The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-07-04
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE FED
RRAL GOVERNMENT.
NO. IN.

Massachusetts, moved that the Con-
ven ton refer its proceedings "for
establishing a National GOrern-
meat," excepting that portion rela-
ting to the executive, to u special
committee, which should prepare
and report a constitution for the
same. This committee was compos-
ed of five gentlemen, On the gSth,
the proceedings respecting the ex-
| ecutive were referred to the same
committee; and the Convention
then adjourned Till the 9th of AH-
gust ia order TO allow the commit
tee time TO perform the work as
signed it.
On the 9th of August the COM
mittee reported TO the Convention
q constitution of twenty-Lhree ar
ticles. The substance of the arti-
cles embraced in the resolutions
adopted by the Convention was in-
cluded In these articles. On the 7th
the report of the committee was re-
ferred to the Committee of the
Whole. 1t was debated article by
article for nearly four Ioeek,S.
Let the reader observe with what
care and painstaking the cOnstltu-
ton was created, and then let him
remember TO watch with jealous
scrutiny every attempt at altera-
ton.
During these debates many altera-
tiOns and amendments were made
to the report of the committee and
on the 9Th of September a commit
tee was appointed to arrange the
articles which had been agreed
upon. and to revise the style. This
work was almost entirely perform
ed by Governor Morris. This com.
committee reported the arranged
and revised constitution, together
with a draft of letter to be sent to
Congress, on the 18th of Sep
TENDER. The Convention continued
the discussion until the 18th, when
the last amendment was made
The report proposed one represen-
tative to every forty thousand peo-
pie. This caused Il great Il cal Of
discussion, and the motion was ii.
nally made to make it thirty thous.
and. Washington expressed the
wish that the amendment should bC
made, and il was made by Il mani
nous vote. This was the only time
during the entire session of the
Convention when Washington made
any remarks.
!. On the same day the constitution
rs finally amended, was signed by
all the members of the Convention,
except. Gerry, of Massachusetts,,
and Randolph and Mason, of Vir.
ginia.
II is probable that no member OF
the Convention was fully satisfied
with the whole of the constitution,
but all seemed to feel that it was
the best that could be agreed upon
and with this fact in view felt that
il should have their support. Some
there were who had this result in
view from tie first, but as has al
ready been shown, the greater por-
ton had In view the amendment oil
the articles of confederation only
These, however, had been won by
the logic of the few, and by their
own knowledge of the great need
there was of more stable, and con-
sequently of an independent gov
| ernment.
Their labor was severe, but it was
we'll done. Out of a chaos of sepa-
rate governments they created one
nation. Hamilton, who HI d at the
first been strongly opposed to such
o plan, closed the speech IN which
he announced his determination to
subscribe to the constitution with
the remark that cit is the best the
present situation and circumstances
of the country will permit"
Our readers are not 10 suppose
that there was no further struggle
to be undergone ON the contrary,
| it was yet destined to meet It's great
est foe in the shape of an ignorant
and prejudiced people. All the
careful labOrs of this Convention OF
wise men must yet be laid before
the masses for their verdict.