Browsing: Papers of John Adams, Volume 9

6. The “saving clause” became Art. 10 of Chap. VI of the Constitution of 1780 (vol. 8:271, note 139). Gordon supported the addition because he had been a major critic of the rejected constitution of 1778, which contained no specific provision for revision. In four newspaper essays appearing in the Continental Journal of 2, 9, 16, and 23 April and the Independent Chronicle of 2, 9, 16, and 30 April 1778, he had attacked the constitution on a variety of points, but his most specific recommendation came in the third essay. There he offered as Art. 37 (as sent to the towns the constitution of 1778 had 36 articles) a proposal requiring that a convention be convened in April 1780 to offer amendments and that such a convention be called every 20 years thereafter. For JA's reconsideration of his position regarding the constitution of 1778 and the need for some means of revision, see his reply of 26 May, and note 4 (below).