 A joint committee on representation of the Massachusetts General Court recommended an amendment giving smaller towns an unfair advantage over the larger ones, and it failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in the House.However, the drive for reform persisted, and a Senate bill provided that the people be asked whether they wished for a constitutional convention.The bill passed, but on November 10, 1851 the idea of a convention was rejected by a vote of 65,846 against to 60,972 in favor.