Otis’ control of the agenda caused intense debate from those who wanted constitutional amendments. James Hillhouse, of Connecticut, a staunch advocate of constitutional amendments was horrified by measures he considered timid and halfway. He urged more action pressing for the amendments. George Bliss, from Springfield also argued for bolder action.[1]
Cabot continued to exert control over the convention, naming a second committee, also chaired by Otis, to submit more proposals for the proceedings of the convention. Hillhouse and Bliss were excluded from this committee, as they had been from all others.[2]
[1] James M. Banner, Jr. To the Hartford Convention: The Federalists and the Origins of Party Politics in Massachusetts 1789-1815 ( New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1970) 336.
[2] Banner, To the Hartford Convention, 337.
