The History of the Insurrections, by George Minot

towns in the Commonwealth, who resorted to the mode of assembling by their delegates in convention, for the purpose of ascertaining their grievances, and the best manner of redressing them, while their legislature were in full possession and exercise of the constitutional powers, necessary for the same purpose. This practice is said to be founded on that article in the bill of rights, which provides, "That the people have a right in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble to consult upon the common good : Give instructions to their representatives ; and to request of the legislative body, by the way of addresses, petitions or remonstrances, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer." Many, however, have supposed, that the sense of this article extended only to town meetings which are known to the laws. And indeed, to construe it in the most latitudinary sense, might tend in practice, so to divide the sovereign power of the people, as to make the authority of the laws uncertain, and distract the attention of subjects ; especially in a republican government, where all power is actually delegated. But whether conventions of this kind be consistent with the constitution or not, certain it is, that their agency has been very material in the late political events. As those assemblies received countenance from the