Met according to adjournment The Constitution or Frame of Government, for the United States of America as reported by the Convention of Delegates, from the United States, begun and held at Philadelphia, on the first Monday of May 1787 &c. Together with the Resolution of Congress of the 28 of September 1787 for transmitting the same to the several Legislatures; and the Resolution of the General Court of this Commonwealth of the 25th day of October 1787 for calling a Convention, agreeably to the said Resolution of Congress, were Ordered to be read.
On motion, Voted That the Convention sensible how important it is that the great subject submitted to their determination should be discussed and considered with moderation, candour and deliberation, will enter into a free conversation on the several parts thereof by paragraphs untill every member shall have had opportunity fully to express his sentiments on the same, after which the Convention will consider and debate at large the question, whether this Convention will adopt & ratify the proposed constitution. before any vote is taken expressive of the sense of the Convention, upon the whole or any part thereof Resolve of the General Court of this Commonwealth of the 10th of March 1787 appointing Delegates for the Convention of the States held at Philadelphia. Ordered to be read.
A motion was made and seconded that the Hon. Elbridge Gerry Esqr. be requested to take a seat in the house to answer any question of fact from time to time, that the convention may want to ask respecting the passing of the constitution?
A motion was then made and seconded that the consideration of the said motion subside to give place to the following viz That Whereas the Hon. Elbridge Gerry Esqr. was a Delegate from this Commonwealth in the Convention held at Philadelphia, and Whereas he did not sign the constitution reported by the said Convention Voted that the said Ebridge Gerry Esqr be requested to attend this convention to state the facts & reasons which induced him to decline signing the same.
A motion was then made and seconded, that the consideration of both questions should subside, and the question being put passed in the negative. The motion that the first question should subside to give place to the second was then put & passed in the negative also.
The first motion was then put & passed in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 3. o Clk PM.