To the Honourable Representatives of the Freemen of the State of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met:
The following remonstrance of a number of the inhabitants of Berks County Sheweth:
That we are not a little surprised to find that a Resolve has passed the Honourable House at your last sessions calculated to throw the State into new convulsions and revive the animosities which, we have reason to believe, are well nigh allayed, namely, that the sentiments of the People might be taken respecting a new Convention to alter or abolish certain articles of our happy constitution. As it is our undoubted privilege to have your sentiments respecting this resolve laid before your Hon'ble Body, we are bold to say that they come from men who have the most tender regard for the Honour and Reverence for the dignity and authority of our Representatives acting in a legal and constitutional manner.
It has been our Study to promote order by supporting your authority when just raising its head against the confusion and licentiousness of the times, and that virulent opposition it met with from a factious and disappointed party. Be assured, then, that it is with the utmost reluctance we either complain of your proceedings or call in question your power.
Yet, as we regard the future Tranquility and Safety of the State, we cannot, in Justice both to ourselves and Representatives, avoid sending up to the Honourable House the warmest remonstrance against a resolve in every point of light fraught with danger and mischief to the State, and praying that at your next sessions it may be wholly rescinded.
We are at a loss to know what could have induced the Hon'ble House to pass a resolve of such an extraordinary nature, when there was neither a call of the people, nor yet any embarrassment in the way to obstruct the execution of your laws. If such opposition and embarrassment had subsisted, it must doubtless have been first felt by the Executive branch, who doubtless would have represented the incompetency of the constitution in its present form for the purposes of good Government, and concurred with you in taking the sense of the people upon the proposed amendments. But no such representation has been made by the Hon'ble Council, and therefore we presume no such incompetency has been found. Nay, so far from this, we are informed, on good authority, that the measure was reprobated by the council as calculated to produce the most pernicious effects. We think it would have been but common decency to have taken the council with you in a matter not belonging to you in a legislative capacity, and in which they were equally the Representatives of the people with yourselves.
But we can trace the rise of your Resolve no further than your own House. Had you been elected to sit as a convention there would have been strict propriety in your Conduct; but considered as an assembly, chosen and appointed to act upon a Constitution already formed to your hands, you have exceeded your power, have violated the purposes of your election, and exposed the Constitution to the risque of a single election, of which you were the appointed Conservators and Guardians, and which you had plighted your faith to preserve inviolate. Had you declared that you would not hold your seats Under the Constitution, there would have been found Persons, doubtless who would. But to profess to hold them, and proceed to transgress the purposes for which you were chosen to fill them, is at once absurd and inconsistent. We can conceive, therefore, of no other alternatives but either resigning your Seats or Rescinding your resolve. We cannot but judge that you have Strangely neglected the Constitution in your hasty Resolve, when no sudden necessity pressed you, and that the State of the votes appointed to be taken is both absurd and ensnaring, by doubling it so that persons must vote both for and against the same thing at one and the same time.
However, the Hon'ble House may reconcile their proceedings with their own solemn Oath to preserve the constitution inviolate, we cannot help thinking that they meant either to tempt those of their Constituents who have taken the same solemn Oath to violate their faith, or to shut them entirely out of the proposed election. We are truly surprised at the Hon'ble House in holding up for the consideration of the proposed Convention propositions that lies at the very foundation of our Constitution, and makes us conclude that the house have a very low opinion of that dignity and independence to which we had raised them, by subjecting themselves to the precarious determination of a Convention whether another house should be created and set over their head to check and control their proceedings. We wish to see no power above you but that of the people, and however you may be determined to sport with your privileges, we are determined not to part with ours. We chuse to retain the reins of Government in our own hands, and as the power is radically with us, resolve that no Particular body of men, whatever wealth, Influence or Talents they may possess, shall check or controul you otherwise than as members of the community at Large.
When we consider this and the subsequent Articles, all calculated to draw the power out of the hands of the people and to vest them in the hands of a few, we have just grounds to apprehend that the Resolve in question has originated from some discontented and ambitious spirits in your house, as the former opposers of our independance and Servants of the Propriatary have been in General the foremost in opposing the Constitution and embarrassing and enfeebling the government established thereon.
As the Constitution appears to have made the amplest provision for securing the liberties of the people, we persuade ourselves that those in your house or elsewhere who would either weaken or overthrow it have other ends in view than the Liberties of the people, namely, the gratification of their insatiable lust after Power and Domination, accounting it better to approve themselves to a Governor and Council of overgrown and dangerous Citizens, than to their fellows, by whose free suffrage their pride disdains to hold an office.
