ranklin, were ushered into the Hall of the Assembly, made their report
and presented the new Constitution." No action was taken by the
Assembly. On September 29th, the last day but one of the session, George
Clymer proposed to refer the Act of Ratification to a Convention of the
State. Pleas for delay were made. Thomas FitzSimons, a Catholic, one of
the Representatives at the Constitutional Convention and also a member
of the Pennsylvania Assembly, opposed delay in submitting the new
Constitution to a convention of the citizens for adoption or rejection.

It was resolved to call a State Convention, but no day was fixed for its
meeting. Nineteen members had voted against calling it. On their behalf
it was asked that the consideration of the time of the meeting of the
convention should be postponed until the afternoon. This was granted.
When the House again met, the nineteen were absent. The Assembly lacked
a quorum. The absentees were sent for, but refused to appear. Mr.
Wynkoop declared: "If there is no way of compelling those who deserted
from duty to perform it, then God be merciful to us!"

There was a way of "compelling" and Captain John Barry led the
compellers.

The next morning a number of citizens, whose leader was Commodore John
Barry, forcibly entered the lodgings of James McCalmont and Jacob Miley,
the members from Franklin and Dauphin Counties, dragged them to the
State House and thrust them into the chamber where the Assembly was in
session without a quorum. With these two there were forty-six
representatives present--a quorum. Mr. McCalmont informed the House that
he had been forcibly brought into the Assembly-room, contrary to his
wishes, by a number of citizens. He begged he might be allowed to
retire.

Thomas FitzSimons replied that if any member of the House had forced the
gentleman from the determination to absent himself, such member's
conduct met the disapprobation of the House. But Mr. McCalmont was now
here and the business of the State cannot be accomplished if any one is
suffered to withdraw.

When Mr. McCalmont attempted to leave he was restrained by the citizens
who had "dragged" him into the Assembly. The House resumed the fixing a
time for the Convention to act on the Constitution. The date was fixed.
The people cheered. Christ Church chimes rang and Captain Barry, we may
be sure, was happy. By his action within twenty-three hours of the
adoption of the Constitution by the Federal Conve