Pennsylvania and the Federal Constitution, 1787-1788

CHAPTER IV. The Debate in the Convention

CHAPTER IV. THE DEBATE IN THE CONVENTION.. The election of delegates to represent Philadelphia in the State Convention to consider the constitution took place at the State House on Tuesday, November 6th. All went quietly during the day. But at midnight a crowd gathered, and a riot occurred before the now famous house of M.r. Alexander Boyd on Sixth street. The occasion of the riot was the presence in the house of the Anti-Federal Junto against whom the voters had been muttering threats all day. What happened was stated to the Assembly a few days later by one of the members insulted. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Saturday, November Ioth. The house met pursuant to adjournment. The order of the day for electing a state treasurer was called up, but Mr. M'Lean expressing a desire to state a subject of some importance, that order was postponed to give him an opportunity to address the house, which he did in the following manner: Mr. M' Lean. It is with the greatest diffidence I rise to represent some facts, which in my opinion, respect more the dignity, and honor of this house, than the personal safety and resentments of those who are individually interested. As a member of the legislature, it is my duty to guard and protect its privileges in whatever form they may be attacked; and even Mr. Speaker, when so humble a member as he that now addresses you, has been made the means of offering an insult to the house, the offence, which is but trivial when we consider the man, becomes of great importance when we consider his office. For these reasons therefore, I think myself bound to lay before the house, the circumstances of complaint (2°4) Riot at Mr. Boyd's. to which I have alluded; but to their wisdom I shall implicitly submit the measures which are proper to be pursued upon the occasion. About midnight on Tuesday last, a great concourse of people assembled opposite to the house of Mr. Alexander Boyd, in which myself, several other members of this house, and several members of the supreme executive council lodged, and at that time had retired to our respective chambers. The persons thus assembled made a considerable noise in the streets, and at length assailed Mr. Boyd's house, beating loudly at the door, and breaking the windows, thro' which they threw some very large stones, etc., exclaiming repeatedly, "here the damned rascals live who did all the mischief," and using other words highly reproachful to the members of this house and of the executive council. \Vhat were the motives of the rioters for this conduct, I do not know, nor am I solicitous to enquire; but having stated these facts, I am confident every gentleman here is ready to express his disapprobation of the proceedings, so grossly in violation of the law of the land, and the established privilege of this house. Mr. Findley. Though I am aware, Mr. Speaker, that the fullest credit will be given to the information of the member who has just spoken, and that upon this subject no other evidence is necessary to support his allegation, yet I have been solicitous to put the authenticity of the facts which have been stated beyond all doubt, and therefore beg leave to present two affidavits, one made by Mr. Boyd, whose house has been attacked, and the other by Mr. Baird, a member of the supreme executive council. The clerk then read the affidavits, which were as follows: "Philadelphia, ss." On this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, before me Plunket Fleeson, Esquire, being one of the justices of peace, in the city and county of Philadelphia, residing in the said city; cometh Alexander Boyd, of Sixth street, from Delaware river in the said city, Esquire, who being solemnly sworn with uplifted hand, doth depose, testify and say that on the The Debate in the Convention. night of Tuesday last, being the sixth of this present month of November, this depondent, together with the honorable John Smilie, John Baird and Abraham Smith, members of the supreme executive council; and James M'Calmont, James M'Lean, John Piper and William Findley, Esquires, representatives in the general Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania, who lodge with this deponent, were gone to bed in his dwelling in Sixth street...