., a
volunteer, was a valuable aid. After considerable experience in other
places I can say that the preparation of the new Constitution was the
most exacting labor of my life. The committee were to deal with the
Constitution of 1780, with the thirteen amendments that had been
adopted previous to 1853, and with thirty-five changes in the
Constitution that had been agreed to by the Convention. The practical
problem was this:--

(1) To eliminate from the Constitution of 1780 all that had been
annulled by the thirteen amendments.

(2) To eliminate from the Constitution of 1780, and from each of the
thirteen amendments, all the provisions that would be annulled by the
adoption of the thirty-five changes that had been agreed to by the
Convention.

(3) To furnish Constitutional language for the new features that were
to be incorporated in the Constitution.

(4) To arrange the matter of the new Constitution, and to reproduce
the instrument, divided upon topics and into chapters and articles.

All the work under the first two heads was done by myself. The
language was so much the subject of criticism and of rewriting that
the responsibility for item three cannot be put upon any one. The
same may be said of the work under item four; although that work was
unimportant comparatively. The copy of the Constitution which was
used by me in making the eliminations is still in my possession.

It is to be observed that the Convention did not furnish language in
which the amendments that had been agreed to were to be expressed in
the Constitution.

The resolutions, as adopted, were in the form following:

"Resolved, That it is expedient so to alter and amend the Constitution
as to provide for a periodical division of the Commonwealth into equal
districts on the basis of population." This form was observed in all
the results reached by the Convention. The Convention had named the
first day of August as the day of adjournment, and the serious work of
preparing the Constitution was entered upon about the 15th day of July.
The committee as a body, consisting of thirteen members, took no part
in the preparation of the Constitution. It sanctioned the work as it
had been done by Mr. Dana, Mr. Morton, and myself.

As my constant presence in the Convention was required, the work
imposed upon me as chairman of the committee was performed in the
mornings, in the evenings, and during the recesses. Thus the days from
the earl