Timothy Pickering to John Gardner (December 11, 1787)

I am here the member from Luzerne in the state Convention assembled to ratify the new Constitution for the United States. The question will probably be taken tomorrow, and by a very great majority the Constitution will be adopted. Delaware State made short work. Their Convention assembled on a Monday, and on the following Thursday (last week) unanimously adopted it. We have a number of opposers; but they evidently oppose from interested and from party views. They are all Constitutionalists; and some of their party are continually publishing the most abominable lies and perverse misrepresentations to deceive the people, and raise a clamor among them against it. But all their wicked efforts will be fruitless.