To put the good people of this State to the Trouble and expence of a new Convention, to unhinge their Government, to divide them into parties and irritate their minds for the sake of certain supposed inconveniences in the present constitution and form of Government, said to be suggested by divers petitions presented to former assemblies, altho', as the Hon'ble House observes in their address to the inhabitants of this State, they were confronted by a vastly superior number, and even those Petitioners not renewing their Request was beneath the wisdom of the legislative Body and inconsistent with the Goodness of heart which they should always manifest, with that Harmony, good order and universal benevolence which they should always cultivate in every part of the State; and we would beg leave further to observe that the invasion of the State, there solution of a former assembly being dropped, and for good reasons never taken up until your Hon'ble House thought proper to revive it in a manner very different from theirs, and with an Artifice of which they were incapable, were the true Causes why Remonstrances of a similar nature to this were not generally presented against the measure.
Upon the whole, we cannot but apprehend that the Hon'ble House have come into the Resolve with precipitation, have gone beyond the line of the power delegated them, laid the foundation for anarchy and confusion to reign throughout this State, and therefore require the Honourable House to retract said resolve, and never attempt carrying into execution a measure pregnant with the greatest evils, and which we cannot think of without Horror. Signed by:
Benjamin Spyker
Henry Spyker
Jacob Fisher
Peter Spyker, Jun.
Christ'n Fisher
Philip Von Neida
Christ'n Lower, Jr.
Lawrence Bennich
Peter Lederman
W'm Hoster
Nicholas Krisecker
Adam Schultz
Thomas Smith
Jacob Etcheberger
Philip Etcheberger
Nicholas Weygand
John Zoller
Daniel Rieth
Martin Geiser
Frantz Roeller
Peter Brua
George Lehner, Jr.
George Lehner
Christoph Winter
Andrew Shad
John Zerbe
John Young
Peter Leiss
Frantz Wenrich
Jacob Levengood
Peter Driesbach
John Christman
Henry Schaefer
John Reith
Adam Kalbach
Peter Moyer
Adam Lehner
Philip Gunderman
Peter Zunnog
Henry Battorf
George Weis
Michael Katterman
Jacob Katterman
Balzer Noll
John Weis
Martin Von Neida
Peter Bitner
John Shnee
Casper Swartz
Valentine Bentner
Philip Katterman
Philip Wolleber
Peter Wolleber
John Schweitzer
Jacob Schweitzer
Mich'l Koppenheffer
Henry Steiner
Adam Wilhelm
Peter Smeltzer
George Kaufman
Jacob Rener
Paul Wolff
John Groff
Abraham Diehl
Peter Reichard
Casper Rieth
Peter Reichard, Jun.
George Klingel
Martin Gunderman
John Beshore
Jacob Brown
Balzer Emerick
Michael Swartz
Jacob Bordner
Andrew Eres
Michael Read, Jun.
Nicholas Wolff
John Korngibel
Nicholas Wilmer
Adam Emerich
George Emerich
John Cristoph Smith
John Anspach
Michael Rieth
John Jacob Weigand
Adam Rieth
Casper Denner
Yost Doerr
David Miller
Peter Brown
Wm. Scheffer
Christ'n Heckendorn
George Battorff
Christ'n Laurer
Daniel Luckes
Paul Lahr
Andreas Apple
Michael Furer
George Wolff
Nicholas Stouch
Gottfried Roehrer
Wm. Krichbaum
John Brower
Daniel Hoffman
Philip Gebhard
Philip Rieth
Lenhart Stub
George Wolff
John Anspach, Jr.
Martin Stub
Wilhelm Eshberger
Jacob Reith
Peter Eshberger
George Neidig
William Albert
Herman Knebel
John Cobell
George Emmert
Fetter Kritzer
Andrew Saltsgeber
Richard Patton
Christ'n Frantz
George Brenner
Peter Anspach
Adam Anspach
Jacob Swab
Elias Heller
Martin Brown
George Hartt
Matthew Henrick
Peter Kutzman
Valentine Gebhart
Daniel Kramer
Michael Battorff
Jacob Decker
Christ'n Zerbe
John Emerich
Jacob Kurr
Jacob Anspach
Peter Walborn
Jacob Weisen
John Spyker
Paul Bishoff
Jacob Boushlag
Valentine ---
Christ'n Shoemaker
John Casper Rieth
John George Ulrich
George Rieth
George Goodman
Lazarus Winger
Thomas Kurr
John Adam Casel
Jacob Rohrer
John Rohrer
Conrad Repman
Peter Weis
Andrew Kreutzer
George Graff, Sen.
