The Russellville Democrat., 1889-05-02

with wisdom which forecasted the fut re
They may not have understood at first the
whole trath, bat for that witch they knew.
they Ind the martyrs spirit and the cru
suuers' enthusiasm.
The government OF the republic by a Con-
vress of States a diplomatic convention of
the ambassadors of petty commemorative
after seven years trial was falling
asunder Threatened with civil war among
its members, instruction aud lawlessness
rife within the States, foreign commerce
ruined and internal trade paralyzed. its cur
rencv worthless, its merchants bankrupt,
its farms mortgaged, It's markets closed, It's
labor unemployed, 1t was like helpless
wreck upon the ocean, tossed about by the
tides and ready to be enguifedin the storm.
Washington gave the warning and called
for action. IL was voice accustomed TO
command. but now entreating The vet
Grams of the war and the statesmen OF the
Revolution stepped 10 the front The
patriotism which had been misled but had
never faltercd, rose above the interests OF
States and the iealousies OF jrring Con-
federates 20 find the basis for union 1T Is
clear to me as A, i, G, said Washington,
that an extension of Federal powers
would make us one OF the most happy,
wealthy. respectable and powerful nations
that ev0r inhabited the terrestrial globe.
Without them we shall soon be
every thing which is the direct reverse. /
predict the worst consequences from half
ing upon crutches, and tottering at every
STEP The response OF the county was the
convention OF liS1, at Philadelphia The
Declaration of Independence was but the
vestibule OF the temple which this illustri-
Gus assembly erected With no successful
precedents to guide, it auspiciously worked
out the problem of Constitutional Govern
ment, and of imperial power and home
rule, supplementing each other in promot-
ing the grandeur OF the Nation, and presery-
ing the liberty of the individual.
The deliberations OF great councils have
vitality affected at different periods the
history OF the world and the fate of En-
pires; bat this Congress builded. upon pop
ular sovereignty, institutions broad enough
to embrace the continent and elastic
enough TO fit all conditions of race
and traditions The experience of
a hundred years has demonstrated
for us the perfection of the work, for de-
Tense against foreign foes, and for self
preservation against domestic insurrection,
for hmitles9 expansion in population and
material development and for steady
growth in intellectual freedom and force.
It's continuing influence upon the welfare
and destiny of the human race can only be
measured by the capacity OF man to Guilt
vate and enjoy the boundlesS opportunities
of liberty and law. The eloquent character
ization OF Mr.. Gladstone condenses its
merits. 1.-THE American Constitution is the
most wonderful work ever struck off at a
given time by the brain and purpose of
man.
The statesmen who composed this great
Senate We're equal TO their trust Their
C nclusions were the results of calm debate
and wise concession. Their character and
abilities were so pure and great as TO com
mand the confidence of the country for the
reversal of the policy OF the independence
of the State of the power OF the general
Government, which bad hitherto been the
invaliable practice and almost universal
opinion. and for the adoption of the idea OF
the Nation and It's supremacy.
Towering in majesty and influence above
them all stood Washington their President
Beside him was the venerable Franklin,
who, though eightv-one years OF age,
brought to the deliberations of the conven-
ton the unimpaired yigor and resources of
the wisest BRAIN the most hopeful
philosophy, and the largest experience of
the times. Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards
Chief Justice of the United States,
and the profoundest iurist in the
country Robert Morris, the Won
luton. and Gouverneur Morris, tho most
versatile genius Of his period; Roger Sher-
man, one of the most eminent OF the sign
ers of the Declaration of independence and
John Rutlcdge, Rufus King Elbridge Gerry,
Edmund Randolph and the Pnckneys, Were
leaders of unequaled patriotism, courage,
ability and learning while Alexander Ham
ilton and James Madison as original think
ers and constructive statesmen, rank among
the immortal few whose opinions have for
ages guided Ministers of State and deter
mined the destinies of nations
There were no examples to follow and the
experiences of its members led part of them
to lean toward absolute centralizatIou as
the only refuge from the anarchy of the
confederation while the rest chung to the
sovereignty of the States, for fear that the
concentration of rover would end in the
absorption OF liberty. The large States did
not want to surrender the advantage OF
their position, and the smaller States saw
the danger to their existence
At this crisis the courage and confidence
needed to originate n system weakened,
The temporizing spirit of compromise
seized the convention with the alluring
proposition of not proceeding faster than
the people coull be educated to fol-
low The cry; Let us not waste
our labor upon conclusions which will
not be adopted but amend and
adjourn" was assuming startling unan.
unity But the supreme force and majestic
sense 0 Washington brought the assem-
blage TO tn lotty plane of lis duty and OPP
port1nity. He said: 1t is TOO probable
that no plan we propose will be adopted
Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be
sustained If to please the people we offer
what we ourselves disapprove, how can we
afterwards defend our work? Let us raise
a standard to which the wise and honest
Freed from the limitations OF its envir n
ment, and the question OF the adoption of
its work, the convention erected its Gov
ernment upon the eternal foundations of
the power OF the people, II discussed the
deuSiye theory of compact between in
dependent States, and derived National
power from the people of the United States
1t broke up the machinery of the Confeder-
alton and put in practical operation the
glittering generalities OF the Declaration of
Independence. From chaos came order from
insecurity came safety, from dlsintegra-
ton and civil war came law end liberty,
with the principle proclaimed in the pre-
amble of the great charter we, the peo-
pie OF the United States in order to form
more perfect union, establish Justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general wei
fare, and secure the blessings OF liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this con stitutlon for the United
States" With n wisdom inspired of God,
TO work out uUon this continent the liberty
of man. they solved the problem of the
uges by blending and yet preserving local
self government with National authority.
and the rig Is OF the States, with the
majesty and power of the Republic. The
government of the States, under the ar
ticles of confederation. became bankrupt
because IL could not raise four millions of
dollars; the Government of the Union, I'M
der the constitution OF the United States
raised Six thousand millions OF collars, It's
credit grow iu9 frmer as its power and re-
sources were demonstrated The Congress
of the confederation fled from q regiment,
which il could not pay; the Congress of the
Union reviewed the comrades OF million
OF its victorious soldiers saluting as they
marched the flag OF the Nation whose su-
pre- macy they had sustained
The Pride of the States and the ambition
OF their leaders sectional iealousies, and
the overwhelming diStrust OF centralized
power We're ali raved against the adop-
ton OF the cons tuition.
Success was d Ic to confidence in Wash
iuQton and the genius OF Alexander Ham
iltun Jefferson vas the Inspiration of in
Deepen 1cnce but Hlmiltna was the in
caIuation OF the constitution. In no age
nor country has there appeared a more pre-
cociUus or amazing Intelligence than Ham
iltoa. He gave life TO the corpse OF Nation.
nj credit aud the strength for seif-preser-
walton and aggressive power to the Federal
Union Both rs an expOunder OF the prin-
ciples and an admiuistri tor OF the affairs Of
lf. Il