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Jensen, Merrill; Kaminski, John P.; Saladino, Gaspare J. (ed.) / Ratification of the Constitution by the states: Pennsylvania
(1976)
A. Proceedings and debates of the convention, pp. 326-616
Page 608
III. PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION ducted a boat, on a wagon drawn by five horses, through the city, to the great amusement of many thousand spectators. On their way through the different streets, they frequently threw a sounding line, and cried out, "three and twenty fathoms, foul bottom"; and in other places, "six and forty fathoms, sound bottom-safe anchorage"; al- luding to the numbers that composed the minority and majority of the late Convention of Pennsylvania, which ratified the Federal Con- stitution. [Pennsylvania Gazette, 19 December]7 A correspondent observes, he was much surprised to see so very short a procession on Thursday last, at the proclaiming and publishing the Ratification and adoption of the new plan of government; which is of so solemn and important concern to all of us. The delinquency of the officers, of (our present) government on this occasion, is easily accounted for; but that so few militia officers as 17, and such a small number of other citizens should think it worth their attention, is very strange. The gentlemen of the university were as scarce on this occasion as any others. Our friends in Convention and Council de- serve credit for their exertions; they distributed invitations and copies of the order of the procession all round; and did their utmost to procure as respectable a company on that day as the occasion merited. And the common people appeared to be as inattentive as the rest. A batteau was carried on a cart in the evening, thro the back streets, dressed with several flags (an emblem of our future commerce) and notwithstanding the hearty sailors who conducted it, used all their honest endeavors, by huzzaing and playing on a fiddle, to attract the admiration, yet it was remarkable, that the people did not seem much pleased with it; none but a few children followed. With such astonish- ing indifference is this great subject treated. [Freeman's Journal, 19 December] 8 The conduct of our fellow citizens on the late glorious occasion of solemnly proclaiming to the people the Ratification and adoption of the proposed new Constitution, by the Convention of this state does them no honor; for, notwithstanding due notice having been Aiven by our friends in the Convention and Council, to the members of Council, judges, justices, and other state officers, the faculty of the university, militia officers, and citizens, of the order and time of the procession; yet few of any of these attended. The citizens and militia officers in particular were uncommonly scarce. They should at least have given their countenance to this very important business; it is not very unaccountable that more officers of government did not come forth, but that more of the professors, etc. in the university, the 608
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