APPENDIX.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,

1778-1783;

WITH THR

CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHED IN 1784.

APPENDIX.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.

NOTES BY THE EDITOR.

The Editor is happy to lay before the people of New Hampshire, in this closing volume of Provincial and State Papers,-which he has had the honor to compile, edit and publish, by authority of the Legislature, a connected statement of the facts, with all the documents which he has been able to find, relating to the Conventions which were successively called, and which resulted in the adoption of a State Constitution, October 31, 1783, that was carried into full effect, June 10th, 1784.

The first Constitution of New Hampshire was adopted soon after the Revolution began, January 5th, 1776; it was not designed or understood to be permanent, but to continue during the present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain." A copy of this is printed in full in Volume VIII. of the Provincial and State Papers, pages 2-5, to which reference may be made. The Constitution then adopted is believed to be the first adopted by any Colony or State in the Union. It was to continue in force through the war; or until superseded by a new Constitution. In December 27, 1777, the House voted to recommend to towns and parishes in the State, to instruct their Representatives to call a Convention "for the sole purpose of forming and laying a permanent plan or system for the future Government of the State." This vote does not appear to have been concurred by the Council; but February 20th, 1778, The House voted to resolve themselves into a Committee of the whole, to join the honorable Board, if they see fit, to consider "of the calling a full and free representation of all the people of this State for the sole purpose of forming a permanent Plan or system for the future government of this State:" and February 25, 1778, the Assembly, in Committee of the whole, Hon. Meshech Weare in the Chair, agreed to report, "That a full and free representation of all the people of the State be called, for the purpose above expressed, to meet in Convention at Concord, on the second Wednesday (10) in June;" that when the said Convention have formed such plan of Government, they lay the same before their constituents for their approbation: and that it should not go into effect until three quarters of the people of this State shall consent thereto. On the next day, 26 February, the abovesaid Report was adopted; and the Convention of delegates chosen by the respective towns and parishes, for the abovesaid purpose met in Concord, on the day appointed, June 10th, 1778 (1).

(1) For the facts here stated, see State Papers, Vol. VIII. pp. 757, 759, 774,775. Ed.

It is much to be regretted, that the JOURNAL of that Convention cannot any where be found. Search was made in vain for it by the late John Farmer, Esq., and by Mr. G. Parker Lyon, as also by the Editor of this volume: Mr. Lyon was at the great pains, however, of collecting the names of the Delegates to that Convention from the Town Records, respectively, throughout the State. The following is the list of names as thus collected by him (1).

LIST OF DELEGATES

Chosen from the several towns, classed towns, and places in New Hampshire, in 1778, to meet at Concord, June 10th, for the purpose of forming a new Constitution.