Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-02

Ex53 Mr.. Everett in his Mount Vernon
Papers for the New York Ledger, gives an ex-
tremely Interesting summary of the events
connected with the organization of the Fe-
deral Government Those who do not read
the comprehensive histories of the country
will find many important facts in this paper
which says:
The Constitution of the United States was
finally proclaimed by the Federal Convention
on the 18th of September, 1877, and was on
that day, in pursuance of an unanimous vote
of its trainers, transmitted to the Congress Of
the Conferation, then sitting at New York,
with letter signed by George Washington.
President of the Convention. The Constitu-
ton itself fixed no day when it should begin
to be of force as the supreme law of the land.
1t provided only that when ratified by the
conventions of nine States it should go into
operation between the States ratiiyng the
same"
With this provision it went forth to the
States and TO the people, to be ratified by
their conventions. 1t was a season of eXpec-
tatiOn. of anxiety and on the part of many
true patriots, of alarm. The people were
divided into parties; and document so ex-
tensve and comprehending so many details
of course presented many points open to
criticism. BY many persons, and among
them there were tried patriots and good citi-
zens, the proposed new government seemed
to be fraught with menace to the hardly
earned. dear bought rights of the States and
liberties of the people; by others, 1t was
looked upon as the only hope for the saliva
ton of the country. Washington was one of
those who regarded it in this light. There
is tradition" says Mr.. Curtis in his valua-
BILE History of the Constitution (vol II, p.
4S7, ("that when Washington was about to
signthe instrument, he rose from his seat.
and. holding the pen in bis hand, after
short pause, pronounced these words: Should
the States reject this excellent Constitution.
the probability is that an opportunity will
never again offer to cancel another in peace
the next will be drawn in blood."'
The public press was enlisted on both sides
Of the mOmentous question. Writers of great
ability attacked and defended the new project
of government, but the letters of Publius
under the title of ''tbe Federalist,r the Joint
work of Alexander Hamilton. John Jay, and
James Madison. have alone survived the oc-
casion that drew them forth, and descended
with classical reputation. The first num-
her of this remarkable series of papers was
written by Gen. Hamilton toward the end OF
October, 1887, on board packet bound up
North river. They produced great effect on
the public mind, and formed an armory OF
weapons for the defence OF the Constitution
throughout the country.
Little Delaware led off with her ratiica-
ton on the 9Th of December, 1881; and the
remaining States followed, Pennsylvania on
the 18th of December; Georgia on the I'd of
January, 1888; Connecticut on the 9th of
January, Massachusetts on the 9th Of Feb
ruaTy; Maryland on the 18th of April; and
South Carolina Oh the 23rd of May. Eight
months had now elapsed since the formation
of the Constitution aud eight States only had
ratified il. In two of the five remaining
States, viz North Carolina in the South and
Rhode Island IN the North no ratification was
ut present expected; and the other three
States, New Hampshire, New York, and Vir-
GINA, We're yet to act; thus comforting on any
one of the three great sections of the country
tor the West at that time had not been call
ed into eXistence) the power of consnmmat-
ing the organization Of the Union. In New
York and Virginia very formidable opposi-
rion was expected, and the result was doubt
full; everything for the moment seemed 10 de-
pend on New Hampshire. On the 2Ist of
June, 1888, her ratification took place, and
with il the Constitution, as between the nine
ratitying States, became the supreme law of
the land The ratification of Virginia follow
ed on the Goth of June, and that of New
York on the goth of July. North Carolina
delayed her ratification till the 2lst of Nov
ember. 1889; and Rhode Island hers till the
29th of May, 1890.
As soon as the ratification of nine States
was certified to the old Congress land that of
New Hampshire. all important as it was in
calling the new government into being, does
not appear TO have been officially reported
till the I'd OF JULY, the nine ratifcatious
were referred to committee to examine the
same, aud report an act of Congress for put
ting the constitution into operation, Gin pur-
suance OF the resolution of the Federal Con-
vention." A struggle Immediately arose as
to the place where the new government should
be established. Most of the members from
New England aud the Middle States wished
either that the seat Of the gorernmeut should
continue ut New York or he removed to
Philadelphia; the Southern members desired
u situation nearer the geographic center of
of the Union. These conflicting opinions
were at length reconciled, by the adoption on
the 18th of September 1888, of resolution
VIII ch provided that. in order TO carry the 1
new constitution into operation. Presidential I
electors should be appointed by the several !
States on the first Wednesday of January, !,
1883; that the said electors should meet in J
their several States and vote for President !.
and Vice President on the tir~t Wednesday OF !,
February; 'and that the first Wednesday in ,
March next (the fourth of March, 1857 be the
time, and the present seat OF Congress New 1
ork) ne place, ior CO i1meneing proceedings !
under the said constitution
As originally framed, the Constitution
provided that two persons should be voted i
Tor by the electors tor President and Vice
Presldenti the candidate having the highest (
number OF votes TO be President aud IN case I
81 equality the House Of Representatives, vot- I
ng by State, and each State giving one vote,
8 as 80 decide. The whole pumbsr OF cleo
oral vot, 5 tur President aud Vice President, /
'ast on the hrst Wednesday OF February. was
y. They were given Unanimously for Wash
hgton, who was preaestined Ia the public
mind tor the Office OF President. A much
mailer number Of votes was given Tor Mr..
ohn Adams, who however nAitrd a large
'inrsliiy over any oiher pcFsots sss a eandi-
ate Tor the second Office. The State OF Nrw
OK took no part Ia the first Presidential
lection.