LOTTERIES SHALL BE FOREVER ABOLISHED."

In November last, the Convention, in conformity with the
foregoing sentiments, passed the following decree:

"Lotteries, of whatever nature they may be, or under whatever
denomination they may exist, are suppressed."

* * * * *

In 1791 the Massachusetts Legislature granted to the proprietors of the
Cotton Manufactory in Beverly four hundred tickets in the lottery about
to be drawn, and three hundred in the next Semi-annual State Lottery.
"Some people, out-doors," says the "Salem Gazette," March 8, 1791,
"murmur at this as an ill-judged act of liberality; but perhaps they are
not acquainted with the arguments which induced the grant. The
disposition of Government to foster our infant manufactures is
certainly laudable." This is unquestionably good reasoning; for, granted
the premises that lotteries are ever beneficial, then there was no
reason why aid should not in this way be extended to business
enterprises which were to give employment to the people, as well as to
schools and colleges. Employment must be provided as well as education.
The Beverly Cotton Manufactory, Stone, in his History of Beverly, claims
to be the first manufactory of its kind established in America, that at
Pawtucket having been the second; and he also states that it was visited
by General Washington on his tour through the country in 1789. The
leading proprietors in this enterprise were George and Andrew Cabot,
Israel Thorndike and Henry Higginson, men of the highest reputation in
New England for integrity and honor.