30 The name of the man who but lisps a sentiment in objection to it is to be handed to the printer, by the printer to the public, and by the public he is to be led to execution.
This statement is saying that those who support this Constitution would rush to the press to smear anyone who offers a dissenting view of the Constitution, in order to hasten its passage. (Alas, some things never change.)
In the introduction, you suggest that John DeWitt is a Massachusetts lawyer. John Adams was also a Massachusetts lawyer. If DeWitt was a lawyer, he would certainly have crossed paths with Adams.
Adams was known to have a short temper and to not suffer criticism well. Adams was also the main author of the Massachusetts Constitution, and would certainly have strong opinions on its contents, and the applicability of it to a national Constitution.
Adams was still in Europe at this time and was not a part of the shaping or ratification debate of the Constitution, but those who knew him could certainly suppose his opinions on the matter, his temper, and how he treated his colleagues.
And Adams spoke with a lisp.
I say that line 30 was a back-handed slam at John Adams by someone who crossed paths with him.
-PJ
You could be right. A lot of people not only crossed paths with Adams, but crossed swords also.
Adams was known to have a short temper and to not suffer criticism well.
His contemporaries described his personality as "volcanic".
This is good detective work. You may have cracked the code here.