Newspaper Report of Pennsylvania Convention Proceedings (December 14, 1787)

Yesterday the Convention appointed a committee to consider and report upon the overtures which have been made by the county of Philadelphia, and likewise by part of the county of Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks united, respecting the cession of 10 miles square to the future Congress of the United States. This the opposition to the federal system deemed a matter upon which the Convention could not, and ought not to act; for, they represented it as a violation of the constitution of the state, which still existed, and which, while in existence, it was the duty of every citizen to support. Upon this principle they refused either to vote for or against the appointment of a committee, which produced a temporary embarrassment as the majority were not at first agreed in the number, but ultimately concurred in making it nine. The Convention likewise appointed a committee to receive and state the account of their expenses, etc. and then adjourned till tomorrow at half past nine o'clock, which will certainly be the last time of their meeting.