The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Harrisburg Convention

HARRISBURG CONVENTION, a meeting called by the anti-Federalists of Pennsylvania to be held at Harrisburg, Pa., on 3 Sept. 1788 for the purpose of deliberating regarding the new Federal Constitution. Although the meeting was well attended and adopted resolutions carrying 12 amendments to the Federal Constitution, to be presented for action to the Pennsylvania legislature in form of a petition, it was abortive inasmuch as even this petition was never formally presented. Another meeting, known by the same name, was the assembly convened in 1828 at Harrisburg, Pa., by the protectionist faction of the New England and Middle States, consequent on the rejection of the high tarriff 'Woolen Bill' in the Senate, by the casting vote of the Vice-President. The forcible presentation of the cause of protection, and the demand of the convention for an increased duty on several manufactured articles, resulted in the passage of the high tariff bill of 1828. Consult Ford, P. L., ‘The Origin, Purpose and Result of the Harrisburg Convention of 1788’ (Brooklyn 1890).