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as the Constitution made ample provision for changes； it would be safer and wiser to rely upon that method。 The question was one； therefore； of immediate or future amendment。 Pressure was accordingly brought to bear upon Governor Hancock and intimations were made to him of future political preferment； until he was persuaded to propose immediate ratification of the Constitution； with an urgent recommendation of such amendments as would remove the objections of the Massachusetts people。 When this proposal was approved by Adams； its success was assured； and a few days later； on the 6th of February； the convention voted 187 to 168 in favor of ratification。 Nine amendments； largely in the nature of a bill of rights； were then demanded； and the Massachusetts representatives in Congress were enjoined 〃at all times； 。 。 。 to exert all their influence； and use all reasonable and legal methods； To obtain a ratification of the said alterations and provisions。〃 On the very day this action was taken； Jefferson wrote from Paris to Madison： 〃I wish with all my soul that the nine first conventions may accept the new Constitution； to secure to us the good it contains； but I equally wish that the four latest； whichever they may be； may refuse to accede to it till a declaration of rights be annexed。〃 Boston proceeded to celebrate as Philadelphia； and Benjamin Lincoln wrote to Washington； on the 9th of February； enclosing an extract from the local paper describing the event： 〃By the paper your Excellency will observe some account of the parade of the Eighth the printer had by no means time eno' to do justice to the subject。 To give you some idea how far he has been deficient I will mention an observation I heard made by a Lady the last evening who saw the whole that the description in the paper would no more compare with the original than the light of the faintest star would with that of the Sun fortunately for us the whole ended without the least disorder and the town during the whole evening was； so far as I could observe perfectly quiet。〃* *Documentary History； vol。 IV； pp。 488…490。
He added another paragraph which he later struck out as being of little importance； but it throws an interesting sidelight upon the customs of the time。 〃The Gentlemen provided at Faneul Hall some biscuit & cheese four qr Casks of wine three barrels & two hogs of punch the moment they found that the people had drank sufficiently means were taken to overset the two hogspunch this being done the company dispersed and the day ended most agreeably〃* * Ibid。
Maryland came next。 When the Federal Convention was breaking up； Luther Martin was speaking of the new system of government to his colleague； Daniel of St。 Thomas Jenifer； and exclaimed： 〃I'll be hanged if ever the people of Maryland agree to it！〃 To which his colleague retorted： 〃I advise you to stay in Philadelphia； lest you should be hanged。〃 And Jenifer proved to be right； for in Maryland the Federalists obtained control of the convention and； by a vote of 63 to 11； ratified the Constitution on the 26th of April。 In South Carolina； which was the Southern State next in importance to Virginia； the compromise on the slave trade proved to be one of the deciding factors in determining public opinion。 When the elections were held； they resulted in an overwhelming majority for the Federalists； so that after a session of less than two weeks the convention ratified the Constitution； on the 28th of May； by a vote of over two to one。 The only apparent setback which the adoption of the Constitution had thus far received was in New Hampshire； where the convention met early in February and then adjourned until June to see what the other States might do。 But this delay proved to be of no consequence for； when the time came for the second meeting of the New Hampshire delegates； eight States had already acted favorably and adoption was regarded as a certainty。 This was sufficient to put a stop to any further waiting； and New Hampshire added its name to the list on the 21st of June； but the division of opinion was fairly well represented by the smallness of the majority； the vote standing 57 to 46。 Nine States had now ratified the Constitution and it was to go into effect among them。 But the support of Virginia and New York was of so much importance that their decisions were awaited with uneasiness。 In Virginia； in spite of the support of such men as Washington and Madison； the sentiment for and against the Constitution was fairly evenly divided； and the opposition numbered in its ranks other names of almost equal influence； such as Patrick Henry and George Mason。 Feeling ran high； the contest was a bitter one and； even after the elections had been held and the convention had opened； early in June； the decision was in doubt and remained in doubt until the very end。 The situation was； in one respect at least； similar to that which had existed in Massachusetts； in that it was possible to get a substantial majority in favor of the Constitution provided certain amendments were made。 The same arguments were used； strengthened on the one side by what other States had done； and on the other side by the plea that now was the time to hold out for amendments。 The example of Massachusetts； however； seems to have been decisive； and on the 25th of June； four days later than New Hampshire； the Virginia convention voted to ratify； 〃under the conviction that whatsoever imperfections may exist in the Constitution ought rather to be examined in the mode prescribed therein； than to bring the Union into danger by delay； with a hope of obtaining amendments previous to the ratification。〃 When the New York convention began its sessions on the 17th of June； it is said that more than two…thirds of the delegates were Anti…Federalist in sentiment。 How a majority in favor of the Constitution was obtained has never been adequately explained； but it is certain that the main credit for the achievement belongs to Alexander Hamilton。 He had early realized how greatly it would help the prospects of the Constitution if thinking people could be brought to an appreciation of the importance and value of the new form of government。 In order to reach the intelligent public everywhere； but particularly in New York； he projected a series of essays which should be published in the newspapers； setting forth the aims and purposes of the Constitution。 He secured the assistance of Madison and Jay； and before the end of October； 1787； published the first essay in 〃The Independent Gazetteer。〃 From that time on these papers continued to be printed over the signature of 〃Publius；〃 sometimes as many as three or four in a week。 There were eighty…five numbers altogether； which have ever since been known as 〃The Federalist。〃 Of these approximately fifty were the work of Hamilton； Madison wrote about thirty and Jay five。 Although the essays were widely copied in other journals； and form for us the most important commentary on the Constitution； making what is regarded as one of America's greatest books； it is doubtful how much immediate influence they had。 Certainly in the New York convention itself Hamilton's personal influence was a stronger force。 His arguments were both eloquent and cogent； and met every objection； and his efforts to win over the opposition were unremitting。 The news which came by express riders from New Hampshire and then from Virginia were also deciding factors； for New York could not afford to remain out of the new Union if it was to embrace States on either side。 And yet the debate continued； as the opposition was putting forth every effort to make ratification conditional upon certain amendments being adopted。 But Hamilton resolutely refused to make any concessions and at length was successful in persuading the New York convention； by a vote of 30 against 27； on the 26th of July； to follow the example of Massachusetts and Virginia and to ratify the Constitution with merely a recommendation of future amendments。 The satisfaction of the country at the outcome of the long and momentous struggle over the adoption of the new government was unmistakable。 Even before the action of New York had been taken； the Fourth of July was made the occasion for a great celebration throughout the United States； both as the anniversary of independence and as the consummation of the Union by the adoption of the Constitution。 The general rejoicing was somewhat tempered； however； by the reluctance of North Carolina and Rhode Island to come under 〃the new roof。〃 Had the convention which met on the 21st of July in North Carolina reached a vote； it would probably have defeated the Constitution； but it was doubtless restrained by the action of New York and adjourned without coming to a decision。 A second convention was called in September； 1789； and in the meantime the new government had come into operation and was bringing pressure to bear upon the recalcitrant States which refused to abandon the old union for the new。 One of the earliest acts passed by Congress was a revenue act； levying duties upon foreign goods imported； which were made specifically to apply to imports from Rhode Island and North Carolina。 This was sufficient for North Carolina； and on November 21； 1789； the convention ra