George S. Boutwell was inaugurated Governor in January 1851. This "marked the beginning of a determined drive for the elimination of the 'inequalities' in the system of representation." 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.