At the Revolution, in Massachusetts, then in-
cluding Maine, and containing 210,000 white
inhabitants, more than were found in any other
American colony, there were more than two
hundred towns, whose constitution is thus de-
scribed by Gordon, a writer of the period: --

"Every town is an incorporated republic. The
selectmen, by their own authority, or upon the appli-
cation of a certain number of townsmen, issue a war-
rant for the calling of a town-meeting. The warrant
mentions the business to be engaged in, and no other
can be legally executed. The inhabitants are warned
to attend; and they that are present, though not a
quarter or tenth of the whole, have a right to pro-
ceed. They choose a president by the name of mod-
erator, who regulates the proceedings of the meeting.
Each individual has an equal liberty of delivering his
opinion, and is not liable to be silenced or brow.
beaten by a richer or greater townsman than himself.
Every freeman or freeholder gives his vote or not,
and for or against, as he pleases; and each vote
weighs equally, whether that of the highest or lowest
inhabitant. . . . All the New England towns are on
the same plan in general."

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