George Graff, Jun.
Nicholas Deissmer
Fetter Kreutzer
Benj'n Baumberger
Benj'n Zerbe
Michael Fehl
Henry Daniel
Nicholas Kenzer
Simon Bressler
Philip Graff
Christ'n Walburn
William Gartner
Henry Mang
Adam Christ
George Stuadt
Ludwig Brenner
Casper Pfotteicher
Andrew Emmert
John Keller
Christoph Henly
Peter Shell
Joseph Mentz
Daniel Zerbe
Jacob Valter
Henry Gruber
John Vollmer
Nicholas Raub
John Bricker
John Bricker, Jr.
Adam Gruber
Isaac Holler
Adam Fiedler
John Schaeffer
John Katterman
John Reigel
Christoph Kern
Philip Filber
John Weiser
Benedict Imhoff
Jonas Eckert
John Wenrick
Lawrence Crone
Henry Menges
Balzer Gehr
Thomas Robers
Wilhelm Arimeister
Peter Laustam
Martin Maurer
Wilhelm Getting
Fredrick Richbohn
Philip Bohn
Johannas Stimmel
Michael Wommer
Peter Lutz
Godfried Wonner
Jacob Slyer
Daniel Wormelsdorf
George Nich. Lehner
George Radebach
W'm Dollendorff
John Scheoefer
Jacob Rentzer
Francis Arttillie
Jacob Smith
Casper Hinkel
Fred'k Read
Henry Holtzman, Jun.
Fred'k Deck
George Von Neida
Daniel Wolff
Carl Baumberger
Jacob Kercher
Jacob Kobel
Thomas Miller
Philip Grider
Andrew Zellen
Henry Gutlander
George Shrekengast
Valentine ---
John Pontzius
Peter Miller
Philip Jordon
Nicholas Goetz
George Stump
Adam Krickbaum
Michael Frantz
Lenhart Emerich
John Jacob Holsman
Peter Scheffer
Henry Shoemaker
Martin Kowchen, Jr.
Charles Shoemaker
Michael Lindensmith
Henry Gamwell
Jacob Wagner
John Soder
Anthony Kersner
Peter Spengler
George Mory
Michael Kreicher
George Shiley
Dines Karchnar
Jacob Runkel
Johannas Maurer
Wilhelm Stumrey
Michael Hagenbush
George Fisler
Peter Spanglr
Ferdinand Ritter
Henry Schwent
Henry Hagenbush
Jacob Stump
Johannas Yeager
Jacob Shoemaker
George Schmoltz
George Reigle
Jacob Schmidt
Adam Schweit
Michael Schenk
Christian Brauscher
Henry Frey
Adam Bucher
Peter Kleinman
Wilhelm Stumpf
Jacob Bachor
Henry Biever
John Reinhart
John Kuns
Henry Kuns
Henry Zimmerman
Nicholas Zimmerman
Jacob Lans
George Sturrel
Jacob Brauchor
Michael Lenberg
Daniel Glick
Nicholas Lambert
Tobias Stopelton
John Nust
Gottleib Studer
Peter Gerhardt
Mathias Frantz
John Sterper
Valentine Fetriss
George Fetriss
Frederick Bostian
John Brobst
George Albright
Johannas Heinbach
Michael Rensslar
Conrad Kirschner
Jacob Schoppell
Johannas Hays
Samuel Umberhower
Philip Strouse
Frantz Nagle
Jacob Walker
John Soder
Conrad Strouse
Peter Kirchner
Andrew Nachmer
Casper Strouse
Jacob Bucher
Jacob Stabellon
Henry Kuntz
Christian Shisler
George Stoh
Jacob Stoh
Henry Norhuth
Adam Riecheldorfer
George Adam Hammer
Jacob Futterolts
David Hess
Jacob Koontz
Michael Dries
Henry Reichaldorfer
Conrad Stumpf
Henry Zimmerman
Henry Straper
Michael probst
Jacob ---
Simon Vortman
John Steifeldon
Max Dinbrufer
Peter Garber
John Neifert
Nicholas Backer
Nicholas Strasser
Robert Teffelton
Peter Bauschor
John Strapepr
Christian Heinrich
George Drumb
Peter Feiss
John Boho
John Rickert
John Dries
George Brunner
Philip Horrel
Jacob Fager
George Miller
Stossel Braucher
Paul Corlall
Johannas Waessererr
Philip Baucharrs
Jacob Stamm
Christian Braucher
Martin Stamm
Daniel Bauchers
John Corrall
Philip Glick
Jacob Driess
Adam Lawrel
Jacob Gearhart
Christian Helfer
Moses Frey
Peter Walkenmann
Michael Dois
Peter Heimbach
Killian Bower
Henry Reichelderffer
Jacob Brobst
John Brobst
Valentine Dum
George Hoffman
Frantz Frey
Jacob Rauch, Jr.
