Newspaper Report 7 of Pennsylvania Convention Proceedings (December 13, 1787)

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 deserve 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 astonishing indifference is this great subject treated.