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128. _Dexatts of the GENERAL. ASSEMBLY
‘meafure any length of time before the others, This is one resfon of wi iting:
the recommendation ‘of Congrefs—for then the new “conftitution comes Official-~~
ly and all are prepared to go hind in hand in perfeéting the work—but will-
a ‘name jultify us for a bteach of faith unneceffarily, andno neceffity'is alledged
‘to juftify the meafure, Sir, in ating the’part I do ia fupporting federal me
fures, l am juftified by every citizen,. who will think with deliberation on ‘a.
fubject cf this importance, I have ‘fuppofed the gentlemen who fupport the.
refolutions before. “you, have forne objedt-in view which is not underftood, Io.
have a right for fuch fufpicion, or why was it delayed to the Fatt but one day
‘of the feffions 2 We do nct treat this fubject which is allowed to be of im~ -
portance with any: refpeet 3 we treat it rathet as 2 matter of no importance,
when we hurry it on in this manner. Why, Sir, even the.trifling bufinels of
appointing a prothonotary»-or regifter, is meade the order of the day. Cer-
tainly then we tréat this with indignity, - mot
There muft be foe reafons for this, but though I canhot fee it. I may
fuppofe ity and L would afk the: gentleman whether it is that they may have.
the metit of promoting abufinefs which appears to be very popular 5 but will,
this confift with our federal engagements. I would go further, and affign an-
other reafon againft it, but I'may be fuppofed to touch.it with indelicacy. Ir,
may be atked, was this Houfe eleted with a view of entering into matters of
this importance ? I fay this may be ‘indelicate, as the Houfe have ele€ed dele-
ates to convention—put then; Sir; Ihave fhewed they had that right by ©
the articles of confederation; fo that the Henfe fo far did their duty.—It
is true they happened in their choice of delegates, to chocfe a number cf.
their own Members; bat in this they were alfo juftified for ond .reafons per *
haps they thought them better judges of what would be for the benefit of a.
flate they regulated by their legiflation. I believe nothing was improper in this3,
bur, I remember, it was larnented that fome perfons were not .chofen. better,
to reprefent the country, intereit. Andit is thefe very men, who now come.
forward with the refolutions, they, no doubt, ‘are able to decide 5 but I,
think they fhould indulge ethers with time, for a like confideration—there~
fore, .I hope they will agree to let it fie over'to the next Houfe.’ I don’t.
think that ic will be then too fate, and few or none of the other, Rates, can. be.
forwarder than ourfelves, in calling a convention:
Mr. G. Clymer.—We now, Mr. Speaker, have heard all the comnion place.
erguments againft adopting the federal conftitution +.and among. this mafs of
matter, what has the gentleman: attempted to eftablith ? I think, S Sir, it may
‘be redeced to thefe two points: firft, that the legiflature of Pennfylvania is
is not adequate to calling a convention, though generaly, defired ; and the other
is, that the meafure of calling a converticn, if gone. into, is -anti-federal, and:
f.ews an impropriety. in the conduat of the Houfe, in. not waiting the refule
ef the deliberations of Congrefs. Sir, Ihave as great refpedt. for federal'm
furces and for Congrefs, as that gentleman can pretend.to,—But waiting their.
report, Sir, I believe will be to attend to forms, and lofe the fubflance. | A.
little calculation will ferve to demonftrate thisy and thew the impropriety cf.
waiting the report of that body—at the fame time a due regard to cecency has.
been he ad- by poftponi ng this bufinels to fo late an hour.—If this.Houfe order.
a convention,it may be celiseratedand decided fome time in November,and the ;
conflitution may be 2 2&ed under by December. Bar, if it is. left over. to the.
next Houfe, it will inevitably be procrattinated until December, 1788. “No:
man, I prefume, would be willing that, our union and’. exiftence , “fhould. re-
main fo long in n jeopardy, or rin the rifk of & foal r ruin i
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