Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/75

more expeditious administration of justice; the immediate repeal of the supplementary fund granted to Congress; the appropriation of the revenue, arising from impost and excise, to the payment of the foreign debt; and the withholding all supplies from Congress until settlement of account between the Commonwealth and Continent. Resolutions, introduced by the supporters of government, expressing disapprobation of unconstitutional assemblies, armed combinations, and riotous movements, and pointing to the Legislature as the only legitimate source of redress, were rejected. The convention party was triumphant by a small majority. While the discussion was uged, a considerate citizen inquired of one of the most zealous of the discontented, what grievances he suffered, and what were the principal evils among them? "There are grievances enough, thank God!" was the hasty reply, "and they are all principal ones."

The jurisdiction of the sessions was principally over criminal offences, and its powers were exercised for the preservation of social order. No opposition had been anticipated to its session on the 21st of November, and no defensive preparations were made. On that day, about sixty armed men, under Abraham Gale, of Princeton, entered the north part of the town. During the evening, and on Wednesday morning, about one hundred more arrived from Hubbardston, Shrewsbury, and some adjacent towns. A committee presented a petition to the Court, at the United States Arms Tavern, for their adjournment, until a new choice of representatives, which was not received. The insurgents then took possession of the ground around the Court House. When the justices approached, the armed men made way, and they passed the open ranks to the steps. There, triple