Debating the Bill of Rights Amendments in 1789

The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser. Newspaper, August 22, 1789 (No. 3295). Philadelphia: John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole. 4 pp., 11 3/8 x 18 1/4 in. "Mr. [Egbert] Benson [of New York] moved that the words 'but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms,' be struck out. He wished that this humane provision should be left to the wisdom and benevolence of government. It was improper to make it a fundamental in the constitution."This issue of the Pennsylvania Packet includes key debates in the House of Representatives on the developing set of amendments that were later ratified as the Bill of Rights. It also prints the Act establishing the War Department. Excerpts"Sixth amendment-'A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people being the best security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms.'"Mr. [Egbert] Benson [of New York] moved that the words 'but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms,' be struck out. He wished that this humane provision should be left to the wisdom and benevolence of government. It was improper to make it a fundamental in the constitution."The motion was negative, and the amendment agreed to." (p2/c4)[Proposed by Congress without last clause as fourth amendment; ratified as Second Amendment.]"Eleventh amendment-'The enumeration in this constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.'"This was agreed to without amendment." (p2/c4)[Proposed by Congress as eleventh amendment; ratified as Ninth Amendment.]"Twelfth amendment-'Art . 1, sec. 10, between the 1st and 2d par. Insert-'No state shall infringe the equal rights of conscience, nor the freedom of speech, or of the press, nor of the right of trial by jury in criminal cases.'"This amendment was accepted." (p2/c4)[Not proposed by Congress; protections of Bill of Rights later applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment (1868).]"Eighteenth amendment-'The powers not delegated by this constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively.'"Passed." (p3/c1)[Proposed by Congress as twelfth amendment; ratified as Tenth Amendment.]"Mr. Tucker moved that certain propositions for amendments to the constitution, which he had laid on the table on Monday, should be read. They being read, he moved that they be referred to the committee of the whole. The question on this motion was lost by a great majority." (p3/c1)"Be it enacted.that there shall be an executive department, to be denominated the Department of War; and that there shall be a principal officer therein, to be called the Secretary for the Department of War, who shall perform and execute such duties as shall from time to time be enjoined on, or entrusted to him by the President of the United States, agreeable to the Constitution, relative to military commissions, or to the land or naval forces, ships, or warlike stores of the United States, or to such other matters respecting military or naval affairs, as the President of the United States shall assign to the said Department, or relative to the granting of lands to persons entitled thereto, for military services rendered to the United States, or relative to Indian affairs." (p2/c1)Historical BackgroundOn June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting the new government in motion. In September the Confederation Congress certified that the new Constitution had been ratified by more than enough states for it to go into effect (Virginia and New York had ratified in the interim). Thus, the opening of the First Congress on March 4, 1789, signaled a new system of federal government. However, many believed that the system was incomplete. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates George. (See website for full description). …