George Jotz
Jacob Rauschalt
Yost Haseler
Matthias Karschner
Adam Albright
Jeremiah Karscherr
Casper Schneider
Jacob Miller
John George Wortz
George Kissler
Michael Schloyer
Andreas May
Jacob Cali
Henry Bauscher
Peter Deern
George Schreck
George Stumb
George Stein
George Snyder
Eberhart Chappel
Carl Schlo
Jacob Hummel
Philip Hendel
Michael Schlo
George Horner
Christian Bulhen
C. Leidig
John Buck
Baltzer Buck
Bostian Chreicher
Andrew Cratt
Henry Wentzell
Abraham Luckenbill
Leonard Wingener
George Joh
Daniel Will
Jacob Michael
George Steiger
William Aengit
William Wigel
George Hindel
Simon Greischer
George Miller
Jacob Fridel
Jacob Lossler
Frederick Vogt
Adam Albright
George Bozler
George Alspach
Aaron Frey
Andrew Schweitzer
Conrad Cora
Henry Stemmer
Fetter ---
Casper Schmidt
Ernest Dunkleberg
Fetter Von Walth
Peter Wachs
George Raber
Jacob Hoffler
Peter Fogt
Henry Rauch
Paul Erne
Gottfried Seidel
Henry Ilspach
Henry Hellner
Gottfried Irven
Balzer Unfang
Henry Herle
Fetter Muckelberg
John Dewalt
Carl Hiessle
Fetter Krisher
Christ'n Berger
Nicholas Becker
Adam Luckenbill
Jacob Hummel
John Dundleberger
George Miller
Philip Miller
Jacob Loos
Jacob Schreck
Peter Kirshnel
Peter Stetzler
Henry Sheure
John Sheilo
Adam Kloss
Jerem'h Shopelsenzer
Jacob Shradelcosten
George Kaufman
George Dowry
John Knoewel
John Geshwind
Philip Adam Clauszer
Everhard Powman
Christ'n Althouse
Fred'k Blott
Herman Mindelberger
Fred'k Klein
Jacob Kunhard
Carl Reichard
Lenhard Ditterrich
Hannes Ditterich
John Clauzer, Sen'r.
Conrad Jacoby
Andreas Hummel
Daniel Bausler
Daniel Hillcarten
George Lozeman
Daniel Mieser
Fred'k Hausknecht
Adam Smith
George Klein
Christ'n Gruber
Bernhard Sweizig
Leonhard Rodelbel
Jacob Simmers
Fred'k Sweizig
Nicholas Holbolshoch
Jacob Alspach
Henry Buck
Daniel Riegel
Adam Klein
Kilian Dunckel
B. Krebs
Michael Hollenbach
Philip Michael
Wm. Barckheiser
Andreas Seidel
Matthias Threer
Stophel Wagner
George Meunch
Peter Waccerly
George Roth
Ludwig Lerhman
Joseph Marshall
C. Sweiler
Andrew Zechman
Yost Althouse
Christopher Wagner
Yost Shlarbig
William Roth
John Sherdel
Chr'n Albrecht
Herman Powman
Peter Lorwiz
Matthias Roth
Michael Schock
John Zechman
George Zechman
George Baumann
Yost Heck
George Orwig
John Dorenbach
Jacob Heck
Jacob Shester
Berchhart Hoffman
Jacob Wetson
Jacob Hester, Sen.
Casper Brach, Sen.
Casper Brach, Jun.
Jacob Hoffman
John Kloeckener
Goffried Kirchner
Philip Schats
Michael Mosser
George Brestiner
Abraham Wetzstein
George Broch
George Meiyer
Jacob Buschy
Sebastian Bender
Henry Lanten
Peter Brag
George Rauch
Jacob Bensinger
Andreas Sweinhard
Martin Meyer
August Strack
Daniel Bensinger
Peter Kraub
Rudolph Heiser
Matthias Kremer
Wm. Kremmer
Valentine Truckenmiller
Jacob Kimmel
Jacob Heck
John Geiger
Jacob Claszer
Adam Wenzel
John Horring
Eli Schmidt
Peter Smelcher
Henry Adam Ketler
Jacob Kettler
John Tschuty, Jun.
