HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

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[165] guide to a stranger, if it was made to perform, at the same time, the office of weathercock. We have no doubt that this bewildering jumble of political parties in our country will lead to good and safe results. Each has its mission; each works out its idea; and, by their centripetal and centrifugal forces, they unexpectedly keep the country in the orbit of safety. The war carried on against Mexico, during Mr. Polk's administration, received the approbation and support of a majority of the inhabitants of Medford. That war gave a President to the United States, in a laurelled hero, who changed that majority in this town.

Medford furnished a small number of soldiers for that war. No one of them was killed; yet only one returned to reside here.

Nov. 1, 1830: Voted that the town approve of the Address of the Bunker-hill Monument Association, which has now been read, and “request their Representative to promote such appropriation.”

1831: Medford instructs its Representatives in the General Court to oppose all measures which tend to make the number of Representatives in Massachusetts more than two hundred.

A convention was called for revising the Constitution of Massachusetts; and, Oct. 10, 1820, Nathaniel Hall and Abner Bartlett were chosen delegates. On the 9th April, 1821, the town voted to accept the amended draft. The vote was as follows:--

	Yes.	No.
Art. 1	57	24.
Art. 2	40	42.
Art. 3	63	17.
Art. 4	59	22.
Art. 5	54	28.
Art. 6	71	11.
Art. 7	47	33.
Art. 8	75	7.
Art. 9	47	35.
Art. 10	43	39.
Art. 11	69	12.
Art. 12	68	14.
Art. 13	69	12.
Art. 14	61	21.

Nov., 1833: The town voted on an amendment of the Constitution of the State. It related to the third article in the Bill of Rights, which regulates the membership of parishes. By the amendment, any person may file with the clerk of the parish to which he belongs a written notice that he dissolves his relationship to that religious society, and it is thereby dissolved. The vote in Medford was one hundred and five yeas and twelve nays.