Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-01-24
Political History.

few days ago We published communica-
ton from . Berks," in reply TO statement of
Judge Woodbury., that, New Hampshire was
The first OF The States 10 form constitution af-
ter The Declaration of independence, her con-
stutlOn being dated in December, l776.-
q" Berks" claims this honor for Pennsylvania,
showing that her constitution was dated on Sep
tember %, l716 With due Difference, We
say that both are wrong; though in correcting
Judge of the Supreme Federal Court we
may seem presumptuous 10 some Of our read
ers Judge Woodbury. also says that, some
citizens OF New Hampshire, tmd and waver-
ing, protested against this early attempt TO form
constitution, because The large States, such
as Virginia and New York, had not already ia
ken The lead. He is in error here also. Vir-
gnia having already adopted constitution be-
fore the convention of New Hampshire assem-
bled. The following is The order Of time in
the dates Of The first constitutions of the old
States -
New Jersey, July 3 1916; Virginia, July
;, 1876; Mary land, August IA, 1776. Penn
sylvania, September 2S. 1916; North Carolina,
December lS l776 New Hampshire, De-
rember, l776; New York, April 20. 1877;
Vermont December 25, l777; assachuseus,
March ?, 1880; South Carolina, June 8, 1890;
Delaware, June ID, 1902; Georgia, May 80,
1898.
According to This table, compiled from re
cords, The honor OF forming the first constitution
belongs 10 New Jersey, and not to New Hamp.
shire. II also shows hat New Hampshire was
preceded by fUe States. Why any citizens of
New Hampshire should object TO constitution
in l776, because The large States, as Virginia,
Massachusetts and Others had not taken the
lead, we do moi exactly comprehend Virginia
having already taken that lead And If New
Hampshire wished to wait for The large States,
she already had precedents in three of them
for according to the census of 1890, Virginia
was first, Pennsylvania second, North Carroll
ma third, and Maryland SIKH. in the order Of
populations. Massachusetts was fourth, and
New York fifth. Thus New Hampshire had
five predecessors in all The States and four in
the large States.
"Berks" is in error 10 claiming for Pennsyl-
vania The honor of forming the first constitution
after the Declaration of Independence she
having already been preceded by New Jersey,
Virginia and Maryland We have not within
reach lhe date of The first constitution of New
Hampshire. lis present was adopted on the
second Wednesday of February, 1892, as
amended from the constitution formed on Oc-
tober 81, 1883. Some of our readers may be
surprised al finding constitution of Vermont
in l777, when that region was not admitted as
State ill 1891, Bu, Vernon, being claimed
by New York and New Hampshire. resolved
TO SET up for herself in TIT, and afterwards
paid $4,000 to New York for relinqushing
her claim. Before he Revolution. the British
Parliament had decided the contest in favor of
N. Hampshire. The constitution OF Georgia
was amended in 1898, from one amended in
1889. The date of The constitution from which
The frs, was amended is not within our reach.
Will any correspondent inform Us +! South
Carolina made 40 constitution ill 1870. and
has made none since, within our recollection
Under lis present, lhe State government is IN
The hands Of an oligsrchy ofproper'y -Pa3l'o
Ledccf, Jan. J.