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

On Thursday the Convention being assembled, Mr. Whitehill remarked that the bill of rights, or articles of amendment, which he had the day before presented to the chair, were not inserted upon the Journals together with the resolution which referred to them. This he declared an improper omission, and desired they might be inserted. This was opposed by the majority, but as there was no motion before the Convention, the President did not see how a determination could take place, though he wished to know the sense of the members upon this occasion. Mr. Smilie in consequence of this intimation, moved for the insertion of Mr. Whitehill's articles. Mr. Wilson continued his opposition, and called on Mr. Smilie to reduce his motion to writing. "Indeed, sir," observed Mr. Smilie, "I know so well that if the honorable member from the city says the articles shall not, they will not be admitted, that I am not disposed to take the useless trouble of reducing my motion to writing, and therefore I withdraw it." Mr. Chambers exclaimed that the member from Fayette and his friends might be accustomed to the arrangement which he alluded to, but neither Mr. Wilson nor those who agreed in sentiments with him were to be led by a mere fiat. The Form being presented by Mr. M'Kean, who with Mr. Wilson and Mr. Yates were appointed as a committee to prepare it, it was agreed that the Convention should proceed to proclaim the Ratification before it was signed, which was accordingly done.