The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-07-25
EXTRACT FROM AN GRAFTON,
Delivered in n. Harmony by w. G. PELHAM
July 4, 1914.
Ma friends and fellop-ctisens:

ing now removed, the great difficulty of ar
e Ranging a permanent government on a salts
factory basis became apparent. The States
completely Independent ofeach other before
the revolution, wished still to remain so;
each determining for itself, the principles
and mode of its internal government. A
strong central government, it was feared,
would give opportunities for Withdrawing
power from the people, and embracing too
much authority in some one man, who might
be placed at its head; or in some body of
men, who might be clothed with its authori-
ty. The local interests of the States were
V%arient, and often discordant. Yet the dan
ger of division,-the necessity of presenting
a united front to foreign nations,-and con-
Quoting all transactions abroad in the name
Of the whole,-together with the impossi-
biiity of separate State soYereignties existing
without internal disputes, and probable war;
rendered a union indispensable. The ma
chinery of the colonial legislatures, and the
boundaries OF the colonies, as established by
their several charters, became a ready
groundwork upon which to construct the
several States; and the Continental Con-
gress, under whose authority the war with
Britain had been conducted to a happy ter
mination. afforded The idea of the manner in
which the general business of the country
could be conducted. The great difficulties
created BY the extended boundaries and con-
ficting claims of the colonies, over large
tracts of unsettled land, was avoided, by the
patriotic surrender of all such claims to the
general government, for the benefit of the
States. A confederation on these principles
INNS flaro f,ra daanrtDioed nDo0. and eSfah-
lished.
Soon, however, it became apparent, that
the system of cuufederated States thus adj
-sopted would not answer the ends required;
and a crisis appeared TO be approaching, that
alarmed the friends of independence more
than did even the war with England. AS an
eminent historian of that period Q7S7) re-
marks-"A government authorized to de-
clare war, but relying upon independent
States for the means of prosecuting it; capa.
BILE of contracting debts and of p~ledging the
public faith for their payment, but depend
ing on thirteen distinct sovereignties for the
preservation of that faith; could only be Sc
cured from ignominy and contempt by find.
ing those sovereignties administered by men
exempt from the passions incident to human
nature"
But though the impracticability of the
confederate system was early seen, it wa:
net until after the failure of the first attemp
at a convention of the States to consider the
affairs of the nation, that the effect of its in
capacity became so seriously felt by the PEG
pie, as to be generally acknowledged. Ii
the mean time, the Incorporate zeal of part,
spirit rose TO the greatest extreme, short o
open violence; and the letters of the mos
eminent men and purest patriots of the peri
cd, abound with doubts as to the capability
of the people to maintain an Independent
government, and fears, that their dissention
might bring utter ruin upon the republicaI
system. The imminence of the DANCE
which then afflicted the minds ofthe patriot
of the revolution, must have been great in
deed. to have induced the never despairin
Washington TO write as he did to his frien
Knox:
81 feel, my dear general Knox, infnitel
more than | can express to you, for the d.
orders which have arisen in these States
Coed God! who besides a tory could hav
foreseen, orr Briton have predicted then
do assure you that even at this momen
when | reflect upon the present aspect
our affairs, it seems 10 me like the visions
a dream. My mind can scarcely realize
as a thing in actual existence SO strang
so wonderful does it appear to me. In TIN
as in most other matters. We are TOO SLOW
When this spirit first dawned, it might pr
badly have been easily checked; but 1t
scarcely within the reach of human ken,
this moment, TO say when, where, or he
it will terminate. There are combustibl
in every State, to which a spark might $
FIRE.
SIN bewailing, which [ have often dor
with the keenest sorrow, the death oil O
much lamented friend Gen. Greene, | ha
accompanied my regrets oflate with the gu
nv. whether ne would not have preferred su
an exit to the scenes which 1t is more th
probable, many ofhis compatriots may live
bemoan."
HAPPILY for us all, the States awakened
their responsibilities, the Federal party
umphed at the ensuing elections, and
imminent dangers which threatened the We
existence of the nation, were overcome
the patriotic labors of the Convention viii
was subsequently, formed. A liberal sp
of compromise and concession allayed
sectional iealousies that were at work
gainst each other, and the various intere
Of the several States, were so judiciously P
yided for in the Constitution, that il sub
quently received the sanction of the WHIT
of them and has since, as a system, secul