Before the close of the revolutionary contest, whose pressure had united all by the tie of common danger, indications of discontent had been manifested. The acts of the Legislature had excited temporary and local uneasiness in former years, as the operation of laws conflicted with the views of expediency or interest entertained by the village politicians. But in 1782, complaints arose of grievances, springing from the policy and administration of government, of more genial character. On the 14th of April, of that year, the delegates of twenty-six towns of the county assembled in convention, and attributing the prevailing dissatisfaction of the people to want of confidence in the disbursement of the great sums of money annually assessed, recommended instructions to the representatives to require immediate settlement with all public officers entrusted with the funds of the Commonwealth; and if the adjustment was delayed or refused, to withdraw from the General Court, and return to their constituents: to reduce the compensation of the members of the House, and the fees of lawyers; to procure sessions of the Court of Probate in different places in the county; the revival of confessions of debt; enlargement of the jurisdiction of justices of the peace to £20—contribution to the support of the continental army in specific articles instead of money: and the settlement of accounts between the Commonwealth and Congress. At an adjourned session, May 14th, they further recommended,
pacity of their own minds. We might find that the accredited leaders of 1786, were only humble instruments of stronger spirits, waiting in concealment, the results of the tempest they had roused. Fortunately, the energy of government, gave to rising revolution the harmless character of crushed insurrection, saved to after years the inquiry for the catalines of the young republic, and left to us the happy privilege of receiving the coin, impressed with the mark of patriotism, at its stamped value, without testing its deficiency of weight, or assaying the metal to determine the mixture of alloy.
