbers and abilities, declared viritim
and seriatim that acknowledging the principle
that the majority must give the law, they
would now support the new Constitution with
their tongues, and with their blood, if necessary.—
To William Carmichael. Washington ed. ii, 398.
Ford ed., v, 24.
(P.
1788)
