Hancock, John, as Governor of Massachusetts

Manuscript document signed, text in a neat clerical hand, 1 page (12 x 7 1/4 in.; 304 x 184 mm) on a bifolium, Boston, 16 February 1788, to Governor Samuel Huntington of Connecticut, transmitting "a Copy of the proceedings of the Convention of the people of this Commonwealth [Massachusetts] lately assembled ... with their assent to, & ratification of, the Constitution for the United States of America ..." docketed on verso; some mat burn from early framing.  Accompanied by an engraved portrait of Hancock.

Hancock shares the Massachusetts strategy for ratifying the Constitution. Massachusetts "Federalists had learned from Pennsylvania's controversial ratification. They no longer demanded that the conventions accept or reject the Constitution as it was. Instead, in Massachusetts they took an inspired gamble. They agreed that the convention should propose amendments attached to a vote for ratification, rather than as conditions of ratification. This formula was the salvation of the Constitution, swaying undecided votes in many states and reconciling moderate Anti-Federalists to ratification ..." (Bernstein, Are We to Be a Nation?, p. 207).

Hancock here writes to his counterpart in Connecticut. "I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency a Copy of the proceedings of the Convention of the people of this Commonwealth lately assembled in this town in conformity to a resolution of the General Court of the said Commonwealth with their assent to, & ratification of, the Constitution for the United States of America, reported to Congress by the Convention of Delegates from the said United States; together with certain amendments & alterations recommended to be introduced into the said Constitution, which we wish may meet with the Concurrence of your State."

The copy of this text that Hancock sent to New Hampshire Governor John Sullivan was sold by Sothebys on 3 May 1994 for $103,500.