Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-11-05
A HISTORY or THE FORMA-
1ION or THE UNION.

HOW RHODE ISLAND BECAME A FOREIGN
NATIoN--NoN INTERCOURSE DEcLAR-
ED AGAINST HER BY THE
OTHER sTATEs-FAcTs
IN HIsTohY BUT LIT
TIE KNOWN.
The doctrine which ancient Federal
ism, under the lead Of Alexander Ham
ilton, taught in the effort TO prove the
Federal Union Nation" with all the
sovereign powers claimed and cxer-
cised by the Nations of the Old World,
instead Of its being leaguc of States,
banded together for mutual protection
the sovereign power they claim all
belonging to the General Government
lis not without its supports in the
present day. 1t has, after being buried
for years, again come TO the surface,
and Is now last becoming the dogma,
Of tho party calling itself Republicans.
The first Constitution of the United
States-is no misnomer TO call it so--
was the ARTICLES Of Confederation -
which first legaized the name United
States of America" and in the instru.
mcnt itself was called ARTICLES OF
Confederation and Of Perpetual Union
between the states OF New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina,snd Georgia"
The first article names the Union as
above "The United States OF America. y
Article second is short and compre-
hcnsive "Each State retains It's SOW
ereignty, freedom and independence,
and every power, jurisdiction and right
which is not by this Confederation cx-
pressly delegated 10 the United States
IN Congress assembled
Article third binds the States thus
The said States hcrcby sevorally en-
ter into firm league of friendship
with each other for thoir common de-
tense, the security OF their liberties and
their mutual and general welfare, bind
ing themselves to assist each other
against all force offered to or attacks
made on them, or any Of them, on ac-
count OF religious sovereignty, trade
or any other pretence whatever"
The Articles of Confederation, adop'
ted July 4, 1878, were found deficient
in the raising OF revenue. Each State
had one vote in Congress, the members
we're to vote as States, and il took
nine States to pass certain laws. II
the members from State wero divided
ed 10 opinion, the majority ruled and
cast the vote if.cqually divided the
vote of the State. was not counted
Enacted into Constitution, as the
Articles of Confederation were, in the
midst OF doubtful contest, its details
we're not situated Tor a Republic. Too
much power was given to Congress
and the members were too much shack
led as to make that body effective, anc
hence the necessity Of q change. Ths
present Constitution was made anC
sent 10 the several States for adoption
About this timo party, at the heat
OF which was Alexander Hamilton
from his great and acknowledged .al
ent. showed signs.of iavorng a gov
crnment so strong in its central power
as to make il near, in many respects
to that of England. The followers o
Jefferson, who occupied the same posi-
ton In the Democratic that Mr.. Ham
Iiltoh did in the ultra Federal party
strongly opposed il. The Constitution
required the vote of nine States I,
ratify it, and this 1t was found Difficult
TO obtain. It was feared that the new
Constitution gave such power to th,
General Government as to destroy
not in words, but in constructive pow
er--the sovereignty of tho State, anC
for this reason many of the Convcn
tons called by the State Legislator
hesitated in adopting it. 1t required
the assent Of nine States TO make it I
valid instrument. IL was adopted BY
Delaware on the 7th OF December
1887, and by New Jersey on the 16.l
of the same month. Georgia adopted
.. n