John Tschuty, Sen.
Michael Lindenmuth
Jacob Hill
Abraham Lantzer
Philip Hill
George Zechman
John Stroup
Philip Stroup
Bernhard Shaner
Henry Fritz
Ludwig Hener
Henry Widdig
Adam Doerr
John Bushy
Frantz Brenner
Peter Heim
Peter Weiman
John Shester
Joseph Shirmel
Peter Confehr
Christ'n Laub
John Heim
Stophel Sneider
Jacob Seyfrid
Michael Tally
Frantz Umberhauer
Henry Hutting
John Becker
Philip Heck
Jacob Strouss
Chris'n Bentz, Sen.
Christ'n Bentz
John Faust
Peter Rohdenbach
Conrad Crist
George Reubel
Matthias Weber
Jacob Strouss
Daniel Brion
Samuel Filbert
Nicholas Klein
George Meyer
George Adam Wagner
George Rim
Henry Runckel
Andreas Miller
Conrad Gilbert
Hervey Wildermuth
Paul Heim
Jacob Himmelberger
John Conrad
Joseph Conrad
James Filbert
Adam Ageber
Michael Ocler
Nicolas Joss
John Altman
Valentine Reber
Balzer Umberhacker
Jeremiah Kerscherreid
Andreas Diehm
Henry Leonhard
Stophel Ferniger
Michael Womer
John Blatner
Joseph Schomo
Anthony Schomo
Joseph Schomo, Jun.
George Koenig
John Norolst
Chr'n Hoering
Ludwig Hoering
Conrad Reichert
John Heim
Philip Hening
Mathias Staudt
Philp Schmidt
Christ'n Albrecht
Nicholas Lieb
John Staudt
Abraham Staudt
Jacob Freyberger
Philip Fuchs
Michael Laurer
David Herman
Peter Zuber
Adam Stamm
Herner Stamm
Fred'k Stamm
Henry Feidel
Peter Weber
Ludwig Greim
Chris'n Gruber
Henry Winter
Nicholas Reckner
Wm. Dornbach
Rudolph Bossert
Gottfrey Smelcher
Michael Confehr
John Meoshalber
Henry Kitterer
John Huffer
John Reber
Samuel Shabel
Ulrich Backenstoss
Wm. Williamson
Conrad Berchman
Christ'n Weber
John Camp
Peter Weber
Adam Hauser
Elrich Hausser
Henry Wetzstein
Jacob Deuder
Jacob Deuder, Jun.
John Umbenhauer
Yost Hustrer
Christ'n Hustrer
Hieronymus Hennig
Frederich Hennig
John Klein
John Klein, Jun.
Philip Albrecht
John Ludwig Herman
Henrie Reeser
George Matz
George Mittler
Michael Rapp
Henry Wagener
Melchoir Foegel
John Epler
Valentine Epler
Jacob Epler
Peter Epler
John Lippert
Christophel Lerch
W'm Lerch
Conrad Reihl
John Aken
Henry Moser
Folke Moser
Michael Pout
John Hiester
Jacob Stauff
George Gentzel
Ludwig Nunnemacker
Ellis Thomas
Jacob Kissling
Martin Kissling
John Kissling
Michael Womer
Christophel Winig
Abraham Risser
Fred'k Fromm
John Fromm
Abraham Heissinger
Jacob Albrecht
Daniel Albrecht
Mattias Sowermilk
William Felix
Henry Wm. Bohn
Micholas Wagoner
Jacob Frantz
Michael Guler
John Loep
George W'm Wist
John Gensler
Bernhard Eisenhart
Michael Brown
Adam Schweigart
John White
George Brown
John Kelchner
Conrad Mertz
Fred'k Kaupf
John Hummel
Peter Krofft
Conrad Mertz, Jun.
George Adam Hummel
Henry Hummel
Michael Hummel
Philip Koenig
George Renshler
John Renshler
Jeremiah Wills
Andrew Helwig
Fred'k Faust
Christ'n Karcher
John Blatner
Martin Rieger
Henry Herbertt
Valentine Biever
Nicholas Biever
John Giltner
Joseph Fisher
Jacob Donat
Jacob Koening
Source: "Memorials Against Calling a Convention, 1779," Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, volume 3, edited by John B. Linn and Wm. H. Egle. Harrisburg: B.F. Meyers, 1890, pp. 321-332.
Submitted by: Nancy.
Last Modified