National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-28

ulHerenJ one, lt was CnOlCe DetWcen pOllJl-
cal existence aud political doath. II was
whether the Nation should be dismembered
by dissolution of the Union in anarchy aud
confusion, or whether 1t should survive as one
sovereign, Independent, free power on earth.
1t was necessary not only to tho preservation
of the people of America from the indignant
resentment of the foe they had just van.
quished and compelled to concode their inde-
pendence, but 10 was also necessary TO pre-
serve the States, In their separate political as
sociations, from the strifes animOsities, jeal-
ousies and rivalrios which might spring up be-
tween them, that tho National Union should
be continued
=. There never was a moro capable, upright
and august body of men brought together for
political purposes, in any age or in any couu-
try, than those who composed the Federal Con-
vention. There was no carping criticism, no
Gaptious defamation, no envious raillery. Each
member seemed conscious of an accountability
which made him answerable for the combined
action of the whole body. Every proposition
that was submitted was devised with care,
offered with difildence and urged with serious
ness, solemnity and candor.
Although the convention was held for tho
purpose of revising the Articles of Confedera-
tion, after weeks of anxious thought and seri-
Gus discussion 1t was evident-and tho unan-
imous opinion of the convention was--that the
compact of Confederation could not bo so
amended as to render it q competent National
Constitution. The necessity of its entire aboi-
tion was conceded by all. The principal sub
ject, which moro than any other embarrassed
tho actions of the convention, was the sovor-
eighty of the Statos-a sovereignty they never
in any sense possessed outside the Union,
though they may have been, in q certain
sense, independent of each other The delo-
gates soon perceived that the necessary
powers were such as no combination of State
governments could bestow; aud, leaving
power for right, and the irresponsible author
ity of State rule for tho solf-evident truths of
the Declaration Of Independence they must
retraco their steps and fall back from a league
of friendship between independent States to
the primitive, constituent sovereignty of the
people, for from them only could supreme
power emanatc. Upon this basis the Consti-
tuition of the United States was framed aud
adopted.
1t may be well to remark here that the
causes which operated to render the Articles
Of Confederation utterly defective as frame
| of National Government, operated in meas
uro on the formation OF the present Constitu-
| tion, and unhappily left grounds for iactious
contention in its provisions.
| AS l have already remarked, there was no
| such thing rs independent State sovereignty
| outside the provisions Of the Confederation !;
| there was no such thing as State organization
| before the Declaration of Independence, and
| there never was any such thing in America rs
an independant colonial sovereignty. 1t was
| tho compact of union alone, incomplete as it
! may have been before the confederation, which
transformed the British provinces in America
from state of colonial vassalage to the con.
diton of independency and freedom. Not Il
| special, snbdivided, or several indcpendency,
| but an independency based upon the specific
| and substantial idea of national unity. The
| idea of exclusive State sovereignty was orig
| inally the suggestion ofthe enemies OF freedom
| in America, TO prevent, il possible, the COM
pact OF permanent union under the Confed-
Grafton. 1t was the artful invention of the
| ministerial power in England to destroy the
harmonious union of, the States during their
transition from state of vassalage to one of
independency. This is confirmed by the fol-
lowing extract from the circular letter from
the Congress TO their constituents under date
Septembcr1 10, 1779:
"The enemy, aware that the strength of America
lay in union OF her citizens and the wisdom and in.
tegrity of those to whom they committed their af
fairs have taken unweared pains to disunte and
alarm the people, 10 deprecate the abilities AND
virtues of their rulers and to impair the confidence
J reposed In them by their constituents To this end
repeated attempts have been made TO draw an ab
surd and fanciful line of distinction between the
Congress and the people, and TO create an opinion
aud belief that their Interests and views were diff
fercnt and opposed Hence the ridiculous tales
| the insdous insinuations, and the whimsical sus
plcions that have been forged and propagatod by
disguised emissaries and traitors in the gnrb of pa
triots. 1t is not surprising that In country wher,
the tongues and pens of such people are and mus
bo licensed, such political horesies should be ineul
Gated and difused but IL Is really astonishing tha
the mind OF single yirtuous citizen of Americl
should be influenced by them"
The great difficulty with which tho advo
Gates of the Constitution had to contend la,
in the predominance OF State jealousies ant
, the supposed incompatibility of State Interest
with each other. This had to bo overcome b,
a spirit of amity and mutual concession. Th
: greatest source of contention seems TO hav
= been on tho question whether the majority o
a the States or "a majority of the people OF th
Union was to give the law for every State
j the small as well as the great, under the Con
} federation entered the Union on a footing o
n equality each having one vote. By mutua
, CONCESSION the principle of tho independence
of the States prevailed in the formation of tn
D Senate, and that of the sovereignty of tn
Nation predomnated in the composition O
the House of Representatives and in the choic
of the Executive. Thus, if the minority q
s tho Nation prep0nderates in the Senate
u may paralyze tho decision of tho najorit
, represented in the House, which is contrar
TO the spirit of constitutional government
s But without this concession there was absC
lutely no hope for the adoption of the Cousti
, tuition.
>, On the 18th of September 1887, the Consti
II tuition was finally framed and recommends
TO be laid by the Congress before tho soveri
If States, to be by them considered and rattle
q in conventions of representatives of the peopl
Y" to be called for that purpose. Conventions
J. tho people were called in all the States excel
II Rhode Island, and, after a series of months
M warm and serious discussions, it was rattle
" and adopted by all OF them except Rhode ISLAM
ID and North Carolina. The States as States ha
= nothing whatever to do with the adoption {
3 tho Constitution other than calling for con
. ventions Of tho people for the sole and EXPIRE,
purpose of the ratification Of this fundamenti
law.
1t may be asserted, without fear Of contr
diction, that from the promulgation of I'll
Decaloguo 10 the adjournment of the late exit
session Of Congress no instrument was pr
l. sented TO u people for concurrence which WI
# so critically examined in all its bearings an
3. seriously discussed-not only by the repr
n sentutiVes but by the people themselves,
:. was the Constitution Of the United States.
u was adopted unanimously by New Jerse,
l. Delaware aud Georgia by large msjOrties
c, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland au
= South Carolina, and by smaller majorities
er the remaining States. w. S. G.
u WAR ANNIVERSARIES.
L. Pertinent Extracts from the Chronology
rs the Rebellion,
, 1851.