Ratification of the Constitution
Summary of the Proceedings at the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention
The official record of the Pennsylvania ratification debate only includes the Federalist side of the debate. In each day below, we have included both the official record presented in Elliot’s Debates as well as McMaster and Stone’s debates, which provides a summary that includes both the Federalist and Antifederalist sides of the debates. Special thanks to Lindsey Svendsen and ???????????? for their assistance in combining these Pennsylvania debates.
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McMaster & Stone |
Journal Notes of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention |
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Nov. 20 |
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This being the day appointed by the legislature of this state for the meeting of the Convention, a number of gentlemen delegated for that purpose met accordingly at the State House. And adjourned to three o’clock P.M. tomorrow. |
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Nov. 21 |
Sixty1 of the gentlemen elected to serve in the convention met; the returns of the elections held for the city of Philadelphia and the several counties of this State were read, by which it appeared that the following gentlemen were returned as delegates to the convention2 for the said city and counties respectively, viz: Chester Thomas Bull, Anthony Wayne, William Gibbons, Richard Downing, Thomas Cheyney, John Hannum. Lancaster Stephen Chambers, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, John Hubley, Jaspar Yeates, John Whitehill. York Henry Slagle, Thomas Campbell Philadelphia City George Latimer, Benjamin Rush, Hilary Baker, James Wilson, Thomas M’Kean. Philadelphia. William Macpherson, John Hunn, George Gray, Samuel Ashmead, Enoch Edwards. Bucks Henry Wynkoop, John Barclay, Thomas Yardley, Abraham Stout, Thomas Hartley, David Grier, John Black Benjamin Pedan. Cumberland John Harris, John Reynolds, Robert Whitehill, Jonathan Hoge. Berks. Nicholas Lutz, John Ludwig, Abraham Lincoln, John Bishop, Joseph Hiester. Northampton John Arndt, Stephen Balliet, Joseph Horsfield, David Deshler. Bedford James Martin Joseph Powell. Northumberland William Wilson, John Boyd. Westmoreland. William Findley, John Baird, William Todd. Washington. James Marshel, James Edgar, Thomas Scott, John Neville. Fayette Nathaniel Breading, John Smilie. Franklin Richard Bard, John Allison Montgomery. Jonathan Roberts, John Richards, Fred A. Muhienberg, James Morris. Dauphin. William Brown, Adam Orth, John Andre Hannah. Luzerne. Timothy Pickering Huntington. Benjamin Elliot The members then proceeded by ballot3 to the election of a president, when there appeared 30 votes for Mr. Muhlenberg, 29 for Mr. M’Kean, and one for Mr. Gray. General Wayne doubted whether 30 votes could be deemed the sense of the meeting, as it was not a majority of 60, the number of delegates present, which occasioned a short conversation upon the subject; but at length, the question being taken whether Mr. Muhlenberg should be conducted to the chair? it was determined in the affirmative. It was then proposed to proceed to the choice of a clerk, but that business was deferred on motion of Mr. Smilie. Dr. Rush moved “that a committee be appointed to request the attendance of some minister of the gospel tomorrow morning, in order to open the business of the convention with prayer.” This was considered by several gentlemen as a new and unnecessary measure, which might be inconsistent with the religious sentiments of some of the members, as it was impossible to fix upon a clergyman to suit every man’s tenets, and it was neither warranted by the example of the general assembly or of the convention that framed the government of Pennsylvania. To these observations Dr. Rush replied, that he hoped there was liberality sufficient in the meeting to unite in prayers for the blessing of Heaven upon their proceedings, without considering the sect or persuasion of the minister who officiated; and with respect to precedent, he remarked that it might be taken from the conduct of the first, and every succeeding Congress, who certainly deserved our imitation. “That the convention who framed the government of Pennsylvania, did not preface their business with prayer, is probably the reason,” added the Doctor, “that the state has ever since been distracted by their proceedings.” Mr. Smilie objected to the absurd superstition of that opinion, and moved a postponement, which was accordingly agreed to. An invitation was read from the trustees of the university, requesting the attendance of the members at the ensuing Commencement, which was unanimously accepted, and the convention adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o’clock, in order to proceed in a body to the college-hall. |
Sixty of the gentlemen elected to serve in the Convention met. The returns of the elections held for the city of Philadelphia and the several counties of this state were read, by which it appears that the following gentlemen were returned as delegates for the Convention for the said city and counties, respectively, viz.:
The Convention proceeded to elect a president. The ballots being counted, it appeared that Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Esquire was duly elected. An invitation to the President and members of the Convention from the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, requesting their company at a commencement to be held tomorrow, was read. Agreed to attend in a body, at ten o’clock tomorrow. Adjourned until nine o’clock, A.M. |
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