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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 829
Majesty of Heaven are Doomed to suffer according to their crimes.''
General Lincoln is then asked by the town to lift his " eyes up to
him who in the Heavens beholding the Follies of men overlooks
their Crimes and bestows his Favours on the most undeser\dng."
These quotations, as well as others in this chapter, are taken from
manuscripts in the possession of General Lincoln's descendants which
have never been in print before. The answer to these petitions came
from Boston in the shape of a new levy of troops, and there followed
a \igorous restoration of order in the stalwart spirit of Governor Bow-
doiu's proclamation of January 12, in which he asked tlie question:
" Is then the goodly fabric of freedom which cost us so much blood
and treasure so soon to be thrown into ruins? " All insurgents were
forced to take the oath of allegiance. Those pardoned were not to
hold office or vote for three years ; neither could they legally be em-
ployed as schoolmasters or innkeepers. This act of the Legislature
provoked a protest from General Lincoln. " In her right hand," said
the general, " the government nuist hold out such terms of mere}" in
the hour of success with such evident marks of a disposition to for-
give as shall apply to the feelings of the delinquents. . . . Al-
though I think the proceedings of the Legislature and their conduct
will make a rich page in history, yet I cannot but suppose that if the
number of the disfranchised had been less the public peace would
have been equally safe and the general happiness promoted. The act
includes so great a description of persons that in its operation many
towns will be disfranchised."
The sullen feeling in this part of the State survived for a time.
Indeed it was at one time considered doubtful whether Massachusetts
would cast her lot with the constitution framed by the convention
that met in the following May at Philadelphia and presided over
by George AYashingtou. The sentiment in Hampshire county was
about evenly di^^ded. The vote in the convention was one hundred
and eighty-seven yeas to one hundred and sixty-eight nays.
It was in the nineties when General Shepard complained that he liad