434
Defending the Constitution
thought proper to ratify the proposed Constitution, yet those two-thirds
were elected by the votes of only six thousand and eight hundred freemen.
In the city of Philadelphia and some of the eastern counties there unto
that took the lead in the business agreed to vote for none but such as
would solemnly promise to adopt the system in toto, without exercising
their judgment. In many of the counties the people did not attend the
elections, as they had not an opportunity of judging of the plan. Others
did not consider themselves bound by the call of a set of men who assembled at the State-house in Philadelphia and assumed the name of the legislature of Pennsylvania; and some were prevented from voting by the
violence of the party who were determined at all events to force down
the measure. To such lengths did the tools of despotism carry their outrage, that on the night of the election for members of convention, in the
city of Philadelphia, several of the subscribers (being then in the city to
transact your business) were grossly abused, ill-treated and insulted while
they were quiet in their lodgings, though they did not interfere nor had
anything to do with the said election, but, as they apprehend, because
they were supposed to be adverse to the proposed constitution, and
would not tamely surrender those sacred rights which you had committed to their charge.
The convention met, and the same disposition was soon manifested in
considering the proposed constitution, that had been exhibited in every
other stage of the business. We were prohibited by an express vote of the
convention from taking any questions on the separate articles of the plan,
and reduced to the necessity of adopting or rejecting in toto. ’Tis true the
majority permitted us to debate on each article, but restrained us from
proposing amendments. They also determined not to permit us to enter
on the minutes our reasons of dissent against any of the articles, nor even
on the final question our reasons of dissent against the whole. Thus situated we entered on the examination of the proposed system of government, and found it to be such as we could not adopt, without, as we conceived, surrendering up your dearest rights. We offered our objections to
the convention, and opposed those parts of the plan which, in our opinion, would be injurious to you, in the best manner we were able; and
closed our arguments by offering the following propositions to the convention.