Newspaper Report of Pennsylvania Convention Proceedings (December 12, 1787)

Findley, at the conclusion of the speech which he delivered on Friday last, animadverted upon the previous steps that had been taken to call the Convention which, he said, were marked with disgraceful precipitancy and violence. He then added that from the returns, and upon the best information he could otherwise obtain, it did not appear that above one-sixth of the people had voted at the elections for delegates. Hence he drew an inference that there might be a majority of the state averse to the measure, and, therefore, he insinuated the propriety of postponing the decision of this great question till the general sentiments of the people could be obtained. He concluded with declaring that he did not conceive, under all the circumstances of the case, the minority of the state could be bound by the proceedings at this day, but would still have a right, which he thought would be exercised, to object to the ratification of the proposed Constitution, and, if they pleased, to associate under another form of government.1