COMMENTARIES, 31 DECEMBER 1787

(a) See, a Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsyl-
vania, Page 24.20
1. This text in angle brackets was replaced in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings
with the following: "will create suspicions of the goodness of your cause."
2. David Hume believed that no reasonable man could accept the miracles of the New
Testament because miracles were contrary to the laws of nature and could not be proven.
See L. A. Selby-Bigge, ed., Enquiries Concerning the Human Understanding and Concerning
the Principles of Morals by David Hume ... (2nd ed., 1902; reprint ed., London, 1966), 109-
31. The Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding was first published in London in 1748
as Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding.
3. In the pamphlet Webster published in October 1787 (see headnote above), he
objected to Congress' power over the election of its own members: "I see no occasion
for any power in Congress to interfere with the choice of their own body. . . . [it] gives
needless and dangerous powers" (Mfm:Pa. 142, p. 26).
4. In A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings, Webster added the word "private" after
"against" and before "interest."
5. When Webster reprinted "America" in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings in
1790 (see headnote above), he added this footnote here: "Some of the bills of rights in
America declare, that the people have a right to meet together, and consult for the public
safety; that their legislators are responsible to them; that they are servants, &c. Such
declarations give people an idea, that as individuals, or in town meetings, they have a
power paramount to that of the Legislature. No wonder, that with such ideas, they attempt
to resist law."
6. This text in angle brackets was omitted in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings.
7. This number was changed to "five thousand" years in A Collection ofEssays and Fugitiv
Writings.
8. "For God's sake" was changed to "For mercy's sake" in A Collection of Essays and
Fugitiv Writings.
9. "Pennsylvania" was changed to "States" in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings.
10. This text in angle brackets was omitted in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings.
11. The reprint of "America" in A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings ends at this
point.
12. In 1777 the Constitutionalist-dominated Supreme Executive Council tried to pro-
tect Quakers who would not illuminate their houses during the celebrations of important
events. Magistrates were ordered to terminate festivities by eleven o'clock at night and
soldiers were ordered to patrol the streets. Despite these efforts, some people still dam-
aged the houses of Quakers.
13. The Republican-controlled Bank of North America was chartered by Congress on
31 December 1781 and by the Pennsylvania legislature early in 1782. Constitutionalists
tried unsuccessfully to limit the Bank's powers. In September 1785 the Constitutionalist-
controlled Assembly revoked the Bank's charter, but in March 1787 a Republican Assem-
bly restored it.
14. In November 1779 a Constitutionalist legislature reorganized the College of Phila-
delphia under the name of the University of the State of Pennsylvania and placed Con-
stitutionalists in the important offices. After a long and bitter fight, Republicans restored
the old college in 1789.
15. In September 1776 the Pennsylvania Convention, which adopted a new constitu-
tion, required voters to take oaths upholding the constitution and required officeholders
to declare their belief in one God and in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. In June
1777 the legislature ordered that all white male inhabitants take an oath of allegiance to

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