ought not to act; for, they represented it as a violation of the constitution of the State, which still existed, and which while in existence, it was the duty of every citizen to support. Upon this principle they refused either to vote for or against the appointment of a committee, which produced a temporary embarrassment, as the majority were not at first agreed in the number, but ultimately concurred in making it nine. The Convention likewise appointed a committee to receive and state an account of their expenses, &c., and then adjourned till Saturday at half past nine o'clock.

Saturday December 15, 1787. The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.

The committee appointed to consider the motion of Mr. Wilson relative to a cession, to the United States, of a district for the seat of the federal government, report the following resolution:

"That when the Constitution proposed by the late general Convention shall have been organized, this commonwealth will cede to the Congress of the United States the jurisdiction over any place in Pennsylvania, not exceeding ten miles square, which with the consent of the inhabitants, the Congress may choose for the seat of the government of the United States, excepting only the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, and that part of the Northern-Liberties included within a line running parallel with Vine street, at the distance of one mile northward thereof, from the river Schuylkill to the southern side of the main branch of Cohocksink creek, thence down the said creek to its junction with the river Delaware. But the marsh land and so much of the adjoining bank, on the same side of the said creek, as shall be necessary for the erecting any dams and works to command the water thereof, are excluded from this exception.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that until the Congress shall have made their election of a district, for the place of their permanent residence, and provided buildings for their accommodation, they have the use of such of the public buildings within the city of Philadelphia, or any other part of this State, as they shall find necessary.

Unanimously Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be presented to the President, for his able and faithful discharge of the duties of the Chair."

To which the President answered:

"GENTLEMEN,

"I feel with the utmost gratitude the honor you have just now done me, and I shall always esteem your approbation as my highest reward for performing my duty to you, or rendering any services to my fellow citizens."

The Convention then adjourned sine die.

CHAPTER V.

WHILE THE CONVENTION WAS SITTING.

[As soon as the work of the Convention began, the press, and particularly the anti-federal press, teemed with letters, squibs, and essays from the people at large. Some were serious, some were intended to be satirical or funny, some were in verse, and some were exceedingly silly. Yet, taken as a whole, they form a running commentary on the work of the Convention from day to day, and must be considered as a fair expression of what the people as a body thought. To give them all is impossible; a few therefore have been selected, and these, it is believed, may be safely regarded as samples of all. No attempt has been made to edit them, as they are too miscellaneous to allow of such treatment.

First, in point of time, was a petition drawn up and passed round the coffee-houses by those in favor of amending the Constitution, or referring it for amendment to a new Convention.]

Such of the citizens of Pennsylvania as are not clearly ascertained of the propriety of adopting the proposed constitution, without amendment or farther consideration, may think it proper to join in the following petition:

To the Honorable the Delegates of the STATE CONVENTION: The Petition of the Citizens of Pennsylvania humbly showeth,

That your petitioners, highly sensible of the benefits arising from good government, and perceiving that there were defects in the federal compact established in the infancy of our independency, assented with alacrity to a revision of the articles of confederation, in full confidence that such amendments would be made therein as would give sufficient strength and energy to the federal head, without infringing those

rights of sovereignty in the several States which are necessary for the purposes of internal government, and the performance of their respective functions as members of a federal union; or such rights of individuals as are necessary to distinguish free citizens from the subjects of despotism.

That the plan proposed by the general convention, instead of offering to our consideration such amendments as were generally expected and might be easily understood, contains a total abolition of the existing confederation, and is in itself, as a late writer expresses it,/"a novelty in the practice of legislation, essentially different, both in principles and organization, from any system of government heretofore formed.". And although it may be an improvement on all those which have preceded it, and better calculated for political happiness than our present system of confederation is capable of being made, yet your petitioners conceive it is no less the duty than the right of every citizen to examine it with care and attention, and deliberately consider its probable operations and effects before he assents to the adoption of a system of such infinite importance./ Accident, fraud, or force, may impose on a people a system of government to which they will yield obedience no longer than they are restrained from opposition by a power that deprives them of the freedom of citizens. But when a free people deliberately frame a government for themselves, or adopt as their deliberate choice a system which they have carefully investigated and understand, they are bound to the observance of it by other ties than those of fear: confident of acting in general concert, and of deriving reciprocal benefits, every individual will then more cheerfully yield obedience to the laws and perform the duties of a citizen. Hence it is of the highest importance that the proposed system of government should be well understood by the people in every State before it be adopted.

But your petitioners conceive that the people of Pennsylvania have not yet had sufficient time and opportunity afforded them for this purpose. Many of those who have had the best opportunity that the shortness of the time would admit, find their minds yet unsatisfied on some important

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points, though they may highly approve of the general structure; others, who felt a general approbation at first view, now think some amendments essentially necessary: but the great bulk of the people, from the want of leisure from other avocations; their remoteness from information, their scattered situation, and the consequent difficulty of conferring with each other, cannot yet have duly investigated and considered a system of so much magnitude, which involves so many important considerations as to require not only more time than they have yet had since it was promulged, but the combined force of many enlightened minds, to obtain a right understanding of it.

Your petitioners hope they shall be excused if they mention on this occasion some other matters which have retarded the calm investigation which a subject of this importance ought to receive. The disorderly proceedings in the city, and the unaccountable zeal and precipitation used to hurry the people into a premature decision, spread an amazement through the country, which excited jealousies and suspicions from which they could neither easily nor speedily recover./ Those who became partisans in the business had their minds too much agitated to act with deliberation, and the election of delegates was rushed into before the greater part of the people had sufficiently recovered from their surprise to know what part to take in it, or how to give their suffrages; they therefore remained inactive. Your petitioners wish to be understood, however, as being far from intending to invalidate the election, or to intimate any irregularity in the members chosen, whom they respect both individually and as a body, and in whose desire to promote the welfare and happiness of the people they have much confidence; but they conceive it will operate as a strong argument in favor of the measure they request.

Your petitioners beg leave to suggest that the suspension of your final determination for a few months will not occasion any delay to the union, as divers of the States, whose determinations are of equal importance with that of Pennsylvania, will not meet in convention on this business in less than five