The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-09-24
The Convention OF Governors.

The Convention OF Governors.
To-day the Governors or the thirteen
original States of the Union, or as many
Of them as car conveniently do so, Will
meet in Philadel phia to arrange for the
centennial c9lebration of the adoption of
the Federal Constitution by the conven-
tion of Delegates.
The hundreith anniversary or that .
event occurs one year from 10 Gay. 1t is
that Mr.. @. (. Hoar and /
other senators who were much Interest /
ed during the last session of Congress in I
securing grand colnmemnratlon OF tne
landing of Columbus for 1892. six years |
hence. let glip from their efforts any ob-
seryauce whatever of the centenary OF
tbeir own national Constitution. which
was TO occur five years earlier. Yet they
are presumably familiar with the mem
orable words appended TO Article VII
or the Constitution, attested by the roll
of distinguished signatures, beginning
with that of Geo. Washington, Pres't.
aud Deputy from Virginia. :"
Done In convention by the unanimous consent
the states present, the seventeenth day OF sep
seven hundred and ei khty seven, and OF the tnde
pendence of the United States Of America the
twelfth
event in our political history should
hardly pass without notice; and, mas
much as Congress has hitherto taken no
steps TO celebrate it, to days gathering,
which originated. if we rightly remem
Der, in a resolution passed by tue Legis-
!ature of New Jersey last June, becomes
the more important. A committee OF
thirteen citizeus of Philadelphia ard
eighteen C0uncilmen, aided by the com
mercIal and maritime exchanges, have
arranged for this preliminary meeting in
Carpenters Hall and Independence
Hall.
! The formal act of agreeing to the Con-
stitution and appeudIng thereto the sig
! natures of its trainers was not The Only
( one that gives interest TO the 17Ch OF
/ September, 1877. Tue delegates of the
/ several States, except Rhode Island, ap-
| pointed tor the purpose of revising the
/ Articles Of Confederation, had met in
convention at Philadelphia, on the 14ch
/ of May of that year. Tue difficulties
environiug their task we're very great,
as the failure of previous efforts TO con-
fer upon Congress even carefully res
/ trICted authority 10 raise AT adequate
1 revenue had made obviO1s. At last with
four months of continuous work through
the summer, the task was mplIshed,
/ The Congress OF the Confederation on
the 21sJ OF February, however, IN It's
resolution counseling the States TO hold
this Convention, had added 10 It's pro
( posed duties that of reporting to Con
1 gress and the several Legislatures" the
results of its labOrs, so that its "altera
tiOns aud provisions" might, ''wheI
agreed to in Congress and confirmed BY
the States, render the Federal COnstl u
ha fT( (Ngu
ernment and the preservation of tht
Union" The co operating acts of The
Legislature closely followed this phrase
olOgy of Congress, so that it became th'
duty OF the Convention co make tUrma
! report of It's work to ''the United State
in Congress assembled" especially a
the document it had produced was less
revision of the exist ing Articles o
Confederation than a new Federal Con
stiJution.
This part Of its work, then, was don
,, also on the 18th of september, 1877.
: took the form of set of resolutions an
! a letter. The records show that on ths
? day were present in convention th
states of New Hampshire, Msssachusett t.;
Connecticut, Mr.. Hamilton from Me-
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
. ware, Maryland, Virginia, NoIth Caro-
a I
resolutions unanimously adopted fir
? proposed to Congress d method of sui
: mIttIDg the Constitution 10 the States fC
their assent and ratification through .
q convention of delegat chosen in eaC
: State by the people thereof, +" and, secou,
ly, method of setting the new Cover
i ment i'll operation 10y fixing day for Il
- appointment of electors to vote foI q
- President and also for the choice of Sc
. atOrs and Representatives. These res
20 lutIons, the work vi the 17th of Septeu
beT' thus became of high practical impU
tauce, aud their suggestions we're carri
: into effect by Congress. The letter Sc
- TO "his ExcelieBcy, the President of Co
q gress," was dignified, earnest and el
I'd quent presentation, in brief, of the ali
IS and tue general result of the Convention
y labors
"a In all our deliberations on this subject
~ keep steaiily IN our view that which appears
e., ms the xreatest interest Of every trae America
te the consolidation of our Union-in which is
n volved our prosperity felicity, safety, perh.
- alton, seriously and deeply Impressed
~ minds, led each State in the Convention 20
II less rigid points Of inferior magnitude q
b. might have been otherwise expected; and Il
lly the Constitution which we now present Is the
in suit OF spirit oil amity, ana OF that mutual de
:" ence and Concession which the popularity Of
political situation rendered Indispensable. I
nd Il will meet the full and entire appreciation
9Iv each will DOUBTLESS consider that, had her in
n est been alone consulted, the consequences mi
have been particularly disaH reeaOte fnJurt
DO others; that IL is liable to as few exception
ful could reasonably have been expected, We
ut and believe; that IL may promote The last nE
Of fare OF that country so dear to us all aud sec
,S her freedom and happiness, is our most ard
,0 wish"
ms Such was the work Of the 18th of
an temUer. 1877. II is certainly work
on, To be wholly passed without TecOgnII
usl on It's hundredIh anniversary. UUdou
.ep edlY the chief national celebration of
'ne foundation OF our GoYercment will
to that of the hundredJh anniversary of
er. 30th of April, 1879, when it's formal
first became effective 10 all It's ps
through the taking of the oath of OF
;ta by George Washington. the first Pr
a., dent. But mean while some notice
as This earlier day, with it's cluster of
nU portant events, will serve TO remind
10 generation OF to-day Of the cIrcumstaI
os' under which the Constitution was fOII
7,1r and Of the spirit which animated
sIv trainers. Y. Sun, Sept. II.