The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-23

which was appauded by was condemned by others
Although Congress might make requsitions Tor men ana
money it had no authority act Gpon either but had 70
rely upon thirteen distinct soveregntes 10 eectuate thar
The denquencies of the States bad
step by step matured themselves TO extreme which ar
rested all the wheels OF government and brought Them 10
awful stand Congress had hardly the means OF keep
ing The forms Of administration while had no power
to give sanction to its laws TO punish dsobedienee
II might order and money 10 be raised but could mol
enforce such order 1t could borrow money bu eoula no
collect pay either principal interest The forms OF
national government had been carefully Defined SUBJ
sntive powers were wanting eight years experience
had clearly proved Congress IN 1856, by It's committee
declared shat the crisis had arrived when the people OF
these United States by whose will and for whose Dene
the federal government was instituted decide whether
they will support their rank AS nation by MAINTAINING
the public faith at home and abroad or whether Tor want
of timely exeron in establishing general revenue ana
thereby giving strength to the coniedeaey they viii haz
ard not only the existence of the Union but those great
and invaluable privileges for which they have so adu
ously and honorably commended
Commercial and other difficulties sprung up among sew
eral of the States for the settlement Of which 10 tribunal
had created Each State sought to protect ITSELF ana
secure its rights privileges and immunites While
left the national authority to crumbe into RUNS, worse
than chaotic So poweress it. that in lTs4 the re-
turns showed that the whole army OF the United states
was reduced 10 eighty persons.
On the 2st July, 1884, the legislature OF New fork re-
solved among other things, shat it is essential to The
common welfare that there should be as soon as possible
conference on the whole subject Of the powers OF the
confederation and that 1t would be advisable Tor TINS pu
pose 10 propose Congress to recommend to each State 10
adopt the measure of assembling general convention OF
the States specially authorized to revise and amend the con-
federation reservng right TO the respective legislatures
to rafy their determinations"
Virginia aud other States subsequently made recon-
mendation Of kindred character and the lh OF Sep
tember 1885, delegates from NEW York. New JERSEY
PENNSYLVANIA DELAWARE and VIRGINIA assembled at An
napos consider the question of revising fhe articles OF
confederation Although not numerously attended, the
convention included some of the most WISE parolic ana
able men in the colonies, among them Hamilton benson
Dickinson, Randolph Tucker and Madison, ie H, o.
proposing amendments, they recommended the States 10
send commissioners to meet in Philadelphia OF the second
Monday hen next to take into consideration the
situation of the United States to devise such further pro-
visions as shall appear 10 them be necessary to render
the constitution Of the federal government adequate 10 he
exgences of the Union and to report such an act Tor that
purpose the United States in Congress assembled as
when agreed 70 by them and afterwards agreed to by
the legislature of every State will eiectuay provide for
the same This recommendation Was brought 70 me
notice of Congress by letter rom John Dickinson at
the request of the delegates assembled at Annapolis Inc
delegates in Congress from New York by special direction
brought the subject to the attention OF Congress VINO rec
commended convention Of delegates from the respective
States or the purpose of revising the articles OF coned-
GRAFTON aud perpetual union between the United states OF
America, and reporting 70 the Congress OF the United states
in Congress assembled and to States respectively such
alterations and amendments of the said arces q coned
Grafton the representatives met In sch convention snail
us proper and necessary to render them adequate TO the
preser "a, 0a and support Of the Unionp
These proc-ag2s led to the call and assembling OF the
convention which osc0 ~ labors the l7h OF Septen-
ber 1884, having prepared and fsloppended the cSll
tuition under which now i;ga and are pfo,fcsd and
which not only received the authoritative sanction OF lis
presiding officer, known a. the FATHER OF is CouN
TRY, but also Of RoaER SHERMAN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
ROBERT NORRIS GEonGE CLyMER, JAMES WILSON, and GEO
READ six Of that glorious and immortal band OF fearless
patriots who in lT76 voluntarily signed the Declaration OF
independence and pledged to each other their lives their
fortunes and sacred honor TO support and defend IT.
1t hehooves ms reflect with deep anxiety upon the pro-
visions Of this instrument and the considerations which led
to its formation by the convention and subsequent adop
49, Al. ,Io,a, Ehpry had Noon
achieved but the Of their security and
safe transmission had not been provided without which
they would have been valueless
The provisions of that constitution you have heard read
in worthy of those sublime provisions and their
unequalled importance.
But this clear compound Of political wisdom not
matured and assened to in the conventions adopted IN
the States without serious hestaon encounterng almost
insurmountabe difficulties On more than one occasion
accomplishing the objects which had caused it to
semble while the question of adoption by the specihed
number of nine States long remained the subject OF anx
ous and painful doubt The provisions which divided
the wisdom of the convention and had nearly rendered its
abors abortve subjected it to most searching scrutiny
before the people and in the conventions in the different
States prior to its adoption Some OF these points OF dller
will be briefly stated.
During the existence of serious danger, the
great object of safety produced comparative identity of in
terest and harmony OF action and the States devoted their
energies with less efficiency, the all-bsorbing
purpose of expeing their enemies from American
SOIL When this danger passed. the absorbing solicit
clnsion almost of national considerations. Diversity of
climate and pursuits essentially contributed to render
State interests characteristic and distinct and tended to
increase manifest repugnance to snrrendeng any pow
formerly exercised by State and comforting them up
the government though essential TO its and
permanency. Some desired a srong-nay splendid
central government to control the business and politics Of
the country while Others insisted upon reservng TO the
respective States the most complete Independence confer
ring upon the federal only those of most
scted character which would inevitably have ended in
national imbecty and although mutual concessions and
useful compromises carried the constitution through the
convention the principles imbodcd in it formed the basis
of conflicts in the States concerning its ADOPTION followed
to the present time By party contests concerning its
structon.
The plan of President and Senate for life readily yield
ed elecng The for four and the other for six years
But the apporonmen of representatives. and the ratio of
electors for President, called forth conflicting views from
the powerful nteects in the convention The varying
systems of agriculture pursued in the different States
clearly indicated the future locality of dense sparse
population, the latter not necessarily indicating want of
taxable property The difference of views upon this point
nearly led to dissolution of the convention But they
happily adjusted by providing that representation
should be determined by adding to the whole number of
free persons including those bound TO service for term of
years and excluding Indians not taxed threetths of all
other persons Direct to be apporoned in the
TIE number Of electors TO be equal 10
the number OF senators and representatives In this adj
iustment five coored count the three white
To this rule of representation the slave States
free States equally representation in the House.
and in the election of President both yielding and both
gaining much by yielding.
Another subject connected with the of men, called
forth strong and angry feelings Negro slavery then
extensively tolerated. and existed in many if not all the