In this able and dignified body he held a
conspicuous rank. His remarks upon the various questions which arose
were learned, judicious, and sometimes rendered all the more effective
by the flashes of his wit. Speaking, for example, on the third article
of the Bill of Rights, he said he hoped they would not be like the man
whose epitaph was, "I am well, I would be better, and here I am."
The next year the town of Boston, which then contained nearly forty-five
thousand inhabitants, began to agitate in good earnest the question of
adopting a city government. A committee of twelve, of which Mr. Phillips
was chairman, drew up and reported a city charter for the town, which
was adopted at a meeting held March 4, 1822, by a vote of 2,797 to
1,881. The result was formally announced on the 7th of the same month by
a proclamation from Gov. Brooks.
The two prominent candidates for the office of mayor were Harrison Gray
Otis and Josiah Quincy, both men of high accomplishments and enjoying
a large share of public confidence. But after a vote had been taken,
resulting in no choice of mayor, the friends of these gentlemen suddenly
agreed on Mr. Phillips, who at the town-meeting held on the 16th of
April, 1822, received 2,500 out of 2,650 votes, and thus became the
first mayor of the city of Boston.
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