Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

318 SPRINGFIELD, I636-1SS6.
of Westfield, was ordered to take possession of the Springfield court-
house, which he did two days before the meeting of the Legislature.
The Senate passed a joint resolution denouncing the interruption of
the courts, approving the act of the governor in calling out the mili-
tia, and providing for
the suspension of the
habeas corpus. The
House refused to
agree to the latter co-
ercive measure, and
hung up the report.
A number of bills
were passed b}' the
House in the spirit of
Defending the Court-House against Shays's Insurgents.
the insurgent conventions. The Legislature was flooded with petitions
from suffering towns ; and if it had not been for armed resistance in
Hampshire the General Court would not have passed, as they did, a
bill authorizing the governor and council to imprison disorderly per-
sons without bail or mainprise. A bill offering pardon to all taking
the oath of allegiance was likewise passed, but to no purpose.
Daniel Shays and Luke Day took a bold step at Springfield, Sep-