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C. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMENTARIES
ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY ON
28-29 September 1787
Tench Coxe to James Madison,
Philadelphia, 28-29 September'
I troubled you with a few lines by Mr. Moore, in which I promised
myself the pleasure of sending you the third number of the American
Citizen,2 which I have now the pleasure to enclose. Our House is at
this moment on the adoption of the plan. A motion to postpone was
made by our Western members, but on the question only 12 were for
the postponement. The House are now proceeding, and the resolu-
tion before them is to this effect: "that the House recommend to the
people of Pennsylvania the calling a convention agreeably to the
plan proposed by the late Federal Convention for the purpose of
considering the new Constitution, etc."
A second resolution is to follow fixing the times of election and
meeting. There is very little doubt that it will be carried. I have
none indeed. Mr. [William] Findley stated his ideas on the subject
fully, and went so far as to say that he thought a convention ought
to be called and expected it would be called. He made no observa-
tion unfavorable to the new Constitution.
[P.S.] The only ground of opposition was not having the Con-
stitution before the House from Congress.
29th. Our Assembly on a division on the first question were 43
for it and 19 against; Mr. [Robert] Morris was not in the House.
There were 34 Republicans and 9 Constitutionalists in the 43. The
principal Germans were among the nine. The Western members
chiefly composed the 19. This took place about two o'clock when the
House adjourned till after dinner. On the call of the roll there ap-
peared but 45 members, 46 is a quorum. This appearing designed
to prevent the second resolution fixing the time, manner, etc. of
electing and convening the state convention, the sergeant at arms was
sent for the 17 absentees who were found together at the house [of]
a great Constitutional partisan, a Major [Alexander] Boyd, with
two Constitutional members of the Council from the Western coun-
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