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Opposition to the Constitution
Digital History ID 259

Author:   Daniel Adams
Date:1787

Annotation:

At the town meeting of Townshend, Massachusetts, Daniel Adams opposed ratification of the Constitution on the grounds that it lacked a Bill of Rights and failed to provide for support of organized religion. Massachusetts ultimately ratified the Constitution in February 1788.


Document:

In the Bill of Rights for this Commonwealth it is declared that the happiness of the people & the Preservation of civil government depend upon the piety religion & morality & that the people have a right to invest their Legislature with power to require that provision be made for the public worship of God & the support of protestant teachers & require the attendance of people upon such worship instructions.... We must insist that the Continental Constitution contain a Bill of Rights which by Express shall secure to us our privileges especially our religion.

Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute

Additional information: Daniel Adams, at a town meeting in Townshend, Massachusetts

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