LANCASTER COUNTY. 409 



As soon as this convention was organized, it assumed 

 the powers of tlie committee of safety — the political 

 power of the state. One of its first acts was the appoint- 

 ment of delegates to Congress. The delegates were, 

 Messrs. Franklin, Morton, Morris, Wilson, George Ross, 

 James Smith, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer and Geo. 

 Taylor. 



Pennsylvania made prodigious exertions, in co-opera- 

 ting with the allied colonies, fully to meet the hostilities. 

 Several regiments were raised and equipped in Lancaster 

 county. " It is believed, had all the other provinces done 

 as much in proportion to their ability,* and the men been 



first state constitution, January 5, 1776 ; Soutli Carolina, March 

 24, 1776; Virginia, June 29, 1776; New Jersey, July 2, 1776; 

 Maryland, August 14,1776; Pennsylvania, September, 1776; 

 Delaware, September, 1776 ; North Carolina, December, 1776 ; 

 New York, April, 1777 ; Massachusetts, March, 1770 ; Vermont, 

 July 4, 1788; Georgia, May, 1789. 



The first constitution of Pennsylvania of 1776, was altered 

 and amended by a convcsition, held at Philadeiphia in Novem- 

 ber, 1789. Delegates from Lancaster county were Edward 

 Hand, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, William Atlee, John 

 Hubiey, and John Breckbill. This convention framed the 

 second constitution. Another convention was held at Harris- 

 burg, in the spring and summer of 1837. Met May 2— after 

 two month's session, it afterwards met at Philadelphia. The 

 present or third constitution of Pennsylvania, was framed by 

 this convention. Delegates from Lancaster county were Vvll- 

 liam Hiesler, James Porter, Jeremiah Brown, Lindley Coatcs, 

 E.. E. Cochran, Joseph Konighniacher, Henry G. Long, 

 Emanuel C. Reigart. 



A convention commenced at Philadelphia, November 20, 

 1787, for the pui pose of taking into consideration the consti- 

 tution framed by the federal convention for the United States. 

 The delegates from Lancaster county were Stephen Chambers, 

 Robert Coleman, Sebastian Gratf, John Hubiey, Jasper Yeates, 

 and John Whitehill. 



'^'Graydoa's Mem. 116. 



35 



