The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-04

subseuuent arc srrayed against II. Elbrldge
Gerry OF Massach usetts. though member OF
tho Federal Convention. had refused to sign
the Constitution and he wrote letter
TO the Massachusetts Legislature declar.
ing that the Constitution needed material
amendments Il tho future Independence Of tho
States WAS to he assured. Hancock only gave
his assent TO tho Constitution because he was
confident that the nine amendments proposed
by him. and recommended by the Massachu-
sets Convention. would bo Incorporated with
the organic law Throughout tho debates In
tho Federal Convention, and during the agita-
ton which followed the completion of its labors,
Samuel Adams was extremely reticent In re-
gard to tho course he should pursue. and his
somewhat lukewarm support OF the Constitu-
ton In the lMassac husetts Convention was ap
parently extorted by II declaration Of his con-
stituents Of the industrial classes Of Boston.
who believed that rejection Of the proposed
union would be highly detrimental 10 navi-
CATION. BAIT for the eSpedient OF accom-
pany,ng the acceptance OF the Consti-
tuition with an earnest recommendation that
Haneock's' nine amendments, including Dill
OF rights should be added to that instrument
1t would psver have been ratified by Massa-
chusetts As IL was, the motion that the Con-
stitution be adopted was carried by 1877 votes
against 1893. In other words. q change OF 10 votes
out Of more than $50 would have defeated the
proposed union in tho Massachusetts, Conven-
ton. In Maryland such men az Samuel Chase
and William Paca. and in South Carolina Gen.
Sumter and Rawlins Lowndes. set their faces
firmly against an instrument which they be-
lieved would imperil the liberties that they
had powerfully helped to win in the revolu-
tionary struggle. In New Hampshire. when
the State Convention met in February. 1888.
there clear majority against any change
To-, axis tipt, ,foIa ion md ha
tion adjourned till June to see what other
States would do. When the Convention re-
assembled in June 1t was greatly influenced
by the fact that eight States had already ratified
the Constitution but even then the motion to
follow their example was carried by only 81
votes against A. and the votes required to
reverse the verdict would have been cast
to that effect II the Convention had not agreed
TO prepare and recommend twelve articles
Of amendment. In North Carolina the oppo-
sition to the Constitution was led by Willie
Jones Of Halifax Samuel Spencer. David Cald-
well. and Timothy Bloodworth. These men
held in their hands large majority Of the Con-
vention. and ut their behest the ratification of
the Constitution WAS deferred. and amend
ments demanded as Indispensable prereuui-
sites of adoption. by 1s4 votes against 81.
In Pennsylvania BENJAMIN Franklin in his
capacity of President OF the state.
strained to present the Constitution to the AS
sembly. but it was not forgotten that in the
last days of the Federal Convention he had
seconded Randolph's motion TO the effect that
another convention would be requisite to rem
edy the obvious defects in the draft Of the or
ganic law. Nineteen members Of the Pcnnsyl-
vana Assembly refused to attend tho meeting
at which 1t was voted to refer the Constitution
to a State Convention. and large proportion
| OF the population il the country west of the
Alleghanies refused to take any part in the
election OF the last named body. One
third OF the Convention refused to bow
to the decision of tho majority and forwarded
o long address ~ their constituents. predicting
that the powers vested in Congress would ulti-
mately lead to iron-hsnded despotism. A
year later the dIssidents Of Pennsylvania held
. conference at Harrisburg. and IL Is note
worthy that among the delegates from beyond
the mountains came Albert Gallatin. They
demanded. as q condition u aeouiescence in
the organization OF the Government under the
Federal Constitution. the speedy revision Of
that instrument by new General Convention.
In Delaware and New Jersey on the other
hand. whore opposition had been disarmed by
conceding an equality Of votes to the small
States in the Senate. and by the adoption Of
divers democratic improvements on Madisons
plan. the Constitution was promptly aud unan-
imously adopted.
1nits main features. and Just as in proportion
as it attempts to copy what was then supposed
to be the British Constitution. our organic
law Ia the work Of Hamilton o delegate from
New York. and Madison. n delegate from
Virginia Yet it was in these two States
that the proposed Government encoun-
tered resistance that was well nigh fatal to it.
We scarcely need remind the reader that. In
order to secure the ratification of the Consti-
tuition in those two States. the publication Of
the Federdlist was undertaken by Hamilton.
Madison. and Jay. OF its s5 numbers Hamil-
ton wrote 81. Madison 90 and Jay s. To meet
the influence OF these papers. the champions of
more democratic form Of government cir
culated large editions Of the Letters from
Federal Farmer" by Richard Henry Lee
formed Committee Of Correspondence. and de-
spatched agents throughout the country. Their
electioneerlng centre was the New York Custom
House. which then. of course was n State in
stitution. AT the regular meeting Of the Legs-
la,ure in January. 1888, Gov George Clinton
who distinctly disapproved Of the Constitution
sent in the proceedings Of the Federal Conven-
ton without remark and although n State Con-
vention was finally ordered yet a preamble to
the resolution convoking it, in which the Fed
eral Convention was condemned for exceeding
lts powers co.. 60" defeated by TWO votes fhe
New YORK convention met at IouSun ~--9'' III
the following June. and the opponents Of the
Constitution. led by Clinton. Lansing Yates,
Samuel Jones' and Mcancthon Smith, had a
decided majority. and would unquestion-
ably have rejected the now plan Of union.
but for the unexpected action of Virginia. OF
which they were informed on July 3. Nearly q
month still elapsed before the Constitution was
ratified by 80 against n. more opponents being
absent from the vote than would have been
necessary to change it. Even this majority OF
8 was purchased at the price Of consenting TO
q unanimous resolution that circular letter
should be sent TO the different Legislatures Of
the United States recommending new General
Convention to act upon amendments. This pro-
posal Madison. when he heard OF 1t. called n
pestient one. and Washington believed that q
new Federal Convention would wreck the Con-
sttution in tho very hour when it was launched.
| 1t is extremely interesting TO read Mr.. Ban
croft's summary OF the principles which
| Clinton i'm m Han or forth