Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19
NEW JERSEY FIRST TO PROPOSE A UNION

The following extract from the Grafton of Hon.
JACOB w. MILLER at Morristown, on the 4th,
relates to the important part New JERSEY took in
the formation of the Union, and is an interesting
piece of history not generally known:
81 claim for our native State the honor Of having, by
resolution of her Legislature taken the first steps towards
me formation of that perfect Union Of the States and
People, now secured under and by the Federal Constitution
On the ai day Of January 1856, the Legislature of vr
sna passed resolution proposing to her sister States to
Convention TO take into consideration the trade Of the
States and to consider how far uniform system in their
commercial regulations be necessary to their common
Interest and their permanent harmony In answer to this
can OF vsnsa nve Of the Ststes New Jersey being one,
aPponed Commissioners, who erwards met in Convention
at Annapolis, on the llth Of September 1885, Owing,
however, to the small number Of States represented as also
to the fact that all the Commissioners ercevsne hose Of
Nec Jersey were limited to the consideration Of rad. and
commerce, has Convention, for want Of more extended
did nothing organize and soyt and publish
an address to the several States recommending another Com
vention with authority adequate to the occasion.
elm giving account Of this Convention, Mr. M.srsor
says; Nor had been unnoced that the Conmsson az
the heU Jersey deputation had extended It's object 10
general provision for the erigences Of the Unisa re-
for this enlarged purpose was accordingly
reported by committee to whom the subject had been
In this report drawn by ALEXANDER HAMILTON. IL il
stated tharthe ste Of New Jersey had enlarged the OBJ
Jeet Of their appointment empowering their Commissioners
10 consider bow far uniform system in their commercial
regulations and other important mattey, might be neces-
sary to the common interest and HARMONY Of the
8 several States. SISf 9 ~ @a'-1.
The report further states that the idea OF extending tho
power OF them deputies 10 other objects than those of com
ssa sssn 20 sss as e
to be incorporated into that Of future Convention"
concludes recommending the several States
to appoint Commissioners with full powers 10 take into con-
sdeaton the situation Of the United Stss to devise such
further provisions shall appear them necessary to rem
der the Constitution Of the Federal Govennent ADEQUATE TO-
the emergencies Of the Unon In pursuance Of this recon-
mendaon the several States appointed Commssiouers and
clothed them with those enlarged powrs a. suggested 5y
Nes0 Jersey They met in Convention in Philadelphia on
the I'd Monday in May 1887 and the result of their debs
rations was the Constitution Of the United States
"MADIsoS is called the Father Of the Constitution and
HAnInToNs known sss able defender yet appears by the
testimony Of both those distinguished statesmen that New
Jersey has the honor Of having made the first suggestion to
her sister States, which finally led them unsedy to adopt
that noble instrument Thus was, and such is the histor
cal truth, that the people of New Jersey who had been
among the first to declare Independence and who had stood
in the 'front.' Of the battles which had maintained and achieved
that Independence, were also the first in the great work of
Constitutional Union.
n great national transaction such as this in which all
the States animated with the spirit Of high and noble
patriotism, might be considered US claim
distinction for ourselves but in this day of puug and Of
clustering, when individuals and States procaiming by
words their peculiar devotion the Constitution and the
Cnion may be pardoned in referring historical facts
which show that New Jersey the earliest Protector Of
thst Union which has been the pride her to main
tain with unvaryng devotion and unfnching fidelity We
boast not Of extended territory, Of commercial wealth.
political powers neither the empire the key
stone State yet may venture to claim for ourselves that
which our annals record, obedience to Law, devotion the
Union, and loyalty to the Constitution"