CHAPTER II.

THE CONVENTION CALLED.

On Friday, September 28th, after the House of Assembly had attended to some minor business, Mr. George Clymer rose and said:* The House cannot, Sir, have forgotten a business of the highest magnitude, which was recommended to their attention by the federal convention, and I am persuaded they will readily concur in taking the necessary measures for calling a convention of the citizens of Pennsylvania, to deliberate upon that plan of government which has been presented to this house; for which reason I shall submit the following resolutions:†

WHEREAS the convention of deputies from the several States composing the Union lately held in this city, have published a constitution for the future government of the United States, to be submitted to conventions of deputies chosen in each State by the people thereof, under recommendation of its Legislature, for their assent and ratification.

And whereas it is the sense of great numbers of the good people of this State, already signified in petitions and declarations to this House, that the earliest step should be taken to assemble a convention within the State, for the purpose of deliberating and determining on the said constitution.

Resolved, That it be recommended to such inhabitants of the State as are entitled to vote for representatives to the General Assembly, that they choose suitable persons to serve as Deputies in a State convention, for the purpose herein before mentioned; that is, for the city of Philadelphia and the counties respectively, the same number of Deputies that each is entitled to of representatives in the General Assembly. That the election for Deputies as aforesaid be held at the several places in the said city and counties, as are fixed by law for holding the elections of representatives to the General Assembly, and that they be conducted under the same officers, and according to the regulations prescribed by law for holding the elections for * From Proceedings and Debates of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, taken in short-hand by Thomas Lloyd. Philadelphia, 1787. Vol. I., p. 115.

†These Resolutions are copied from the Minutes of the Assembly. Those in Lloyd's debates are given in the language in which the resolutions were finally passed, with the exception of the time of holding the election.

said Representatives, and at the times herein mentioned, viz. For the city of Philadelphia, the counties of Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, Berks, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne, York, Cumberland and Franklin on the day of the general election of Representatives to the General Assembly. For the counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington, on the day of October.

That the persons so elected to serve in Convention shall assemble on the last day of November, at the State House in the city of Philadelphia. That the proposition submitted to this House by the Deputies of Pennsylvania in the General Convention of the States, of ceding to the United States a district of country within this State, for the seat of the General Government, and for the exclusive legislation of Congress, be particularly recommended to the consideration of the Convention.

That it be recommended to the succeeding House of Assembly, to provide for the payment of any extraordinary expenses which may be incurred by holding the said election of Deputies.

These resolutions being seconded by Mr. Wynkoop, they were by agreement stated as distinct propositions, and on the question will the House agree to the following:

Resolved, That it be recommended to such of the inhabitants of the State as are entitled to vote for representatives to the General Assembly, that they choose suitable persons to serve as deputies in a State Convention, for the purpose herein before mentioned; that is, for the city of Philadelphia and the counties respectively, the same number of deputies that each state is entitled to of representatives in the General Assembly.

Resolved, That the elections for Deputies as aforesaid be held at the several places in the said city and counties, as are fixed by law for holding the elections of representatives to the General Assembly, and that the same be conducted by the officers who conduct the said elections of representatives, and agreeably to the rules and regulations thereof.

Mr. Whitehill answered No. He then rose and said: The House, Sir, ought to have time to consider on this subject before they determine; for which reason I move to postpone the consideration until we meet again, and that may be this afternoon, as the session is drawing so near to a close.

Mr. Fitzsimons. I will submit it to the House whether it is proper to delay this business for the reason assigned by the member from Cumberland.* If the gentlemen are not prepared to say what time the election for delegates shall be held, at least the general principle, or that such convention is proper, must be well enough understood to warrant an im

*Mr. Whitehill.

mediate determination. It will be observed that the ordinary business of the state is pretty well gone through, and the House likely to dissolve to-morrow. But the subject brought forward by my worthy colleague is a business of the highest consequence, and the House must see how eligible it will be to give it the sanction of the Legislature. The only object of consideration is, whether the election shall be held with that propriety which may perhaps be best effected by the representatives pointing out the mode for the conduct of the people. We are not, I conceive, to consider whether calling a convention is proper or improper, because that I look upon as a measure inevitable, even should not the Assembly consent --but it will be well for us to appoint the mode by which such choice shall be conducted. These are distinct propositions, and on the first every gentleman must have determined, but on the other every member will have an opportunity of offering his reasons, when it comes before us in the next resolution. Perhaps, Sir, it may be necessary to alter the times, from what is there mentioned, to more distant periods; of this the gentlemen from the several counties will be better able to judge than I can pretend to, and I am sure I shall give no opposition to every reasonable extension of the time. I hope it will not be thought necessary that anything should be said in commendation of the new constitution prepared for the government of the United States. This, Sir, is not the object of our discussion or deliberation, and was it, I think, Sir, my abilities could not enable me to do justice to the subject; but the feelings of every member will more forcibly convince his judgment than all the argument which could be offered. From the number of petitions on your table, it may be clearly inferred that it is the wish and expectation of the people that this House should adopt speedy measures for calling a convention: I do not, therefore, see a necessity for saying much on a subject so well felt and understood within and without, but cheerfully submit it to the members to say whether they will proceed now or in the afternoon.

Mr. D. Clymer. The worthy gentleman * from the city has

*Mr. Fitzsimons.