Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-21
NEW JERSEY FIRST TO PROPOSE A


| The following extract from the Grafton Of Hon. ia
cob w. Miller at Morristown, the 4h relates tc
the important part New Jersey took in the formation
the Union, and is interesting piece Of history not ge
neray known
81 claim for native State the honor of having b,
resolution OF her Legislature, taken the first steps
wards the formation OF that more perfect Union o
the States and People, secured under and b,
the Federal Constitution. On the 2lst day of Jan
uary, 1856. the Legislature of Virginia passed re
solution proposing to her sister, States to NEE
| in Convention to take into consideration the trade
| OF the States, and TO consider how far uniform
system in their commercial regulations might be ne
cessary TO their common interest and their perma
nent harmony. In answer to this call of Virginia, five
OF the States, New Jersey being one appointed Com.
mssloners, who afterwards met 10 Convection at Anna
polls, on the | lth of September l786. Owing, howev
err to the small number of States represented as also
to the tact that all the Commissioners excepting those
OF New Jersey, limited TO the consideration
trade and commerce. that Convention for of more
extended powers, did nothing more than organize,
adopt and publish address the several States re-
commencing another Convention with authority ade-
quate to The occasion.
la giving account of this Convention Mr.. Madi.
son says: Nor had it been unnoticed that the Com
mission OF the New Jersey deputaon had extended its
object to general provision for the erigenie of the
Union. A recommendation for this enlarged purpose
was accordingly reported by a committee to whom the
subject had been referred"
In this report, drawn by Alexander Hamilton it is
stated Chat the State OF New Jersey bad enlarged the
object o their appointment, empowering their Comm
sioners to consider how tar uniform System in their
commercial regulations, and other important matters
might be necessary TO the interest and perma
nent harmony OF the several States"
The report further states, hat the idea Of extending
the power OF their deputies to other objects than those
Of commerce. which has been adopted by the Stale OF
New jersey was an Improvement on the original plan
and will deserve to incorporated into that of future
Convention"
"The report concludes by recommending the seve-
raj States 10 appoint Commissioners, with full powers
to take into consideration the situation OF the United
states, to devise such u her prov isions shall APP
pear to them necessary to render the Constitution OF
the Federal Government adequate to the emergenc les
OF the Union. La pursuance OF this recommendation
the several States appointed Commissioners, and
clothed them with those enlarged po,oers suggest
ca 6y LVeio JerseV. They met in Convention In Phlla-
de phia, on the I'd Monday in Nav, 1887, and the
suit OF their celebrations was the Constitution OF the
United States
madison is called the Father of the Constitution.
and Hamilton is known its able defender yet it ap
pears by the testimony of both these distin gushed
statesmen that New Jersey has the honor of having
made the first suggestion TO her sister States, which
hnaly led them untedly TO adopt that noble instrument
Thus it was, and such is the historical TRUTH that the
people OF New Jersey, who had been aiming the first
to declare Independence, and who had stood in the
front OF the battles which had maintained and achieved
that Independence also The first in the great
work OF Consttu iona Union.
ia great national transaction such as this, in which
all the States amin ited with the spirit OF high and
noble patriotism, il might be dered ptesumptuous in
to claim distinction Tor Ourselves; but in hs day OF
putting and OF clustering when individuals and States
procaimng by words their peculiar devotion the
Constitution md the Union, | may be pard oned in re-
ferring to historical facts which show that New Jersey
was the earliest protector OF tha Union which has
been the PRIDE er sons 70 MAINTAIN with unVarying
devotion and uDfinchjng fidelity. We boast not OF ex-
tended territory Of commercial wealth. of pos
lca powers; we are neither the empire nor the key
stone State yet may venture claim for ourselves that
which our annals record obedience 10 Law, devotion
TO the Union, and loyalty to the Constitution"